He immediately stood up and said in a deep voice, "Thank you for the kind offer, Daoist Wu, but Iâm afraid Iâll have to pass on this Ghost Soul Lotus."
With that, he left the secret room.
Wu Shengâs expression immediately darkened.
A glint of killing intent appeared in his eyes as he watched Li Changâanâs retreating figure.
âSomeone this talented must serve my Yin Soul Sect. Since he refuses to join us alive, his soul and refined corpse will have to contribute instead.â
Sensing this killing intent, Zhao Mingâs face paled.
He steeled himself and said, "Wu Protector, Li Fan has a formidable reputation. Heâs not an easy man to deal with. In my opinion, it would be best to maintain our current..."
"Hm?"
Wu Shengâs face was grim, his icy gaze fixed on Zhao Ming.
"Zhao Ming, remember your place!"
"Yes. I spoke out of turn."
Zhao Ming lowered his head, his expression terrified and his heart filled with unease.
Wu Sheng said no more.
He rose, walked out of the secret room, and began tracking the trail of Li Changâanâs aura.
Back in the secret room.
Zhao Ming sighed to himself.
âWu Protectorâs power is immense. Iâm afraid Daoist Li wonât be able to escape this disaster. What a shame.â
...
At that moment, Wu Sheng had already given chase and was outside the Black Market.
However, he hadnât been chasing for long before he lost Li Changâanâs trail.
âThatâs strange. Could Li Fan have realized I was tracking him?â
Wu Sheng paused mid-air, a flicker of doubt crossing his mind.
Just then.
A beam of Cyan Wood Divine Light erupted before him, striking him instantly.
BOOM!
Wu Shengâs entire body convulsed as his Protective Treasures shattered all at once.
Only then did he realize.
Li Changâan was right in front of him!
âThis Li Fan actually possesses such a masterful Concealing Technique!â
Wu Sheng was horrified.
Before he could react, a second beam of Cyan Wood Divine Light slammed mercilessly into him.
The two successive beams of Cyan Wood Divine Light blasted Wu Sheng deep into the earth below.
Then.
A third beam of divine light descended from the sky.
Wu Sheng was instantly obliterated, reduced to a mist of blood.
"Come!"
Li Changâan waved his hand, collecting the manâs Soul and Storage Pouch. He then erased all traces of the Magical Combat and his own aura before departing at high speed.
The entire battle, from start to finish, had taken less than five breaths.
And just like that, the Protector from the Yin Soul Sect had fallen.
Li Changâan had initially considered using a Wood Seed to control the man, but he was, after all, backed by a mysterious and unpredictable Demonic Sect.
Through his interactions with Zhao Ming over the years, Li Changâan had learned that his Sect had a Nascent Soul Old Monster within its ranks.
The Golden Core Master who had come to the Southern Domain Cultivation Immortality Realm to establish a Sub-Sect was that very old monsterâs disciple.
As for Nascent Soul Powerhouses.
Li Changâan had always been deeply wary of them.
Although the Wood Seed Technique was extraordinary, it was something he had devised himself, and he feared a Nascent Soul Old Monster might see through it.
Therefore.
âKilling him was the safest option!â
He had no desire for a Nascent Soul Old Monster to come knocking.
Next, Li Changâan changed direction, entered the Black Dragon Mountain Range, and found a secluded spot.
He erased the restriction on Wu Shengâs Storage Pouch, opened it, and inspected the Treasures inside.
âGhost Soul Lotus!â
Li Changâanâs eyes lit up and he took it out.
The lotus had nine petals. It was rumored to grow only in lands of extreme yin, making it exceptionally rare and valuable.
The Venerable Soul Bannerâs Artifact Spirit immediately communicated its intense craving.
"Master, this item... itâs... itâs good for me..."
"Not yet. Wait. This isnât a good place for you to advance a tier."
Li Changâan carefully put the Ghost Soul Lotus away and continued to inspect the other Treasures.
A short while later.
He took out a Small Bronze Cauldron.
This type of Small Bronze Cauldron was identical to the Treasure Zhao Ming used for their tradesâit was a Spiritual Artifact designed to contain Souls.
Inside this small cauldron were a full ten thousand Souls!
âPerfect! Now I have enough Souls!â
A look of delight appeared on Li Changâanâs face.
With the power provided by these ten thousand Souls, the Evil Soul would be strong enough to rival a Fake Pill cultivator.
He put away the small cauldron and continued taking inventory.
Most of the Treasures in the Storage Pouch were Demonic Treasures. There were even two Earth Grade Demonic Cultivation Techniques.
However, none of them were useful to Li Changâan.
Some of them, however, could be fed to the Venerable Soul Banner.
About an hour later.
Li Changâan took all the suspicious items out of the Storage Pouch, buried them deep underground, erased his own aura, and then left the Black Dragon Mountain Range.
...
A little over two hours later.
Li Changâan returned to Changqing Mountain and entered his cave residence.
He went to the depths of his cave residence, took out the Venerable Soul Banner, and absorbed the ten thousand Souls from the Small Bronze Cauldron into it.
At this point.
The number of Souls inside the Soul Banner had reached a staggering 150,000!
Li Changâan took out the Ghost Soul Lotus and placed it before the Soul Banner.
"Eat. Itâs time to advance."
The moment he finished speaking.
A thick black mist surged from the Venerable Soul Banner and eagerly devoured the Ghost Soul Lotus.
Within the black mist, the Venerable Soul Bannerâs aura began to climb steadily, gradually approaching the level of a Tier Three Treasure.
The advancement went very smoothly.
A quarter of an hour later, the black mist dissipated.
A brand-new Venerable Soul Banner appeared before Li Changâan, its aura having reached Tier Three!
âNot bad!â
A look of joy appeared on Li Changâanâs face as he gripped the Venerable Soul Banner.
Next.
He communicated with the Artifact Spirit and confirmed that the Soul Bannerâs Tier had reached Tier Three Low Grade, which was sufficient to suppress an Evil Soul at the Fake Pill Level.
"Master, you... you can rest assured. Itâs only the Main Soul of a Fake Pill cultivator. I can suppress it with ease."
"In that case, letâs put it to the test."
With a single thought, Li Changâan activated the Soul Bannerâs power, drawing on the strength of the 150,000 Sub-Souls within the Venerable Soul Banner and channeling it all into the Evil Soul.
The Evil Soulâs power skyrocketed. In the blink of an eye, it surpassed the Foundation Establishment Limit and continued to climb higher.
Its aura grew increasingly terrifying as it rapidly approached another level of power.
A moment later.
The Evil Soulâs aura surged violently, crossing the threshold into that next realm.
"Heh heh heh! I can finally rival a Fake Pill cultivator!"
The Evil Soul planted its hands on its hips and threw its head back with a wild laugh. Its face was a mask of arrogance, its confidence swelling in tandem with its newfound power.
But in the next instant.
Li Changâan again used the Soul Bannerâs power, draining the strength of the numerous Sub-Souls from its body.
The Evil Soulâs aura plummeted, rapidly returning to its original level.
It instantly wilted like a frost-bitten flower, its head hanging low in utter dejection.
The smile on Li Changâanâs face, however, only grew wider.
His perpetually tense nerves finally eased at this moment.
âFinally, I have access to Tier Three Power whenever I need it!â