The original candidates for this task could be strong or weak. With Zheng Yi having just entered the Middle Stage of Qi Cultivation, guarding a Black Iron Ore Vein seemed somewhat insufficient.
However, this vein was nearing abandonment, and the Black Iron Essence is a common material. Such a tiny vein held average value, akin to a tasteless food that's a pity to discard.
Yet the Black Iron Ore Vein couldn't be left completely unguarded. While there was cooperation with a Qi Cultivation Clan like the Qi Family, the Sect feared these small families might steal, and also needed to deter loose cultivators, who swarmed like locusts, from plotting against it.
Although Black Iron Essence is refining material—not precious—it was necessary to station Inner Sect Disciples to prevent coveting.
Zheng Yi found the sect's assignment quite satisfactory.
Zheng Yi knew a little about Black Iron Essence. He required large amounts for upgrading the Soul-Catching Banner. Beyond what was handed to the sect, he had already reserved the excess.
This material is the most common refining material, and many places have Black Iron Ore Veins. Unless the vein is huge and yields valuable subsidiary veins, it doesn't attract much attention.
Thus, Zheng Yi, the newly promoted Inner Sect Disciple, was placed in charge. The rights to guard valuable veins are a lucrative deal, and not something that could be handed to Zheng Yi even with extensive Spirit Stone bribes.
Within ten days, Zheng Yi stayed in the sect for only three days before heading to his post with some basic supplies.
During those three days, he also gathered materials to upgrade the Soul-Catching Banner.
...
Inside the Sect Market, Zheng Yi cheerfully paid Spirit Stones.
He bought a seemingly unimpressive black metal piece from a cultivator at a stall.
This metal piece should not be underestimated. It is the core spiritual material for upgrading the Soul-Catching Banner.
Earth Soul Silver.
This black metal, though only the size of a fist, contained an extremely cold aura inside—it's formed by sinister forces accumulated over endless ages.
Typically, where this metal forms, large numbers of living beings had died. Only through long ages could Earth Soul Silver be created.
Zheng Yi did not dare to refine the Soul-Catching Banner within the sect. Instead, he spent Spirit Stones at the outside market to open a Fire Chamber.
This Fire Chamber utilizes Earth Fire. Its power is average compared to Spirit Fire or Demon Flame cultivators use, but it is long-lasting and suitable for Qi Cultivation Stage cultivators to refine magical artifacts.
Zheng Yi sat in the Fire Chamber, released his Lifebound Spiritual Artifact, the Soul-Catching Banner, immediately saturating the chamber with Yin Fiend Qi, forming a realm of its own.
Then, using Divine Thought, he enveloped the fist-sized Earth Soul Silver, quietly moving it above the Earth Fire's mouth.
He immediately activated the array, and the Fire Chamber's Earth Fire blazed fiercely.
Zheng Yi focused intently as the temperature rose, and the hard Earth Soul Silver reached its melting point, gradually transforming into a thick dark liquid.
"This is the moment!"
With a glint in his eyes, Zheng Yi pointed his finger, manipulating the now-thick liquid Earth Soul Silver, contorting and reshaping it.
Mysterious incantations dripped from his mouth, followed by complex magic. After a series of spells, dense and strange runes formed inside the Earth Soul Silver liquid.
Those runes, numerous as ants, were side by side.
Now, Zheng Yi's Divine Thought was pushed to its limits. His cultivation being still inadequate, made controlling such spells rather difficult.
However, the upgraded Cyan Profound Fiend Black Evil Technique gave him confidence, allowing him to barely manage the process.
Gradually, as impurities were turned to nothingness, the thick dark liquid shrank in refining.
Zheng Yi focused intensely; this step was crucial.
He dared not be careless, constantly weaving and entwining complex spells while summoning his Lifebound Spiritual Artifact, the Soul-Catching Banner itself.
A banner, dark and brooding, emanated a eerie aura, calmly floating before him.
Zheng Yi dared not breathe, pointed, and the melted Earth Soul Silver liquid, like a spirit snake, twisted to entwine the demon banner, with invisible forces and mysterious elements seeping in.
As he waved his hand, the other refining materials he had prepared surfaced one by one.
Throwing these materials into the Earth Fire, melting and refining, while his control allowed the Soul-Catching Banner to absorb them.
Zheng Yi proceeded cautiously and attentively with the next steps.
With seamless flow in his movements, Divine Thought controlled, absorbing countless components as intricate patterns covered the Soul-Catching Banner's surface, spreading like a spider's web.
Then Zheng Yi bit his index finger, with spiritual power urged his Essence Blood to draw intricate runes upon the banner's surface and pole.
The strange and sinister runes brimmed with mysterious forces for exorcism.
This was the core upgrade of the Soul-Catching Banner.
Their runes were Lifebound Runes of the Soul-Catching Banner, unattainable without a true Inner Sect disciple transmission from the Soul Catching Sect.
Even though Zheng Yi became an Inner Sect disciple, he swore a Celestial Dao Oath, forbidding the transmission of such secret runes without sect approval.
Or else, divine retribution would follow.
Three feet above the head lies divinity; neither Demon Dao Cultivators nor Righteous Cultivators joke about such matters.
This is taken extremely seriously, as the Celestial Dao Oath invariably works once sworn.
Now, Zheng Yi felt less tense.
Knowing if he completed the ninety-nine Soul Capturing and Ghost Control Yin Demon Grand Talismans with his own Essence Blood, the Soul-Catching Banner's foundation would be laid.
However, this step consumed the most heart power, leaving Zheng Yi pale, Divine Thought heavily spent, spiritual power beginning depletion, while internal Essence Blood swiftly drained.
Even at Middle Stage Qi Cultivation, he felt unable to endure.
But he knew he couldn't afford carelessness now—an ant's nest can collapse a thousand-mile embankment; a moment's slip means miles apart.
Blood-light released in streaks, as more Yin Demon Talismans emerged, like bizarre, twisted tadpoles, silently appearing on the Soul-Catching Banner's surface.
The entire Soul-Catching Banner was covered in a misty red glow, finally forming ninety-nine strange, twisted Ghost Talismans.
Zheng Yi exhaled deeply.
Ninety-nine Soul Capturing and Ghost Control Yin Demon Grand Talismans.
Completed!
As the final stroke completed the Yin Demon Grand Talisman with the last drop of Essence Blood, Zheng Yi withdrew his hand, pale as his spirit had nearly drained him.
With the Yin Demon Talismans gathered, a surge contracted within the demon banner, releasing endless black mist, densely packed ghost hands emerged, ceaselessly squirming, as if pulling people into Abi Hell…