Chapter 106: Entering the Banner
Though Lü Yang had successfully deceived Ancestor Nether Whisper into handing over the spiritual vein, he had no intention of stopping there. After all, the ancestor still held a batch of Lü Yang's Witch-Ghost spirits—perfect candidates to replenish his dwindling Myriad Spirits Banner.
"Recently, I restarted the banner's talisman production line. Some banner spirits have already exhausted their spiritual essence and dissipated. It's about time to recruit the next batch."
Fundamentally, they were the same Witch-Ghost spirits anyway.
Rather than wasting time letting the overworked spirits rest, it was more efficient to replace them outright with fresh ones. The spent spirits could then be fed to the newcomers, completing the cycle of waste utilization and resource recycling. This would allow the new spirits to work in better condition, boosting talisman production efficiency, upgrading industrial scale, and achieving sustainable exploitation.
Subsequent events unfolded much as they had in Lü Yang's previous lifetimes.
Without his interference, True Person Yinshan naturally selected Zhao Xuhe. After a chaotic battle, the Witch-Ghost Secret Realm was successfully drawn out by Yinshan and emerged into the world. The Golden Core sword qi dispersed, and the [Heavenly Corpse Sha] was claimed by Yinshan.
In return, Zhao Xuhe received an Ascension Token from Yinshan, growing increasingly smug as if already envisioning his future Foundation Establishment.
But Lü Yang paid no attention to these developments.
This lifetime, he remained hidden in the shadows. Only after Yinshan departed did he venture deep into Skeleton Mountain and release the aura of the [Yama Palace].
Moments later, a shadowy figure silently materialized.
"Greetings, Ancestor!"
Lü Yang performed a grand bow, his face a picture of excitement while secretly sensing Ancestor Nether Whisper's aura, ready to turn hostile at a moment's notice.
"...Rise."
The possessed Ancestor Nether Whisper appeared as a fair-skinned, handsome youth with mature speech yet a childlike voice. He studied Lü Yang solemnly, deep in thought.
After a long pause, he sighed faintly. "Summon your Guardian Deity."
Though surprised, Lü Yang didn't hesitate. He immediately produced the Myriad Spirits Banner and called forth Su Nu, prepared to strike if anything seemed amiss.
"Hmm?"
The ancestor seemed oblivious to Lü Yang's wariness, his gaze immediately drawn to the banner. After examining it, he couldn't help but praise, "What a marvelous treasure! Not quite a spirit treasure, yet surpassing one. Perfectly suited to our Witch Ghost Path's lineage—truly adding wings to a tiger!"
"You flatter me, Ancestor. This is called the Myriad Spirits Banner," Lü Yang replied with a smile. "I obtained it by chance, and it's largely thanks to this treasure that I've been able to preserve our sect's legacy."
The ancestor nodded. "Good. I was concerned about how you'd accommodate our countless Witch-Ghost spirits and thought to assist you. But it seems my worries were unnecessary."
His attention then shifted to Su Nu, his brow furrowing slightly. "As for your Guardian Deity... the craftsmanship is excellent, but it lacks adaptability. The [Yama Palace] was originally tailored for myself. Since you've made this deity your centerpiece, you should learn to modify it according to circumstances."
With that, he formed a hand seal with his right hand and performed silent calculations.
Soon, he reopened his eyes and cast a spell directly at Su Nu and her [Yama Palace].
Boom!
The next instant, divine light erupted beneath Su Nu's feet. Within it, seven seal characters appeared one after another:
[Underworld Lord of Yama Heaven, Mystic Darkness, Gatherer of Shades]
But as the ancestor adjusted his spell, the characters gradually transformed into:
[By Decree: Lady Su Yin, Primordial Maiden of the Nine Nethers]
With this change, Su Nu's aura surged dramatically. Even without the spiritual vein's enhancement, she regained half her previous lifetime's power—surpassing it entirely if the vein were added!
"Now it's proper," the ancestor said, satisfied. "With a Foundation Establishment-level Guardian Deity, your chances of advancing and reopening our sect's gates are much greater."
He then produced a transparent black sphere containing the countless Witch-Ghost spirits from the secret realm. Lü Yang even spotted a murky, slowly flowing stream within it—instantly recognizing it as someone who had once ruled Skeleton Mountain.
"[Heavenly Corpse Sha]!?"
Yinshan hadn't taken it all... No, he'd taken one strand, but the mountain's spiritual vein contained more than one!
"This sha belongs to the underworld, positioned at the Earthly Fiend node of [Order]. It can suppress fire and nourish metal. If you wish, you can use it to break through to mid-stage Foundation Establishment later. Should strong enemies attack, you could also detonate it to destroy Skeleton Mountain's eight-hundred-mile spiritual vein and perish together with them."
Lü Yang already knew this.
In his previous life, the ancestor had left these words within soul fragments. This time, he explained them in person.
'Is he... entrusting me with his legacy?' Lü Yang wondered. Honestly, he'd expected the ancestor to be less welcoming toward a sudden "successor."
After all, he was the Witch Ghost Path's true sect master. Revived for a fifth lifetime with strong hopes of returning to Foundation Establishment, he should be ambitious and unwilling to let anything escape his control.
Yet reality seemed different.
Just then, the ancestor suddenly paused and glanced at Lü Yang with a smile. "Speak your mind if you have something to say."
Lü Yang hurriedly denied it. "Ancestor misunderstands—"
The ancestor waved him off. "You've survived in the Saint Sect this long—did you think I wouldn't guess your thoughts? If you truly trusted me, that would be strange indeed!"
His expression then turned bitter as he shook his head.
"My remaining lifespan is short. Originally, I planned to flee the secret realm for an isolated island overseas to preserve our lineage. Having a Foundation Establishment expert guard it would have been ideal."
"But with you here, you've saved me much trouble. Since you've survived cultivating in the Saint Sect to this point, I trust your capabilities."
"In my remaining years, all I seek is to ensure our sect's continuation."
His expression calm again, the ancestor said plainly, "Enough. Place me into your Myriad Spirits Banner."
Lü Yang was stunned. "...Ancestor, you wish to enter the banner?"
"I am the sect's sinner. Had I not been so stubborn back then, our sect wouldn't have suffered such calamity."
"My remaining years have been spent atoning for past mistakes. Thus, I should contribute one final service to our sect."
He smiled again. "Besides, this will put you more at ease, won't it?"
"...Then this junior will respectfully comply."
Offering no argument, Lü Yang activated the banner, opening a swirling void. The ancestor nodded and stepped in without hesitation.
Whoosh—
The next moment, Lü Yang raised the banner pole and slammed it down. A dull thunderclap echoed as shadows rapidly expanded in all directions.
Thud!
Where the shadows passed, the [Yama Palace] reopened, unleashing countless armored ghost soldiers who surrounded Lü Yang like stars encircling the moon.
The Witch-Ghost spirits were organized by strength—from early-stage Qi Refining to mid-stage, late-stage, and even perfected—arrayed like a true army. This didn't even account for the extraordinary banner spirits like the Mending Heaven Peak Master's split soul, Ancestor Nether Whisper, and Guardian Deity Su Nu.
Undoubtedly, this spirit treasure had grown even more terrifying!
Moreover, purified by the [Book of a Hundred Lifetimes], Lü Yang could wield it freely without worrying about troublesome karma entanglements.
"...It's time."
In the next heartbeat, Lü Yang unleashed his killing intent skyward, instantly shaking all of Skeleton Mountain!
Simultaneously, True Person Yinshan—who had just collected the [Heavenly Corpse Sha] and prepared to leave—whirled around in shock toward the source of the murderous aura.
Yet he saw no one.
Only an immense [Yama Palace] towering like a mountain against the heavens, drawing in earthly fiends, with countless Witch-Ghost spirits at its center beneath fluttering banners!