Under the decisive and unwavering affirmations of Zhang Sanshui and Li Yiyun, Zhang Tianwang’s psychological defenses were chipped away bit by bit, leaving him to reluctantly accept their excessively perfunctory common names.
Tianwang was still dwelling on Li Yiyun’s barbed remarks, unable to swallow his pride either way. He had started practicing Qi at nine, reached Foundation Establishment at nineteen, and achieved the Golden Core stage at twenty-one. Although his cultivation speed could not compare to Immortal Master Shen Shu of the Four Directions Pavilion, he was still a widely noticed prodigy in the cultivation world. How could he possibly let himself be lectured by a nobody?
He let out a light snort and summoned a yellow spirit banner from his Qiankun pouch. The banner was completely covered in dense, tiny red characters, their trailing tails looking like dripping blood, appearing fierce and chilling.
“Isn’t it just wanting to know what resentment caused the Ancestral Witch to be born?” Tianwang hung the soul banner high, channeled his spiritual power, and used his right hand to invoke a divine technique. “This is the Fate-Binding Banner. Sealed inside are the memories of the Ancestral Witch before his death. They will flow past swiftly like a revolving lantern, pausing only at the moments that left the deepest impression on him. My spiritual power has only recovered by thirty percent right now, so I can only unlock a small portion of the seal for half an hour. Don’t you want to break the formation? Do you dare go inside and try?”
“However, I will make my ugly words clear first. Although the contents inside the Fate-Binding Banner are merely memory projections, they are no different from reality. Those with weak minds can easily lose themselves within it, and quite a few people have gone mad upon emerging from the banner. If you are afraid, just say so straight out; I certainly will not laugh at you.”
Although these words were addressed to both of them, Tianwang’s slightly contemptuous gaze remained fixed squarely on Pei Zizhuo, as if he wanted to force him to admit defeat.
Pei Zizhuo faintly curved the corners of his lips and said with lingering interest, “I have always heard that the Cangyang Sect is adept at capturing ghosts, and I originally thought they were just a bit more hot-tempered than ordinary cultivators. I never expected you to harbor such exquisite techniques. It truly is admirable.”
“You.” Tianwang’s eyes widened in fury. If he had not been in the middle of holding up the soul banner and acting inconveniently, he definitely would have stepped forward to argue a few points.
Pei Zizhuo stopped while he was ahead, raised his eyes, and swept a glance across the soul banner. The yellow banner had a somewhat rigid texture; its color was deep yet not dark, unlike ordinary immortal silk, and looked more like it originated from the Soul-Eating Silk of Mount Buzhou. No wonder it could absorb soul power.
There was no doubt about this item, but the person using it.
A gaze of scrutiny shot straight over from Pei Zizhuo, those phoenix eyes unreservedly revealing his suspicion. Tianwang crossed his brows, gritted his molars, and angrily snapped, “Surname Li, what do you mean by that?”
Shen Shu knew of the Cangyang Sect’s secret techniques and harbored no further doubts. He sat cross-legged facing the soul banner and said in a clear voice, “Little Brother Tianwang is generous, willing to take out a unique secret technique to save people. In that case, I am also willing to sacrifice myself to give it a try for the sake of the people of Baling. If we can truly find the Ancestral Witch’s grievance under your guidance and break this formation, Little Brother Tianwang’s honorable name will surely resound throughout the six realms.”
This time, Tianwang was placated into feeling much more at ease. He simply cast a glance aside, refusing to look at Pei Zizhuo so as not to bring trouble upon himself, and likewise sat down cross-legged on the ground.
“Ahem, I am doing this for the sake of subduing demons and eliminating devils; it is not that utilitarian. Sit properly now and focus your mind,” Tianwang cleared his throat and said.
Shen Shu’s words could also be considered spoken for Pei Zizhuo’s benefit, meant to dispel any doubts Pei might have had about Tianwang’s actions, because after all, since it was a unique family skill, he could set his mind at ease.
Seeing that Pei Zizhuo was also leisurely seating himself beside Shen Shu, Tianwang closed his eyes, let out a cold snort, and exhausted every sentiment of how the world had grown cold. He raised his hand, pressed his wrist, and softly murmured a single word: “Open.”
In the blink of an eye, the fly-head-sized characters on the yellow banner drifted up and floated in the air. The bright red characters appeared exceptionally stark amidst the heavy mist, resembling falling petals of red plum blossoms or congealing droplets of fresh blood, gorgeous yet terrifying.
A silent coercion crept slowly over Shen Shu’s entire body as the characters expanded, and a bizarre, stinging pain bypassed his skin and flesh to strike directly at his heart, tightening it with a sudden grip.
Shen Shu had not expected this pain to arrive so quickly, and he could not help but frown and groan softly. Then, the back of his hand grew cool as a pair of slightly chilly hands firmly grasped his before slipping away into the void.
He paused slightly for a moment, and in the next second, countless starlight rays shone from his brows, eyes, mouth, and nose across his entire body. His vision turned pristine white, his body felt abruptly light, and a majestic wave of bell-chimes rang out beside his ears, sounding exceptionally solemn and dignified.
“The northwest has been suppressed by the barbarians for a long time. From high-ranking ministers down to the common people, all have suffered bitterly. Today, the Mighty and Awe-Inspiring Army has won a great victory, boosting the morale and national prestige of our Yan Dynasty! I am overjoyed from the bottom of my heart and have reason to heavily reward the meritorious officials. I hear there is a scout, one who suffered heavy injuries yet traveled day and night, braving bitter cold and scorching sun, risking his life to deliver a message: a blood-robed scout of utmost loyalty and gallantry. Which brave warrior is this?”
The blinding light gradually receded. Shen Shu slowly opened his eyes to a field of brilliant imperial yellow. Passing through the embroidered soaring-dragon silk, he saw an upright and imposing golden-carved dragon throne, upon which sat a dignified man, none other than the Emperor of the Yan Dynasty.
“Reporting to Your Majesty, this humble official is the Ancestral Witch. This was originally my bounden duty, and I am deeply favored by Your Majesty’s immense kindness in bestowing upon me the title of blood-robed scout,” the Ancestral Witch was dressed in short, dark-green warrior garb, kneeling on both knees and kowtowing.
“These are the Ancestral Witch’s memories before his death, but at this time he still looks quite upright,” Tianwang stood on the opposite side, folding his arms to watch the show.
It was Shen Shu’s first time entering the Fate-Binding Banner. He looked all around, unable to spot a single thing different from reality; it was truly an immersive experience. If not for Tianwang’s deliberate reminder, he genuinely would have thought he had traveled back in time through space, continuously marveling inwardly at the wonder of it all.
Turning his head, he saw Pei Zizhuo standing beside the Ancestral Witch, observing with careful attention. Noticing Shen Shu’s gaze cast toward him, Pei lazily lifted his eyelids to shoot a glance back at him.
Their lines of sight collided from a distance. Shen Shu involuntarily blinked, felt the lingering coolness still remaining on the back of his hand, and responded with a light smile.
He is smiling again, Pei Zizhuo muttered inwardly. Does he feel like I am standing too far away and trying to lure me over? Well, I will not let him have his way.
He was plotting his next move when he saw Tianwang, utterly lacking in situational awareness, marching straight toward Danxiao, bouncing along from the side to tag along. Was this not just like a minor ghost kowtowing to a heavenly master and walking right into a trap?
Shen Shu knew nothing of these thoughts. He turned his gaze around a full circle and let it fall back onto the Ancestral Witch. Just as Tianwang had said, although the Ancestral Witch was kneeling on the ground at this moment, he could not conceal an aura of righteousness. It was truly impossible to imagine why he would transform into a fierce ghost after death.
“Lift your head so I can see just how heroic the meritorious officials of the Mighty and Awe-Inspiring Army are,” the Emperor of the Yan Dynasty commanded with a voice like a booming bell, full of supreme majesty.
The Ancestral Witch’s figure paused slightly. He slowly stood up, his face entirely covered by a black iron mask, leaving only openings for his eyes and nose.
“Audacious scout! How dare you wear a mask in the presence of the Emperor! Where is your respect?” A eunuch with high-pitched tones immediately stepped forward to reprimand him.
“Reporting to Your Majesty, this humble official was injured by barbarian poison, causing my face to fester and swell with pus. It is truly too unsightly and I was deeply afraid of disturbing the Imperial carriage, which is why I appear before you wearing a mask,” the Ancestral Witch pleaded guilty.
“You have suffered, Minister,” the Emperor prided himself on royal majesty and felt no fear toward such things. Waving a hand, he said, “You are a meritorious official of the Great Yan, and this injury was suffered to save all the people under heaven. It is a matter of absolute honor. Never mind that, take off the mask so I can take a look.”
An imperial decree was hard to disobey. Reluctant as he was, the Ancestral Witch had no choice but to remove the black iron mask, exposing a face of extreme festering decay publicly before all the officials.
No one knew what potent poison the barbarians had used to cause his entire face to sprout pus-filled sores. Where the swollen blisters had ruptured, raw red and white flesh was visible. Eyebrows, eyes, nose, and lips were all fouled and ruined beyond recognition, making it impossible to distinguish his facial features. On that entire face, not a single inch of healthy skin could be found.
Everyone present gasped in unison upon seeing this, thoroughly terrified by an appearance rivaling that of an Asura. Even Tianwang bared his teeth in grimaces, unable to stop himself from showing utter disgust as he muttered, “Too ugly!”
Shen Shu sighed and said, “The wounds on his face were sustained for the sake of the country and the people. If not for the Ancestral Witch being riddled with a thousand holes back then, how could that person sitting high upon the throne today enjoy the fruits of others’ labor?”
Tianwang leaned his ear over to listen, then walked a bit closer, tilting his head to appraise Shen Shu as he remarked, “Hearing you say things like that almost reminds me of someone.”
“Who?” Shen Shu asked cautiously.
“Shen Shu, of the Four Directions Pavilion.”