Chapter 28: The Hundred Soul Banner
"A first-grade, superior Golden Shield Talisman? Interesting. You have quite a few treasures, fellow Daoist."
A light chuckle echoed from within the shifting fog. Deep in the mist, another cluster of green ghostly flames flickered into existence, drifting steadily toward Li Meng’s position. Soon, a figure began to materialize. As it drew nearer, the silhouette sharpened into the form of a Qingxu Sect outer disciple.
He wore the standard blue robes, but in his hand, he gripped a black banner. The flag was wreathed in raging ghostly fire, and within the flames, distorted paper-white faces flashed intermittently, struggling against the banner's invisible confines.
Li Meng observed the intruder with a placid expression. "You are not an outer disciple of the Qingxu Sect."
The man holding the banner revealed a faint, mocking smile. "Isn't that rather obvious?"
Li Meng narrowed his eyes, examining the artifact. "A cultivator from the Ghost Spirit Sect of the State of Yue?"
The demonic cultivator’s expression stiffened for a heartbeat, a flicker of genuine surprise crossing his eyes. "I didn't expect a fellow Daoist so close to his Lifespan Limit to possess such sharp eyesight!" His words were an implicit admission.
A thoughtful look crossed Li Meng's face. The State of Yue bordered the State of Zhao, and the Ghost Spirit Sect was one of the three major demonic powers there. What was one of their disciples doing here?
"Given your intelligence, fellow Daoist, you must have already guessed why I am here." The demonic cultivator radiated absolute confidence. He looked at Li Meng the way a butcher eyes a choice cut of meat on the chopping block.
Li Meng squinted at him. A chilling possibility took root in his mind. Over the past few centuries, the five great sects of Zhao had suffered catastrophic losses among the outer disciples sent into the Scarlet Forbidden Ground. Though these disciples were only in the Qi Condensation stage, they were the foundational strength and future potential of their sects.
With only ten to twenty percent surviving each expedition, the overall strength of the Zhao sects had not only stagnated but had begun to regress.
"Your target is the outer disciples entering the Scarlet Forbidden Ground?"
"Haha! Fellow Daoist is indeed clever. Now, allow me to send you on your final journey!" The demonic cultivator laughed heartily, a vicious glint igniting in his eyes. "Consider it an honor to die beneath my Hundred Soul Banner!"
He waved the banner vigorously. A dense swarm of Vengeful Spirits poured from the fabric, surging toward Li Meng with bared claws and gnashing fangs. Their piercing wails and spectral howls were enough to chill a man's soul to the core.
Wave after wave of spirits crashed against the golden barrier of the shield. The radiance shimmered violently under the relentless assault.
"I do not kill nameless foes," Li Meng said calmly. "State your name."
Over a dozen Vengeful Spirits transformed into clouds of black mist, battering the golden shield. Each impact elicited a shriek of agony from the spirits. Some of the more timid ones flitted around the perimeter, only lunging forward when forcibly driven by the demonic cultivator's will. It seemed his opponent could only actively command about a dozen at once.
"What a coincidence. I also refrain from killing nameless individuals. I am Li Feiyu, an outer disciple of the Joyous Union Sect. And you?"
Facing the encircling horde, Li Meng showed no fear. He even offered an amiable smile. The demonic cultivator was momentarily taken aback before grinning savagely.
"Haha! I nearly forgot. You are already at death's door. Why would you fear it? Rest assured, after you die, I will refine your soul into a Vengeful Spirit. You shall accompany me on my quest for immortality. Then, and only then, will you learn my great name!"
Li Meng glanced around. The commotion was significant. This man surely had accomplices, and it would be troublesome if they were drawn to the fray.
With a swift hand seal, Li Meng uttered, "Shift!"
A talisman flew from his storage pouch and adhered to his chest. Li Meng vanished into thin air. In the next instant, he reappeared directly behind the demonic cultivator.
The man's face went pale. His Divine Sense detected the presence behind him, and he scrambled to dodge, but he was a fraction too late. A talisman glowing with brilliant golden light shot into the sky, hovering dozens of meters above them.
An anomaly manifested instantly above the forest canopy. Dark clouds coalesced with unnatural speed, lightning flashing and thunder rumbled within the gloom. A vast, oppressive heavenly might descended upon the Ghost Mist Forest.
CRACK!
A deafening peal of thunder boomed. A bolt of lightning split the clouds and struck the earth. Within the mist-shrouded trees, the heavenly lightning slammed into the demonic cultivator.
"ARGH!"
The man let out a blood-curdling scream as the force sent him tumbling to the ground. "You... you actually possess a Lightning Attraction Talisman?!"
His face was ashen as he stared at Li Meng in terror. Thunder techniques were anathema to ghosts. That single strike had annihilated over ten spirits within the Hundred Soul Banner instantly. The remaining spirits cowered, refusing to approach the Joyous Union Sect disciple.
Li Meng chuckled softly and formed another seal. "Suppress!"
Thunder roared again. Over ten more lightning bolts rained down with pinpoint accuracy, striking every fleeing Vengeful Spirit. Wherever they hit, the spirits vanished into nothingness. The flashes illuminated the dim forest, and for hundreds of meters, the mist was purged.
"This... this is a second-grade, superior Lightning Attraction Talisman?!"
Even after the barrage, the talisman suspended high above still radiated abundant spiritual essence. The sight filled the demonic cultivator with utter disbelief. A second-grade, superior talisman possessed power comparable to a third-grade artifact. How could an old man at the end of his life possess such a treasure?
"Fellow Daoist," Li Meng began pleasantly, gazing at him as if he were an old friend rather than an enemy, "how many demonic cultivators have infiltrated this expedition?"
A mocking sneer twisted the man's features. "I am Zhou Cheng... outer disciple... Ghost Spirit Sect..." He suddenly snarled viciously. "You win... fellow Daoist..."
Then, he slammed his palm against his own forehead. The blow severed his vitality instantly. A surge of energy erupted from Zhou Cheng's corpse, momentarily saturating the area with dense Spiritual Power.
Witnessing the suicide, Li Meng frowned. A flicker of confusion passed through his eyes. Had such a ruthless individual truly died so simply? His gaze settled on the white banner lying nearby. Although Qi Condensation cultivators could not yet achieve soul projection, caution was a virtue.
Forming another seal, Li Meng summoned the heavenly lightning one last time.
CRACK!
Bolts descended in quick succession, striking the banner directly. From within the fabric, a chorus of agonized wails erupted. Black smoke billowed as ghost faces writhed on the surface, struggling to break free.
"Dying under a thunder technique is a form of liberation for you all," Li Meng murmured, watching the relentless pounding. "Go peacefully."
On the fourth consecutive strike, the banner burst into flames. Green ghostly fire engulfed the flag, consuming it rapidly. Within moments, the Hundred Soul Banner was reduced to a pile of drifting ash.