Soul of the Revered Banner
Chapter 74: Nurturing Evil

"Soul Inquiry."

[Extract]

[Nurturing Evil (Incomplete Manual)]

[Qi Cultivation Technique (Partially Damaged, First Layer)]

Tu Shanjun absorbed the skill seed and discovered that this art bore striking similarities to the Blood Refining Method.

Cultivators' magical tools required tempering through the use of spiritual power, this was true for all tools, without exception.

Of course, to deepen one’s mastery over these tools, the method of Blood Refinement was developed.

By feeding the tool with one’s essence blood, the bond and familiarity could be rapidly strengthened.

The specifics depended on the number of days spent refining, the techniques used, and the density of the sacrificial blood.

Ultimately, the goal was for the weapon to obey like an extension of one’s body: a mere thought would cause spiritual power to naturally flow into the tool.

Most flying swords, for example, were refined using the blood method.

The Nurturing Evil art, however, forged its own path by using essence blood to feed the physical form of a ghostly creature.

Hand seals and incantations were used to stimulate and cultivate the ghostly body.

Once the evil spirit was invited into the body, the ghost hands would then attach to the caster’s own hands.

Tu Shanjun could only access the accumulated experience related to the Nurturing Evil technique.

In truth, Shen Huan was originally a street magician who had trained his hands for over twenty years.

His skill in the“Three Immortals Returning to the Cave" trick was refined to near perfection.

Even so, he remained far inferior to his master, Ghost Hand Shen.

That master had wandered the world for thirty years.

Even under close surveillance, he could perform illusions unnoticed and undetected.

It wasn’t until Shen Huan was permitted into the inner chamber and became a true disciple that he learned the truth: it had never been mere sleight of hand. The master truly possessed a pair of ghost hands.

From that day on, the name Ghost Hand Shen passed to him.

The young man was not content with earning a few coins from parlor tricks, and thus delved deeper into this art, crafting it into a killing technique.

There was no denying Mister Shen’s talent. By his early thirties, he had already stepped into the Organ-Refining Realm.

Then, using the Nurturing Evil method, he refined ghost hands onto himself.

Just as he had said, even an Innate Grandmaster was no match for him.

But he had never imagined that Wen Yue was no Innate Grandmaster.

He was a Qi Refining cultivator who had used the Turtle Spirit Breath-Holding Technique to conceal both his spiritual aura and spiritual power fluctuations.

As for that fragmentary Qi Refining Technique, it remained unclear where Shen had acquired it.

Following Tu Shanjun’s advice, Wen Yue found a jade box and sealed the ghost hands inside.

Then he began pondering how to eliminate Zheng Zhong.

Zheng Zhong was the chief eunuch, second only to Gao Quan. In fact, due to Gao Quan's waning influence, Zheng Zhong’s standing in Emperor Liang’s eyes had grown even stronger. Silently disposing of him would be no easy task.

“Teacher, what if I just sneak into the palace?”

Wen Yue turned to Tu Shanjun, making a throat-slitting gesture as he spoke.

But even he realized he was being reckless.

Even if the deed were to be done, charging headlong would not do.

The lessons of the past were clear.

As a young master, and the bridge linking two noble houses through marriage, holding both the Annan Marquis’s and Jing’an Marquis’s powers, he bore responsibility for those who followed him.

Tu Shanjun couldn’t help a dry laugh. This was the downside of newfound strength.

After all, using force to clear obstacles was quick and clean, far simpler than deploying schemes.

But such action was too dangerous.

After some thought, Tu Shanjun shook his head.

He had sensed a concentration of baleful qi in that direction. Clearly, there were Qi Refining Cultivators stationed within the palace.

If Wen Yue acted, the cultivators of the Offering Pavilion would soon swarm him.

Wen Yue, with his current strength at the fourth layer of Qi Refining, could not possibly break free.

If the cultivators from the Five Spirits Sect were alerted, the consequences would be dire.

It simply wasn’t worth incurring such risk for one eunuch.

Still, they couldn’t let that eunuch continue unchecked.

If he were allowed to roam free, he would continue to oppose Wen Yue and set traps in his path.

A thousand days guarding against a thief, was that even possible?

Plots and intrigues were hard to guard against indeed.

So someone had to be found to entangle Zheng Zhong, even if they couldn’t kill him, they had to suppress him and stop his wicked influence.

“Use another’s blade.”

Tu Shanjun conjured four large characters from dark mist.

Hearing this, Wen Yue’s eyes lit up.

If one were to name Zheng Zhong’s greatest enemy, it could only be Chief Eunuch Gao Quan.

Gao Quan regarded Zheng Zhong as a thorn in his side and would never allow him to rise.

Because as long as Zheng Zhong thrived, Gao Quan’s own fortunes would decline.

If they leaked this matter to Gao Quan, then for the sake of his own life, he would spare no effort to suppress Zheng Zhong in the palace.

Even if he couldn’t kill him, it would at least prevent him from meddling again.

“Brilliant!”

Wen Yue couldn’t help but nod.

The most effective plans were always direct and simple.

Fewer moving parts meant fewer uncertainties.

No matter how elaborate a scheme, it had to work on people and people were the most changeable of all.

Tu Shanjun felt that even without his guidance, Wen Yue would have come to this realization given time, he had already endured much.

Life’s upheavals honed one’s will and shaped maturity, caution, and wisdom.

Since there was nothing more to be said, Tu Shanjun made no move to linger.

His manifested form consumed Wen Yue’s spiritual power, it was best to conserve it.

“Respectfully sending Teacher off.”

Wen Yue cupped his fists and bowed.

Though Tu Shanjun cared little for formalities, being shown respect was still pleasant. It made helping others feel worthwhile.

The teacher returned to the soul banner, which Wen Yue then shrank to a foot in length under his control.

He reached out and tugged a string in the room.

This string was connected to a bell in the side chamber, where Chu Jiu usually stayed.

Hearing it, he rushed over but before he could speak, Wen Yue had already instructed him to grind ink and prepare paper.

Chu Jiu trimmed the lamp’s wick. The candlelight flared bright, casting swaying shadows on the wall.

Wen Yue took up the brush and began drafting a secret letter.

He revised it over and over until satisfied.

The content was short, but the message was clear and sharp. The attempted assassination was reworded and somewhat exaggerated, yet even if Gao Quan saw through it, he would still take it seriously.

He sealed the letter inside a wax pellet.

“Chu Jiu, send this to that person in the palace tomorrow.”

“Don’t worry, Young Master. That one’s been keeping close contact with us.”

With arrangements made, Wen Yue returned to his cultivation.

As midnight passed,

He lay flat on his bed and gradually drifted to sleep.

Upon opening his eyes, he was already at the cultivation cliff.

By now, this had become routine for Wen Yue.

In dream and waking life alike, he practiced diligently and relentlessly.

His dreams only lightly affected his rest, it was equivalent to gaining extra nighttime hours for training.

Top priority was martial training.

The Demon Ape Focus Fist could strengthen the divine soul. With a fortified soul, one could naturally resist the blood fiend technique’s baleful influence.

Combined with spiritual power to dispel lingering effects, the Blood Fiend Grand Method had little impact on Wen Yue.

Next came military study.

Since he aspired to be a general, he could hardly afford to ignore military classics.

Wen Yue didn’t believe he could lead troops into battle without knowing the basics, that would be irresponsible toward his soldiers.

Victory may be the goal, but he had to bring his men back alive.

Tu Shanjun’s lifestyle was equally simple, When bored, he went out for fresh air.

Wen Yue treated him as a teacher, and any small request would be fulfilled.

Otherwise, he focused on practicing martial forms, visualizations, delving into techniques, and studying scriptures and classical texts.

The most complete technique in his possession remained the Blood Fiend Grand Method, but even that only covered the first six layers of Qi Refining. Though he was currently at the fourth layer, Wen Yue knew he must prepare in advance.

He also needed to find a suitable host for the ghost hands.

Losing too much essence blood would shorten one’s life. Using mortal flesh to wield ghost hands would also damage one’s foundation.

The user had to at least be at the Organ-Refining Realm, any weaker and the ghost hands would overwhelm them.

“The method of using ghost hands…”

Tu Shanjun compiled a detailed manual on its use.

Wen Yue mulled it over and realized there seemed to be only one person suitable for it.

“If one were to wield the ghost hands, it would harm their lifespan and have considerable side effects.” Wen Yue hesitated. He wasn’t sure if he should tell Xue Yi.

Still, when it came to power, everything could be discussed.

(Chapter End)