Wang Lin stood beyond the chasm, his eyes gleaming with a sudden purpose. He raised his right hand, a phantom grasp in the air, and commanded, “Bind!”

At his word, the chasm erupted with the furious howls and roars of the Sky-Ghoul. A streak of black energy, swift as a striking viper, shot forth from the depths, lunging at Wang Lin with venomous speed.

Wang Lin retreated, his steps a blur against the earth, but the dark energy relentlessly pursued him.

A cold snarl escaped Wang Lin’s lips. As he fell back, his hand dove into his storage pouch, retrieving the Kun-Ji Whip. With a flick of his wrist, the air cracked with a sharp report, and the Sky-Ghoul emitted a pained groan, its furious charge momentarily faltering.

The Kun-Ji Whip, forged to scourge the spirit, was the bane of ethereal beings. The Sky-Ghoul, devoid of flesh and bone, was clearly a creature of soul-stuff.

Enraged by the stinging lash, the Sky-Ghoul’s malice intensified. Ignoring the pain, it hurled itself at Wang Lin with grotesque ferocity, its aura a palpable wave of death.

Two streams of grey mist, like parasitic needles, pierced and drained the Sky-Ghoul’s life force. Yet, heedless of its dwindling existence, the Ghoul remained fixated on Wang Lin, its passage leaving a trail of withered, yellowed vegetation in its wake.

A chilling glint flickered in Wang Lin’s eyes. With a measured half-step back, he unleashed the Kun-Ji Whip in a rapid series of stinging blows. The Sky-Ghoul shrieked in agony, finally breaking its assault, desperation fueling its attempt to flee.

Wang Lin knew this was the creature’s most vulnerable moment. Should it escape and recover, subduing it later would be a far more perilous undertaking. His memory, gleaned from the depths of Luo Yun’s mind, revealed that after betrayal, the Sky-Ghoul required First Celestial Transformation and forty-nine days of recuperation.

Without hesitation, Wang Lin cast the Kun-Ji Whip forward. Like a dragon unleashed, the whip snaked through the air, coiling towards the fleeing Sky-Ghoul.

The Sky-Ghoul, consumed by its fury, faced its pursuer, despair hardening its resolve. It wrenched its ghastly maw open, spewing forth a torrent of verdant, spectral flame, engulfing the Kun-Ji Whip in what appeared to be a sea of fire.

This was the Cleft’s Soulfire, the most potent weapon within its spectral form. The Sky-Ghoul’s hatred for Wang Lin paled in comparison to the loathing it harbored for the whip, a weapon specifically designed to torment its kind. The Ghoul would rather meet true oblivion than allow this item to exist. It had heard of only one such artifact in its long and bitter existence, but that weapon had long since vanished from this realm. Surely another such abomination could not exist.

In its weakened state, the Sky-Ghoul had willingly expended its Soulfire, determined to destroy this unnatural weapon that threatened its existence.

Wang Lin’s face paled as the Soulfire erupted. He had known the Sky-Ghoul to be formidable, and his expedition to capture it had been fraught with trepidation. However, the sheer intensity of the flames sent a chilling tremor through his soul. He did not directly engage with the fire, yet he could feel its bizarre influence. This was no ordinary flame that consumed flesh; it devoured the very essence of the spirit.

Almost immediately, Wang Lin felt the searing, stabbing pain radiating from his core. Ignoring any regret for the weapon, he retreated rapidly.

Suddenly, a series of cracks erupted across the surface of the Kun-Ji Whip, now encased in the Sky-Ghoul’s Soulfire. A fleeting flicker of golden light emanated from within, vanishing as quickly as it appeared.

Yet, that single flash was enough to seize Wang Lin’s attention.

As the golden light appeared, the Sky-Ghoul’s Soulfire vanished, snuffed out not gradually, but instantaneously, as if extinguished by an invisible hand.

The Sky-Ghoul’s expression twisted into a mask of horror, as if it had witnessed something impossible. It emitted a piercing shriek, desperately attempting to flee.

But it was too late. The same golden light that extinguished the flame also struck the Sky-Ghoul’s form, rendering it… transparent. In an instant, the Sky-Ghoul screamed in terror, its body dissolving at an alarming rate.

Wang Lin moved with blinding speed, lunging forward to grasp the Kun-Ji Whip. With a tremor, the weapon obeyed his command, flying back into his outstretched hand.

Clutching the whip, Wang Lin exhaled with relief. The golden light that had emanated from the weapon was profoundly unsettling.

He looked back at the Sky-Ghoul, its form rapidly fading. Had Wang Lin not retrieved the whip, the Sky-Ghoul would have surely been destroyed. Even now, it lingered on the brink of annihilation, its body slowly dissipating.

Wang Lin tapped his storage pouch, summoning his Soul Banner. With a wave, he drew the Sky-Ghoul into the banner’s confines, where the unique environment would prevent its final dissolution.

His task complete, Wang Lin examined the Kun-Ji Whip. The Sky-Ghoul’s Soulfire had left its mark, hardening the layers of tightly-wound hide.

As he examined the weapon, a strange feeling washed over him. The fire had transformed the whip, making it resemble the shed skin of a serpent, recently molted and not yet fully hardened.

After a long moment, Wang Lin stored the whip away. He turned, gazed into the distance, and, after taking his bearings, transformed into a streak of lightning, disappearing from sight.

Three days later, Wang Lin caught sight of the valley. Protective arrays rippled faintly across its surface, emitting waves of power.

The oppressive power was familiar to Wang Lin. It originated from the Forbidden Banner!

Before his departure, Wang Lin had placed the banner within the valley, strengthening the existing array. It was this combination of defenses that allowed the valley to withstand the onslaught of the Demon-Spirit Tide.

He moved as quickly as lightning, coming to stand before the valley. With one step, he was within. He had penetrated the valley’s array once before, and with the added power of the Forbidden Banner, he could traverse the barrier with ease.

As soon as he appeared within the valley, his eyes found their target. The valley’s residents were seated in the center of the valley, listening intently to Ouyang Hua.

Ouyang Hua saw Wang Lin the instant he appeared, his face lighting up with joy. He quickly pushed through the crowd and bowed deeply to Wang Lin, respectfully saying, “Welcome home, Immortal!”

His heart was filled with respect. He had seen Wang Lin leave with another outsider, and now, only the Immortal had returned. There could only be one explanation: the other outsider had been slain by Wang Lin.
Ouyang Zhao perceived a grim truth: when two outsiders met upon this land, it invariably ended with one life extinguished and another ascendant.

“This valley’s depths are forbidden ground! Venture not within!” Wang Lin declared, his voice echoing with power. With a subtle shift, he vanished from their sight, disappearing into the verdant depths.

Ouyang Hua’s face bloomed with undisguised joy. He drew a deep breath, thinking that with a celestial immortal residing here, their future safety would be greatly assured! Furthermore, expanding their territory would be far easier! A fervent spark ignited in his eyes. He whirled around to address the valley’s inhabitants, his voice booming, “The valley’s depths are forbidden to all! See to it that your children do not stray, lest they defy the tribe’s laws!”

Most of the villagers nodded in acquiescence, but a few wore disgruntled expressions. A burly man grumbled, “Why shouldn’t we go there? It’s the coolest place in the whole valley!”

Ouyang Hua’s eyes blazed with authority. “This is now tribal law! From this day forth, it is etched in stone! Defy it, and face exile, left to survive as you may!”

His words silenced all dissent. No one dared utter another complaint.

Perhaps sensing his severity, Ouyang Hua softened his tone slightly, clearing his throat. “This valley…it is too small. We must expand our horizons…Your hearths are in need of more women, and our tribe…it must grow in number!”

Hearing this, the villagers’ eyes shone with a predatory gleam, a wildness taking hold. One man stepped forward, his voice rising above the others. “Elder! Is it war you speak of?”

Ouyang Hua nodded, his face grimly determined.

Meanwhile, deep within the forbidden valley, Wang Lin sat in silent meditation. His decision to linger here was driven by a greater plan. To truly gain a foothold in this land of妖靈之地的妖靈之地的 (Demon Spirits), he needed not only power but also war-earned glory!

The ancient妖城 (Demon City)…he must go, but only after thorough preparation.

The ancient妖城 (Demon City) promised a hard-won ascent. Moreover, according to the memories of Luo Yun, the 左翼妖將之府 (Left Wing Demon General’s Palace) within the city teemed with formidable warriors – all native denizens of this demon-spirited realm. Their cultivation focused on demonic power, their spells and abilities born of it.

Though Wang Lin had never personally witnessed the use of demonic arts, Luo Yun had, and Luo Yun’s ancestors had long interacted with such practitioners.

Before absorbing Luo Yun’s soul, Wang Lin would have unhesitatingly marched upon the ancient妖城 (Demon City). But now, his plans had changed.

“Instead of entering the 左翼妖將之府 (Left Wing Demon General’s Palace) now, it is better to remain here, to teach these villagers, to mold them to my will! I shall bestow upon them arts and spells, and after countless years, I will command a force that is wholly my own!”

Wang Lin’s eyes narrowed in contemplation, then hardened with resolve.

“He who would achieve greatness cannot be bound by petty concerns. I shall impart to them the art of the Soul Banner! This technique is relatively simple to master, and it fits their inherent bloodlust. The more they slay, the more souls they shall gather, and the greater their power shall become!”

“And while they learn, I shall use the opportunity to attempt to repair the尊魂幡 (Soul-Revering Banner)! If I can mend it, even the most exalted ascetics will have cause to fear me! Among the outsiders here, I shall rank among the highest!”

“Only in this way can I hope to eventually claim the ancient demon spirit!”

With a deep breath, Wang Lin reached into his storage pouch and retrieved two jade scrolls. He infused them with his divine sense, etching upon them the first incantations of the craft.

Within the煉魂宗 (Soul Refining Sect) were three core tenets: Refine Soul, Extract Soul, and Lock Spirit!

Lock Spirit was a secret reserved for direct descendants, the art intended to control the 億尊瑰幡 (Ten Billion Soul Banner) – the ultimate method of manipulating its immense power.

Refine Soul and Extract Soul, on the other hand, formed the very foundation of the煉魂宗 (Soul Refining Sect)!

Beyond these two techniques, crafting one’s own Soul Banner was the primary trial for any aspiring initiate. Only by possessing a Soul Banner could one be truly considered a disciple of the煉魂宗 (Soul Refining Sect)!

Refine Soul involved the purification of preexisting souls, while Extract Soul allowed the drawing of the very essence from the living.

In the jade scrolls, Wang Lin included only the initial stages of Refine Soul and Extract Soul. He then paused, and after a moment’s thought, added a simplified method for crafting a Soul Banner. However, this method contained a fatal flaw, a secret only Wang Lin knew.

It was a flaw that would allow him to bypass all protections and claim another’s banner as his own!

Wang Lin, ever cautious, would never impart his knowledge without reservation!