Soul of the Revered Banner
Chapter 62: Master

Half a month.

Between nourishment and cultivation, his body had been elevated to what Wen Yue considered the optimal state.

The Demon Ape Focus Fist had begun to show its initial insights, strengthening his divine soul while suppressing the malevolent qi injuries brought by the ghost entity, and eliminating the influences caused by the Blood Fiend Great Method.

Through nearly two months of contact, Wen Yue had roughly understood what kind of being the malevolent ghost of cultivation cliff was.

This one preferred quietude, enjoyed reading books, and was taciturn by nature.

This person's love of reading was not feigned either. Every time after finishing fist practice, the primary soul ghost would always produce from somewhere a book of unknown style containing classical texts for careful study, even using mist to conduct simulations.

All of this Wen Yue observed clearly.

For Tu Shanjun, this was a method born of necessity.

The books he read were all extracted qi cultivation methods and magical techniques. The cultivation methods needed to be thoroughly understood before he could teach the banner master, and the magical techniques also had research directions for new applications in reality.

Without spiritual power to support him, he couldn't leave the Revered Soul Banner and could only rely on fist practice and reading to pass the time.

Secondly, to improve combat effectiveness.

Only by familiarizing himself with the strengths and weaknesses of cultivation methods and being able to integrate them could he guide the banner master. Only by understanding magical techniques thoroughly could he deploy them in battle and make certain improvements.

In summary, diligent study and hard practice were urgent matters that brooked no delay.

Sometimes Wen Yue would feel that the one sitting there reading was not a ghost at all, but a 'person.'

If one ignored his external appearance, he actually seemed quite agreeable.

The primary soul ghost could write, but for some unknown reason had never once opened his mouth to speak.

Perhaps he had not yet gained the primary soul ghost's recognition.

This was inevitably a regrettable matter.

Speaking of which, Wen Yue was already a young man, and he himself didn't speak much either.

After entering cultivation cliff, he simply practiced, then inquired of Tu Shanjun about cultivation method issues.

Tu Shanjun wrote answers with mist and clearly pointed out the three key points for breaking through to the Innate realm, also telling Wen Yue about the Revered Soul Banner's effects on breakthrough.

Under Tu Shanjun's supervision, Wen Yue had already memorized the Blood Fiend Great Method backwards and forwards, and had also used internal energy to conduct simulations.

It could be said that everything was prepared.

On this day.

Above his head was a clear blue sky with white clouds, and a gentle breeze blew softly.

Wen Yue stood before Tu Shanjun and took a deep breath, his eyes gleaming with light.

"I am ready."

"The acupoints throughout my body are ninety percent opened. The remaining ten percent should be able to be completely broken through simultaneously when stepping into the Innate realm." Wen Yue's voice differed from his usual calm, carrying several notes of change.

It was tension that even he himself could feel.

Even with Yin Soul Pills as supplements to solidify internal energy and strengthen the body.

The five organs and six viscera of the Organ Refining realm operated in endless cycles, perpetually regenerating.

But Wen Yue still didn't have great confidence in returning from Acquired to Innate.

"Impacting the Innate realm is very dangerous."

Especially impacting the Innate realm while injured was fraught with countless perils.

Although Baihu Xiang had a disabled arm, he had no stubborn injuries. He could use the divine banner as a bodily extension to circulate internal energy repeatedly, supplemented by pill pearls to transform internal energy, turning the deficient dantian into a flowing lake to strike the water.

Without this method, Xiang Hu would have been burst apart by the internal energy within his body at the step where his body couldn't circulate.

Even if he expelled the internal energy, without replenishment, he likewise couldn't complete the Great Cycle, and would absolutely fall short of success in the end.

Although he might possibly remain in the so-called Innate realm, it would take an unknown amount of time to transform his pure internal energy into spiritual power.

People of the martial world lacked subsequent cultivation methods, so after their breakthrough, most remained in a state of half-qi-cultivator, half-martial-artist, rarely making any progress.

Lacking cultivation methods, heavenly materials and earthly treasures, and famous teachers' guidance, the Innate realm could only be explored on one's own, making it even more difficult.

Compared to them, Wen Yue felt he was already quite fortunate.

The three components had combined into the Ghost-Faced Divine Banner that appeared before him, and within the divine banner was a malevolent ghost mister who taught cultivation methods and guided him in the scriptures.

If he told others about this, they probably wouldn't believe it.

All of this was due to Xiang Hu's arrangements.

"If I can stand up, I will go to the battlefield, restore our borders, and protect our people."

"Please assist me, master."

Wen Yue drew circles with both hands before his body, cupped his hands forward, lowered his head in salute, performing the ritual of a disciple.

A deep bow.

More like taking a master.

In this era, the master-disciple relationship was respected and acknowledged. Once one took a master, it represented being marked with a label.

The master-disciple relationship was even more rigorous and conservative.

Because cultivation was inherently the most unique skill between heaven and earth. Learning such skills was fortunate. Therefore, wanting to take a master required even more effort to demonstrate one's sincerity and character.

With poor character, if a master took a disciple who would betray and destroy the master, in the end the master would have to clean house himself, or have his fellow disciples clean house.

Take medical apprentices for example, first three years of helping serve tea and water, cleaning, carrying chamber pots, passing towels, taking on all the dirty and tiring work, and still having to present several strings of cash as apprenticeship fees.

Otherwise, people wouldn't accept them.

Someone like Tu Shanjun, who taught cultivation methods for free, provided Yin Soul Pills, and guided with scriptures, such a good person couldn't be found even with a lantern.

Therefore, Wen Yue decisively took him as master.

Tu Shanjun was instead at a loss, slightly stunned, then his face couldn't help but show some nervous awkwardness.

He reached out his hands, helping up would be inappropriate, not helping up would also be inappropriate, his empty hands actually hung suspended in mid-air.

He also didn't understand what Wen Yue was doing.

Requesting someone to come out of retirement?

Or taking a master?

He had no experience with this matter either.

He was truly caught completely off guard.

Wen Yue, who had lowered his head in salute, waited for a long time without hearing any sound or movement.

Silent and quiet, as if this entire world had stopped.

Suddenly, Wen Yue, who had been bowing his head, chuckled softly.

Then he laughed out loud.

He was somewhat doubting what he was even doing.

It should be that this one from cultivation cliff was too much like it.

Too much like a qualified master, making him involuntarily bow his head in submission.

Only after bowing did he remember that he had never actually heard the cultivation cliff malevolent ghost's voice.

Their usual communication was always him speaking, then the master using mist to condense into floating text.

He hadn't noticed before, but now he realized that their previous communication was very harmonious, and it made him overlook many details.

Wen Yue sighed deeply: "I forgot, truly forgot."

"Forgot that Master cannot speak."

"Also forgot that Master might not quite understand my actions." Wen Yue's voice carried some melancholy.

Perhaps he was just under too much pressure and needed to confide, to depend on someone, and to have others' support.

Even if it was a malevolent ghost of unknown origin.

Tu Shanjun, who had been somewhat startled by Wen Yue's laughter, heard Wen Yue's words and let his suspended hands fall.

Tu Shanjun still reached out his ghostly hand to help Wen Yue up.

His expression serious and solemn, he patted Wen Yue's shoulder and nodded slightly.

Wen Yue looked at Tu Shanjun with surprise and bowed again excitedly: "Master!"

Tu Shanjun waved his hand, and black mist condensed into four large characters: "Successful breakthrough."

"Successful breakthrough!"

The wind and clouds drifted lightly.

The clear blue sky transformed into candlelight, illuminating Wen Yue's face.

Wen Yue suddenly opened his eyes and only then clearly saw that before him was Chu Jiu holding an oil lamp.

"Young Master, did you have a nightmare?"

"A nightmare?"

Hearing this, Wen Yue couldn't help but smile gently.

Having ghosts in dreams might be nightmares for others, but the ghost in his dream was quite different.

"Bathe and change clothes."

Wen Yue paused for a moment, exhaled a long breath and said: "I am going to break through."

Chu Jiu's face showed joy, his expression delighted as he said: "Is Young Master breaking through to become an Organ Refining realm martial artist?"

Wen Yue neither confirmed nor denied, giving no clear answer, only nodding his head.

Actually, it wasn't the Organ Refining realm, but the Innate realm, becoming a Qi Refining cultivator.

(Chapter End)