Chapter 8: The Soul-Summoning Banner

In truth, the Immortal of the Nine Netherworlds often cultivated himself with the fresh blood of mortals, his methods exceedingly cruel. The middle-aged man touched the silver-white ring on his left middle finger with his right hand, and a flag appeared in his grasp. Upon the flag was a gigantic skull, resembling a miniature version of the pirate banners seen on Caribbean ships.

As soon as the flag emerged, it unleashed the anguished cries of tens of thousands of men and women; the flag was adorned with countless souls shrieking and roaring. This was the middle-aged man's life-bound treasure, the Soul Summoning Banner—a mid-grade spiritual artifact, further empowered by the Blood Poison Sect Master through years of blood rituals, its potency beyond words.

Every time the Sect Master of the Blood Poison Sect, the Immortal of the Nine Netherworlds, tormented a cultivator, he would not allow their soul to be reborn. Instead, he refined their souls into the Soul Summoning Banner to wield against his enemies, his methods vicious beyond compare.

At the sight of the banner, Peony Fairy could not help but reveal a look of pity. Though she had cultivated for nine centuries and considered herself widely experienced, this was the first time she had seen such a cruel life-bound artifact. The deeds of the Immortal of the Nine Netherworlds were truly intolerable by heaven.

Peony Fairy’s beautiful eyes widened in anger. With such poisonous methods, not even descending to the deepest hells could cleanse the sins of the Immortal of the Nine Netherworlds. She looked again at him: his right hand waved the Soul Summoning Banner, while his left traced strange gestures in the air.

After forming several gestures, the spiritual energy around the Immortal of the Nine Netherworlds gathered in his left hand. With a sweep, he infused the flag with that power. Instantly, the souls of men and women upon the flag soared out, each wielding a weapon—every manner of blade, spear, sword, halberd, axe, mace, hook, fork, whip, club, hammer, dagger, staff, polearm, rod, pike, and trident.

Yet the Immortal of the Nine Netherworlds ignored the “Suppress” talisman and the six spiritual swords still attacking him. Not only did he channel all surrounding spiritual energy into the Soul Summoning Banner, but his entire being surged with power.

For a moment, the myriad souls upon the banner charged forth as if they had found their prey, evidence of the Immortal’s confidence in his life-bound treasure.

However, as a consequence of summoning his artifact, his movements slowed, allowing two spiritual swords to pierce him. The Immortal of the Nine Netherworlds paid it no mind.

Peony Fairy observed him, noting that despite his injuries, he persisted in wielding his poisonous artifact. She concluded he was at his limit, yet as the sect master, his cultivation could not be weak.

Peony Fairy became alert, especially since he was using his life-bound treasure, which was not to be underestimated.

Tens of thousands of cultivator souls, brandishing all manner of weapons, swept toward Peony Fairy. Being spirits, they knew no fatigue.

Empowered further by the Immortal’s spiritual energy, each soul shattered under Peony Fairy’s attacks, only to reform and strike again.

Peony Fairy found herself at a loss for a solution. She realized that such a prolonged struggle would eventually deplete her own power, playing into her enemy’s hands.

If she were to exhaust her strength, the outcome would become uncertain.

She resolved to capture the leader first—only by slaying the Immortal of the Nine Netherworlds’ true body could the myriad souls be dispersed.

Peony Fairy parted her lips and uttered, “Gather.” The six spiritual swords attacking the Immortal, combined with those that had pierced Elder Jin, merged into one and flew into her hand.

She leapt, sword in hand, rising above the Immortal’s head, and struck downward.

At that moment, the Immortal of the Nine Netherworlds was still waving the Soul Summoning Banner, attempting to unleash its strongest attack—the assault of ten thousand souls.

He showed no fear for Peony Fairy’s descending sword, as if he had predicted it, and made no effort to dodge; perhaps he intended to perish together.

Peony Fairy’s sword fell, and the Immortal’s body was cleaved in two as easily as slicing tofu.

His body exploded, and a golden core flew out, hovering in the air.

Was he dead? Peony Fairy was astonished—no, where was the villain’s soul? Her graceful form spun sharply.

“Too late!” a hoarse voice echoed around the spring and waterfall.

At that instant, the ten thousand souls that had been attacking ceased their assault on Peony Fairy and rushed toward the soul of the Immortal of the Nine Netherworlds.

With each soul absorbed, his spirit grew larger.

In less than half a minute, the Immortal’s soul transformed into a giant—still a soul, but towering dozens of meters high.

Peony Fairy watched the growing soul giant, an inexplicable unease stirring within her. It felt as though the world itself had placed a barrier between her and him, pressing upon her, despite her status as a cultivator of the Nascent Soul stage.

She thought to herself: a soul at the Golden Core stage could threaten her very life.

The Immortal of the Nine Netherworlds, clearly only a late-stage Golden Core cultivator, nonetheless instilled in her a sense of overwhelming danger. It seemed that once she returned to the cultivation world, she would need to enter closed-door cultivation in earnest.

Peony Fairy recalled that she had come here during the season of renewal, hoping to break through to the middle Nascent Soul stage in one fell swoop. She had not expected her whereabouts to be discovered.

Within the Valley of Ten Thousand Flowers, no one would betray her presence. Only in this technologically advanced mortal world could such a leak occur.

Combined with the unusual scenery in recent days, it was easy for a keen observer to deduce the presence of a cultivator in secluded cultivation here.

She shook her head slightly, suppressing her anxiety. Her red lips parted, and she uttered, “Break.”

The word flew into the golden talisman, which seemed to be recharged, speeding through the air.

The talisman, infused with a hint of spiritual energy, shot straight toward the Immortal’s soul and shone with a dazzling light upon reaching its target.

Peony Fairy’s elegant face displayed surprise—the “Suppress” talisman’s radiance had no effect whatsoever.

The light passed right through the soul giant, which continued to grow.

As Peony Fairy was taken aback, the golden core floating in the air exploded.

The Immortal’s soul let out an enraged roar, his massive form bearing down upon Peony Fairy.

The moment his golden core detonated, Peony Fairy instinctively summoned spiritual energy to defend herself.

But the blast was too powerful, and the shield she hastily formed could not withstand it, shattering under the pressure.

The soul giant, at that very moment, made contact with Peony Fairy.