Chapter 125 - 117: Fellow Daoists, Come for a Stroll in My Human Emperor Banner

’So just because you people grabbed that ghost bride and stuffed her in my coffin, they somehow owe you hundreds of thousands?!’

’What kind of twisted logic is that?’

A brilliant flash of light emanated from Lin Qingfeng’s hand, and a Soul Banner covered in countless grotesque, demonic faces materialized out of thin air!

The plain white mourning clothes he wore began to flutter and snap as if in a strong wind, though the air was still.

Then, he turned to the disciples behind him and shouted:

"Fellow junior brothers and sisters!

Since our counterparts don’t know what’s good for them, refuse to pay their debts, and are so utterly ungrateful and unjust!

We took such great care in ’marrying off’ the ghost bride, and now they dare to renege on the deal!

This is absolutely intolerable!"

"This is absolutely intolerable!"

Su Ling’er peered through the peephole and saw the other Guixi Sect disciples responding with a furious uproar.

"Exactly! How is this any different from taking a shit on our Guixi Sect’s head?!"

"This is absolutely intolerable!

My uncle might tolerate it, but my grandma sure as hell won’t!

They’re just a bunch of stinking beggar ghosts, yet they dare to challenge us?"

"Yeah!

We spent so much energy carefully delivering the ghost bride to their mansion, and they think they can just get our labor for free?

Do they think we’re easy to bully?!"

"There’s no other choice! We are a righteous and profound sect! When faced with such oppression, we must strike back without hesitation!"

Su Ling’er: "..."

’Righteous and profound sect?!’

’Have you no shame?!’

’If you had even a shred of decency, you wouldn’t be able to say such things!’

’Robbery, extortion, insulting the dead, twisting black and white...’

’And you call this the righteous path?!’

Lin Qingfeng turned to the two dried corpses and said in a compassionate tone:

"Of course, our sect is also extremely merciful.

We will only detain you to work for our sect for all eternity to repay your debt. Your souls will not be scattered and destroyed.

Even if you’re not good for much, you should still be able to till the fields, move Spirit Stones, or mine some ore, right?"

"Well then!"

"Guixi Sect business! All irrelevant parties, disperse!"

"Let’s get to work!"

At Lin Qingfeng’s command, the illusion of a funeral service that had shrouded the main hall was torn to shreds!

In an instant, the situation changed dramatically!

The disciples no longer concealed their Cultivation, and powerful auras instantly enveloped the entire area!

The lesser ghosts and guests in the wedding procession finally seemed to realize that this funeral procession wasn’t with them at all. In fact, they were far more powerful and terrifying!

They let out blood-curdling shrieks and began to flee in all directions.

Lin Qingfeng sneered and brandished the Soul Banner in his hand!

"Fellow Daoists, why don’t you take a trip inside my Human Emperor Banner!"

[Name]: Soul Banner

[Banner of Silence]

Once it guarded a lonely city, shielding countless homes,Where resentful souls of a thousand years turned to scattered dust.Today, no trace of compassion remains,Only an eternity of sorrow echoes from within.

The origin of this banner is lost to time; only a fragmented story remains.

In a distant age, a solitary city was perpetually plagued by wandering ghosts and spirits, and its people knew no peace.

A compassionate Cultivator, unable to bear the suffering of the living, refined this banner.

Its original purpose was not for slaughter, but to provide a sanctuary for homeless souls, a place where the Cultivator could use his own Daoist arts to slowly dissolve their resentment and guide them to eternal rest.

However, a sudden natural disaster descended, and the lonely city was annihilated.

Countless living beings died in fear and despair.

Their souls, burdened with endless resentment, were all sucked into the banner. The sheer number of souls and the intensity of their Resentful Power far exceeded the Cultivator’s control.

The once-peaceful "final home" inside the banner instantly transformed into a purgatory of mutual consumption.

The Cultivator’s benevolent intentions were completely eroded, and the banner’s very nature was twisted.

It forgot how to grant salvation, remembering only how to devour.

From then on, this Soul Banner wandered the world, becoming a malevolent artifact that craved only souls, devoid of any compassion.

After an unknown amount of time, the banner was acquired by a group of Cultivators who sought to use it against vicious beasts.

...

A tremendous suction force erupted from the banner, instantly enveloping all the lesser ghosts scattering in every direction!

These lesser yin spirits and the ghost gentleman from the painting had no power to resist and were all sucked into the Soul Banner.

Inside the coffin, Su Ling’er was stunned by the sight.

’A Soul Banner!’

’Could it be... this is what the Sect Leader was talking about? That the Ghost Spirit Sect specializes in using Soul Banners.’

’Is Senior Brother using the Ghost Spirit Sect’s Magic?’

’Aren’t you a Sword Cultivator?!’

’How come you not only know the Puppetry Technique, but now you’ve added Ghost Control Skill to your repertoire?’

’Just what is your background, huh?!’

’And... if you’re going to call it a Soul Banner, fine, but why call it the "Human Emperor Banner"?’

’Have you no shame?!’

’Is that how you’re supposed to use the name "Human Emperor"?!’

’Besides, that ghost gentleman looked so creepy, but it turns out he was just a paper tiger, huh?’

’Senior Brother makes one move and you get sucked right in?’

’How could you even think of marrying this ghost bride when you’re so weak?’

’Weren’t you afraid of being sucked dry?’

’Well, I guess it makes sense that you’re so frail. You don’t even have a physical body, just an earth-bound spirit.’

[Yin Spirit Atlas] Painted Male Ghost: Li Xiuwen (Collected)

[Name]: Painting Immortal Li Xiuwen

[Type]: Earth-bound Spirit

[Cultivation]: Approximately equivalent to late-stage Qi Cultivation

[Yin Spirit Poem: Xiuwen]

A painter’s brush can’t capture a young man’s intent,A dashing dream unreached, a life too early spent.By foolish hope on silk confined, a prisoner of art,A lonely soul now gazes on, watching days come and depart.

He was once the most talented scholar in the city, deeply in love with Ruolan. Their wedding date was set.

But fate is jealous of talent. A terrible illness confined him to his sickbed.

He knew his days were numbered, and his greatest regret was that he could not personally welcome Ruolan as his bride.

His parents sought out famous doctors for him, but in the end, nothing could be done.

In their desperation, a wandering Daoist came to their home, claiming to have a "miraculous method" that could ensure the young master’s "soul would not dissipate, allowing him to witness eternity."

Before the sickbed, the Daoist unfurled a scroll and began to paint, using a mixture of cinnabar and Li Xiuwen’s heart’s blood as ink.

His parents knelt beside him, tears streaming down their aged faces.

"My son, just bear with it for a moment. Once the Daoist casts his spell, you will live on forever in this painting. In the future, our family can still be ’reunited’..."

Li Xiuwen watched his own image slowly take form under the brush, feeling his soul being stripped away from his body, bit by bit, and drawn into the cold paper.

He wanted to resist, but he didn’t even have the strength to lift a finger.

The moment the final stroke was laid, he lost consciousness completely.

When he awoke, he was inside the painting.

The world was static. Only his gaze could penetrate the paper and see the world outside.

He stared at the empty wedding hall, eternally waiting for a bride who would never arrive.

...

However, she also breathed a small sigh of relief.

Her relief grew when she saw the two powerful dried corpses. They were taking advantage of the chaos caused by the fleeing lesser ghosts, using them as cover to escape the range of the Human Emperor Banner.

A wave of joy washed over Su Ling’er. ’It seems even these two old ghosts can only run from Senior Brother! They pose no threat at all!’

’That also means I’m safe!’

However, her happiness was short-lived. She saw the Senior Brother nicknamed "Ji" beside her suddenly slap the jade coffin she was in!

"BUZZ—!"

Countless inscriptions inside the jade coffin instantly lit up!

Phantoms of Black and White Impermanence emerged from the coffin’s inner walls!

Two majestic, stern shouts echoed through the main hall:

"Fierce ghosts, seize the soul!"

"Impermanence claims the life!"