Chapter 147: Acquiring Another Ghost Banner

From the moment True Monarch Guiqi made his move to the annihilation and death of True Monarch Poxie, only a few exchanges of techniques had actually taken place.

Through the barrier of sword light, Jiang Min had only caught sight of a massive web of sword energy that shrouded the heavens, within which flickered a faint crimson fire. Following that came the sequential demise of True Monarch Poxie’s physical body and Nascent Soul. Then, True Monarch Guiqi swept the area clean with ten thousand swords and retrieved the universe bag...

It was an utterly crushing display of combat.

She had finally witnessed just how many swords were hidden within her master's sword case.

Withdrawing her shocked state of mind from witnessing the simultaneous discharge of ten thousand swords and the execution of a Nascent Soul, Jiang Min offered a delighted bow and said, "Thank you, Master."

She then turned to look at the treasures floating before her.

The personal collection of a Nascent Soul cultivator was undeniably valuable. Spirit treasures, spirit stones, rare materials, monster cores—each radiated a brilliant halo of spiritual light as they hovered in front of her.

She swept her gaze over them, then reached out to grab a few specific items: the Shadowless Gauze, the Nine-Sun Pagoda, and a pouch of Tier-3 monster cores.

The Shadowless Gauze was far superior to an ordinary stealth robe. Although it was a spirit treasure, it consumed very little spiritual energy, making it a genuine life-saving trump card. Even True Monarch Poxie had been using it.

The Nine-Sun Pagoda was capable of both offense and defense, and could prove crucial at a critical moment. Its only drawback was that for a Foundation Establishment cultivator, it required a massive expenditure of spiritual energy to operate.

As for the monster cores, they were the guarantee for her ongoing cultivation.

Seeing that she had taken so few items, True Monarch Guiqi reached into the pile of floating treasures, grabbed a pouch of top-grade spirit stones, and handed it to her. "Spirit stones aren't necessarily just for trade, but having top-grade spirit stones on hand always comes in useful."

Jiang Min took them and replied, "This disciple understands."

"When I left that grotto-heaven world, I had to expend a massive amount of spiritual energy to activate the ancient teleportation array just to succeed in transmitting out. It was then that I truly understood the utmost importance of spirit stones!"

Hearing this, True Monarch Guiqi asked curiously, "An ancient teleportation array? Do you know the origins of the grotto-heaven world you visited?"

"I was told by a disciple of Old Man Guishan that this grotto-heaven world is actually the ruins of the ancient Ziyin Sword Sect."

Jiang Min replied.

Upon hearing this name, a look of realization flashed through True Monarch Guiqi's eyes. As he put away True Monarch Poxie's other remaining possessions, he casually asked, "Did you manage to find the method for refining a natal magical treasure inside?"

Without a moment of hesitation, Jiang Min answered with a hint of regret, "No, the Daoist heritage of this sect had already been thoroughly destroyed. There wasn't much left remaining in the grotto-heaven world."

Regarding the Seven Luminaries Sword Manual and the severed peak of sword heritage—

She did not dare utter a single word about them.

One was a taboo of the mortal world, and the other concerned the blessed grotto-heaven of the Immortal Monarch Palace; both were existences that could not be spoken of.

Moreover, her words were not false. The Hall of Enlightenment of the Ziyin Sword Sect had indeed been destroyed, and apart from the Primordial Infant Spiritual Core, there were no other treasures worth mentioning.

True Monarch Guiqi's gaze narrowed slightly.

Pondering for a moment, he looked at her and solemnly instructed, "In the future, do not mention to anyone that you have ever been to this grotto-heaven. Do you understand?"

"This disciple knows where to draw the line," Jiang Min replied.

True Monarch Guiqi nodded, letting the matter rest, and abruptly changed the subject, raising an eyebrow as he asked, "Did you hear that person's dying words just now?"

"I heard them."

That final declaration by True Monarch Poxie had carried extremely far; likely even the City of Villains had heard it clearly. He had stated that Old Man Guishan was also aware of his murderous intent toward Jiang Min.

So what if he was?

She and Old Man Guishan only had a transaction between them, and having refused his recruitment, they were neither related by blood nor tied by any obligations. Even if Old Man Guishan knew, would he really protect an insignificant outsider like her? She was certainly not like the Black and White Eagles, who could command Old Man Guishan to step forward and vouch for them.

Her expectations of Old Man Guishan had never been high.

Whether he sold her out or not didn't matter; as long as he fulfilled his promise regarding the reward and didn't turn hostile and deny her, he had already done all that humanly could be expected.

Jiang Min recounted the two instances of Old Man Guishan attempting to recruit her to True Monarch Guiqi in full detail. Hearing this, True Monarch Guiqi asked with a hint of amused interest, "What do you think of his approach? Is it good or bad?"

Jiang Min chuckled softly with a hint of self-mockery, shook her head, and said, "The bustling of the world is all for the sake of profit; there is no absolute right or wrong, good or bad. In my heart, if we truly must make a distinction, the world of cultivators above the mortal realm consists of only three types of people."

"Oh? Which three types?" True Monarch Guiqi was curious about her perspective.

Jiang Min’s bright eyes shifted, and she smiled as she said, "Naturally: fellow Daoists, seniors, and ants."

A sect had its rules, and a family had its precepts, but the outside world was chaotic and disorderly, and outside of fellow Daoists, there was only the distinction between strength and weakness.

The weak were ants; the strong were the law.

When an ant dies, one does not discuss right and wrong.

Hearing Jiang Min's answer, True Monarch Guiqi was slightly startled, then burst into hearty laughter, satisfied. "You have always been clear-sighted."

As he spoke—

He suddenly broke the silence and said leisurely, "What do you think, fellow Daoist Guishan?"

Whoosh!

A gentle breeze swept past.

Old Man Guishan stepped forward, his figure materializing a few feet away.

Standing with his hands behind his back, his sharp gaze fixed upon Jiang Min, a trace of helplessness laced his calm voice as he said, "My two attempts at recruitment were entirely sincere, yet I never expected her to refuse time and again. Now, I finally understand why."

His gaze shifted to True Monarch Guiqi.

"Long time no see. You've changed quite a bit."

True Monarch Guiqi smiled leisurely. "Changed to the point where I no longer look like a sword cultivator, right?"

"Let's go. Come sit at Guiming Mountain," Old Man Guishan displayed a polite smile, raising a hand to gesture an invitation.

True Monarch Guiqi nodded and calmly replied, "Very well. We can catch up on old times, and also discuss matters concerning this disciple of mine."

Jiang Min was genuinely surprised by the fact that the two of them knew each other.

Maintaining her composure, she observed their expressions and tone of voice, then hopped onto the flying boat produced by True Monarch Guiqi, heading once again toward Guiming Mountain.

...

Guiming Mountain.

A majestic hall.

The two took their seats, and tea was served.

Jiang Min stood behind True Monarch Guiqi, having already resumed her original appearance.

"Since she is fellow Daoist Yinhua's disciple, as an elder, this welcoming gift for our first meeting must be provided."

Old Man Guishan looked at Jiang Min. At this moment, he looked entirely like a benevolent elder as he raised his hand to cradle a miniature black banner, dark mist swirling around it—it was precisely the Yin Soul Banner that had been brought into the grotto-heaven world.

He handed the black banner forward and said earnestly, "This Yin Soul Banner was nurtured using the soul of one Golden Foundation soul and a thousand Foundation Establishment souls. I wonder if you like it, virtuous niece? Since it is fated to be yours, consider it my welcoming gift. Do not disdain it."

Jiang Min looked at True Monarch Guiqi, and seeing him nod, she received it with both hands and said with a sincere smile, "Thank you, Senior, for bestowing this treasure. This junior has had the fortune of witnessing the might of this Yin Soul Banner, and to receive it is a boundless honor. How could I possibly disdain it?"

Old Man Guishan certainly knew how to conduct himself.

In terms of worldly sophistication and etiquette, he did not make a single misstep.

Upon learning her identity, he had unhesitatingly returned this spirit treasure—which she had previously handed back with certain reservations—straight into her hands.

"This disciple of yours really knows how to speak and act. If you hadn't gotten to her first, she might very well have become my disciple instead," Old Man Guishan said with utmost seriousness, casting a mock complaint toward True Monarch Guiqi.

Every word of his was filled with praise for Jiang Min.

After the pleasantries were concluded, he continued instructing Jiang Min: "Virtuous niece, there are two ways to use this Yin Soul Banner. The first is to refine it with your divine sense, allowing you to directly command the Golden Core soul for your own use. However, you must cultivate some divine sense techniques; if your divine sense realm is too low, you will suffer a backlash instead."

"The second way, much like Yao Sheng and Dong Kaiyuan, is that since their divine sense realms were insufficient to refine the Yin Soul Banner, they could only use their heart's blood as a sacrifice to invite the Golden Core soul to act."

"Your divine sense realm far surpasses that of cultivators in the same realm, which is already quite rare, but you are still some distance away from refining the Yin Soul Banner. You'll have to let your master worry about these matters." Old Man Guishan looked at True Monarch Guiqi.

With the welcoming gift presented, the atmosphere instantly grew much more harmonious.

The two Nascent Soul cultivators began exchanging pleasantries right in front of Jiang Min.

As it turned out, the two of them had met several hundred years ago at a Dao-disputation assembly. Finding their personalities compatible, they had kept up relations, but over the past hundred years, True Monarch Guiqi had rarely left Eastern Plains, so the two had practically lost touch.

Never did they expect that upon meeting again, True Monarch Guiqi's disciple would first infiltrate the City of Villains, stir up a storm, and end up taking first place on the leaderboard.

After the small talk, Old Man Guishan casually brought up, "Fellow Daoist Yinhua, you've come at just the right time. A few fellow Daoists I know are organizing a private trading gathering for Nascent Soul cultivators in a few days. Would you care to join, fellow Daoist? Come along and sit in."

"As for virtuous niece Yuyao,"

He continued, "In half a month, there is an annual spiritual ore gathering at Yanyang Ping, which is quite lively. I'll have Baoyi take virtuous niece for a stroll, so the younger generation can interact and mingle."