Soul of the Revered Banner
Chapter 78: Drawing Evil

Clearly, Xue Yi did not fall into the category of those who could succeed.

Wen Yue had previously discussed the use of the Ghost Hands with Tu Shanjun, and after much deliberation, only one candidate came to mind, Master Xue.

He was a veteran of the battlefield, one who had walked through mountains of corpses and seas of blood. His will should pose no issue.

At forty, he was still at his peak. His qi and blood vigorous, more than enough to handle that object.

Whether one attained the strength of an Innate Grandmaster through personal breakthrough or through unorthodox means, so long as it could be used, it was worthwhile.

Wen Yue took out a jade box and placed it on the stone table. “Master Xue, what’s in this box may grant you the power of an Innate Grandmaster.”

Upon hearing this, Xue Yi was stunned on the spot.

His mouth fell open in disbelief as he stared at Wen Yue. “Young Master? You’re not joking?”

It was far too shocking.

But Xue Yi’s thoughts moved quickly. Since Old Xiang and the Young Master had both achieved the Innate Grandmaster realm and become cultivators, perhaps this secret technique truly could help him do the same.

His eyes instantly lit up with excitement, and his body trembled with anticipation.

He had never imagined that the Young Master would be willing to share such a profound secret.

Most who came upon such secrets would either guard them for life or take them to the grave.

That Wen Yue was willing to share it with him, such a gesture was beyond comprehension.

And now that two had already succeeded, it proved that the technique’s success rate was not low. Perhaps he, too, could glimpse the mysteries of the Innate realm, and become a cultivator capable of flying through the skies.

Shock, gratitude, excitement, all these emotions flooded Xue Yi’s face.

He immediately dropped to his knees and bowed his head. “I, Old Xue, am no good with words. But the Young Master treats me with sincerity, so I shall never betray that trust.”

Wen Yue helped him up and explained, “There’s no need for this. But I must make it clear to Master Xue, the success rate of this method isn’t high and it may come with side effects.”

“If I fail, I won’t blame the Young Master in the slightest,” Xue Yi promised earnestly, even though he was barely able to contain his anticipation.

Wen Yue opened the jade box.

Inside lay a pair of withered, bark-like hands.

The Ghost Hands were greenish-black. If one ignored their shriveled appearance, they almost resembled carved jade of a dark hue.

Gulp.

Xue Yi unconsciously swallowed.

His pupils shrank involuntarily.

He, too, had walked off the battlefield, and where there were too many dead, strange things often arose, filth born of blood and death.

So he recognized at a glance what this was. A chill crept through his entire body, his hair standing on end, and his internal energy instinctively stirred.

This object itself was the embodiment of evil.

Chu Jiu was equally shaken. Just seeing the hands made his skin crawl, and dread rose unbidden in his heart.

Supernatural matters were not unheard of, though the city was far safer than the desolate wilds thanks to its immortal master guardians.

But this was the first time Chu Jiu had ever laid eyes on a ghostly limb.

Wen Yue instructed, “Chu Jiu, guard the door. Don’t let anyone enter.”

“Understood, Young Master.”

Chu Jiu had no wish to stay anyway, those desiccated hands filled him with an instinctive terror.

Wen Yue then took out a sheet of paper and spread it beside the jade box. Upon it were written the incantation and the hand seals needed to activate the Ghost Hands.

He also handed over a dagger and said, “Master Xue, in a moment, you will drip your blood onto these hands. Then, recite the incantation and perform the hand seals.”

“If anything unusual happens, don’t panic.”

“Try to suppress it, control it, and master it.”

“I understand.”

Xue Yi accepted the dagger with a grave expression and stood tensely before the jade box.

Using the dagger, he cut his finger and squeezed out fresh blood.

The blood was instantly absorbed by the Ghost Hands, which swelled as though they had drunk deep of water.

Following Wen Yue’s cue, Xue Yi did not delay. He immediately began to recite the incantation and performed the hand seals as instructed.

As a Organ-Refining expert, he memorized the incantation at a glance, and mimicking the seals was no difficult task.

Moreover, this was an unorthodox secret art. Even a mundane martial artist could use the trace of spiritual energy in their inner qi to activate it.

As the hand seals activated, his inner qi circulated through his meridians.

The pair of Ghost Hands sprang from the box and latched onto Xue Yi’s own hands.

Then, they merged into him.

A black mist surged through his meridians, and sharp nails grew from Xue Yi’s fingertips.

Vein-like patterns crept up his arms, and his sclera turned black in an instant.

An aura of violence and deadly intent erupted.

Wen Yue stood ready, gripping the soul banner hidden in his robes, prepared to act at a moment’s notice.

Inside the soul banner, Tu Shanjun’s gaze was equally grave.

“Ah...”

A low, guttural growl escaped.

Xue Yi’s face twisted in agony, his body undergoing rapid ghostification.

His hands were completely assimilated by the Ghost Hands.

All trace of rationality vanished from Xue Yi. His eyes turned jet black, brimming with malice and bloodlust.

It was the purest essence of a ghost.

“Failed,” Tu Shanjun sighed within the soul banner.

Xue Yi’s consciousness had been completely suppressed by the Ghost Hands.

He was unable to control them, let alone master them. Instead, he had been overtaken.

Xue Yi's gaze turned ferocious, locking onto Wen Yue. When he caught sight of the soul banner in Wen Yue’s hand, a flicker of fear flashed in his eyes.

Controlled by the Ghost Hands, Xue Yi turned to flee.

Buzz.

The soul banner trembled.

Wen Yue immediately understood that it was time to act.

In three swift strides,

He pressed a palm infused with spiritual power onto Xue Yi’s shoulder, then forcibly ripped the Ghost Hands from him, and sealed them back into the jade box.

As soon as the Ghost Hands detached, the blackness faded from Xue Yi’s eyes, and the dark mist dissipated from his body.

His face was pale, but otherwise unharmed.

Clearly, his mind had returned.

Disappointment and doubt flickered in Wen Yue’s eyes. By all accounts, Xue Yi should have met the requirements. So why had he failed?

He parted his lips to speak,

“I know. I failed,” Xue Yi said quietly.

His expression was downcast, his eyes glinting with old memories.

He cast one last, lingering glance at the jade box, then shook his head.

At that, Wen Yue was left somewhat bewildered.

It seemed Xue Yi bore some private burden. Perhaps he already understood the reason he couldn’t suppress the Ghost Hands’ corruption.

Since the matter was settled, there was no reason to remain.

That afternoon, the three of them returned to the Marquis’ Estate by the ox cart.

After Xue Yi departed, Wen Yue couldn’t help but ask, “Teacher, if we had taught Master Xue the ‘Demon Ape Focus Fist,’ would he have been able to suppress the Ghost Hands?”

Black mist formed words upon the broad surface of the soul banner.

“His state of mind has flaws.”

When the heart harbors demons, it is all the easier for the ghosts outside to slip in.

It was not so much a matter of strength of will.

A flaw in the heart was like a seed buried deep. Even if one’s soul was as resilient as iron, that seed could still force its way out and tear it apart.

For cultivators, this was what was called a heart demon.

Moreover, while the Demon Ape Focus Fist was easy to begin learning, it required slow, grinding practice. To truly master it took epiphany.

The growth in soul strength over a few years of practice could hardly compare to the might of the Ghost Hands.

That technique was meant for cultivators. Only with a long lifespan could one fully master it. Most mortal martial artists could never grasp its essence.

Seeing the black characters form on the banner’s surface, Wen Yue sighed inwardly.

He had hoped Master Xue could gain the power of an Innate Grandmaster. He hadn’t expected that the flaw lay within Xue Yi himself.

In the blink of an eye, three days passed.

It was time for the bride to return to her maiden home.

Naturally, Wen Yue had to accompany her.

(Chapter End)