"What is this?"
Lu Li felt this small banner didn't look like anything good.
The plump Deacon chuckled, "This is called the Blood Soul Banner. As for its grade, right now it can only be considered an ordinary Mysterious Artifact because there are no Yin souls inside; it was merely tainted with some blood when it was forged."
"Tainted with blood?"
"Indeed. This small banner came from a rogue cultivator who was wantonly slaughtering young boys and girls within the borders of Liangzhou. I was ordered to go and execute him, and incidentally took this Blood Soul Banner. At that time, it had already been soaking in blood for three years. Though useless to me, it is quite suitable for a low-level cultivator like you."
Saying this, the plump Deacon paused briefly before continuing, "Moreover, from what I understand, this Blood Soul Banner can grow. The more blood and souls it devours, the stronger it becomes."
"More importantly, it is currently only a Mysterious Artifact, so Qi Refining stage cultivators can also control it. If it were a Magical Artifact, you wouldn't be able to use it at all."
The cultivation world's generally recognized classification for defensive equipment and weapons is: Mysterious Artifacts, Magical Artifacts, Dharma Treasures, Spirit Weapons... Normally, Qi Refining stage cultivators can at most use Mysterious Artifacts, Foundation Establishment cultivators use Magical Artifacts, and Golden Core cultivators can refine Dharma Treasures.
"How about it? Interested?"
"Forget it. I always feel this thing is too sinister, and I don't have the contribution points to buy it anyway," Lu Li said, shaking his head.
Putting aside everything else, this item had actually been soaking in blood for three years-and the blood of young boys and girls at that. Just how much resentment must it carry?
"Kid, are you truly not considering it? You should know that in the cultivation world, strength is what matters most. There are no sinister things in this world, only sinister people." The plump Deacon seemed extremely keen on having Lu Li purchase the Blood Soul Banner.
"Then why don't you use it yourself?" Hearing the fat man say this, Lu Li felt a flicker of temptation.
Even from afar, the item emanated an unsettling chill. If used in the right circumstances, it could certainly serve as a life-saving trump card.
"Well, to be honest, I do find it somewhat sinister myself. More importantly, I am now at the eighth layer of Qi Refining, and this Blood Soul Banner can at most affect someone at the fourth layer of Qi Refining. To bring it up to my level of strength, I estimate I would need to slaughter hundreds of people and let it devour them."
"Besides, I am an upright and benevolent person with no enemies to provide me with lives to take. Even if I wanted to make it stronger, there is simply no way..."
It could affect someone at the fourth layer of Qi Refining!
Lu Li's eyes lit up. This actually suited his current situation quite well. Furthermore, the item was not a one-time use consumable. Should he take it? After pondering for a moment, he asked, "How do you plan to sell it?"
"Two hundred thousand contribution points, or help me with a task."
"Two hundred thousand! Why don't you just rob someone!"
"Heh, you can always choose the second option."
"What task?" Lu Li gave the plump Deacon a peculiar look, suspecting the man was deliberately luring him into doing his bidding. Come to think of it, since he had already stated he had no contribution points, the other man's relentless push to sell it to him was abnormal from the start.
This made him instantly raise his guard.
"It is very simple. You are currently at the second layer of Qi Refining. When you reach the third layer, there will be an assessment to become a formal disciple. According to past rules, the assessment is generally held within the Qingyang Secret Realm. Deep inside the Qingyang Secret Realm, there is a cave mansion called Qingyang Mansion..."
"What I want you to do is retrieve something for me inside Qingyang Mansion."
"What thing?"
"A stone. A cyan stone."
"A stone? Is there danger involved?"
"There is some danger. If you can retrieve it, aside from the Blood Soul Banner, I will reward you with an additional one hundred thousand contribution points."
"Is a mere stone worth that many contribution points?"
"That is not for you to concern yourself with. Just tell me whether you agree or not."
"Why choose me?" Lu Li stared straight into the plump Deacon's eyes, trying to read his expression.
He actually had some understanding of the assessment. Because opening the secret realm is difficult, each assessment requires at least ten people to be gathered before it can commence, meaning he was certainly not the only candidate.
Imparting a meaningful smile, the plump Deacon said, "It is very simple. A miscellaneous disciple like you who can pull out so many contribution points at once proves that you have methods. And I happen to need a clever person with methods like you..."
"Senior Brother truly is a businessman." Lu Li smiled and extended his hand. "I agree."
"Straightforward!" The plump Deacon tossed the Blood Soul Banner over without hesitation.
A surge of bloody aura slammed into Lu Li the moment he grabbed the flagpole, making it difficult for him to breathe. His expression shifted drastically, and he quickly bit his finger, forcing out a drop of essence blood onto the pole.
Within a breath, he sensed an inexplicable connection form between himself and the Blood Soul Banner. He could even perceive a gray, misty space within the black banner, where mournful gales wailed incessantly like the cries of countless children.
"What an evil object!"
Even after completing the blood recognition ritual, hearing those wails still made Lu Li's soul tremble.
After a single glance, he put the banner away.
Only then did Lu Li ask, "What happens to the Blood Soul Banner if I fail the task?"
"Fail?" The plump Deacon looked at Lu Li with a half-smile. "If you fail, the Blood Soul Banner will naturally be taken back."
"Hmph, understood."
Lu Li curled his lip, turned on his heel, and walked away.
Watching Lu Li's retreating figure, the smile on the plump Deacon's face slowly faded as he murmured, "Let us hope you do not disappoint me."
By the time he returned to Miscellaneous Valley, it was already noon.
Without lingering, Lu Li went straight back to his room to begin secluded cultivation. Since he had failed to acquire a True Essence Pill, he would simply have to wait until next month's contribution distribution.
As evening fell, four dejected figures arrived at the entrance of Lu Li's courtyard. After hesitating several times, the thin, gray-robed man standing in the center shook his head, sighed, and said, "Let's go in. With any luck, he will forgive us."
The other three wore defeated expressions, shaking their heads as they followed him inside.
Arriving at the door of Lu Li's room, the gray-robed man raised his hand and hesitated before knocking.
Tap, tap, tap.
The knocks were uneven, as if he feared waking Lu Li while simultaneously worrying he wouldn't be heard.
After three taps, the gray-robed man stopped and stood in silence with his head lowered, the others not even daring to breathe loudly.
A moment later.
The door swung open from the inside. Upon seeing that it was Shi Yanzhe and his companions, Lu Li furrowed his brow. "What are you doing here?"
Shi Yanzhe felt his heart sink at those words, silently lamenting that Lu Li indeed held a grudge. Yet, matters having reached this point, he could only brace himself. Cupping his hands nervously, he spoke, "We... have come to offer our apologies to the Steward."
Hearing this, the disciples behind him lowered their heads in unison. "Please forgive us, Steward."
This gesture made it clear they had fully conceded.
"Apologize?" Lu Li raised an eyebrow, looking at them with a half-smile. "Is this how you offer an apology?"
The men exchanged glances. Shi Yanzhe, standing at the forefront, suddenly caught on. He opened his palm and respectfully presented four storage cards. "Steward, this is a small token of our sincerity. Have a look..."