The scorching demonic flames shone as brightly as the sun, illuminating the entire land.
The originally dim night sky was lit up by the blazing fire, making it as bright as day. The air was filled with the intense scent of flames.
The malevolent energy of Wind Ghost appeared incredibly fragile in the face of the demonic flames, as if it were mere paper, swiftly devoured and dissolved.
The evil spirits that poured out from the Ten Thousand Demon Banner let out piercing wails under the pressure of the demonic flames, quickly twisting and dissipating.
Countless evil spirits struggled and roared within the flames.
Like clumps of ash, they continuously fell from the bright sky, gradually dissipating mid-air.
"How... how could this be?"
Wind Ghost's expression changed drastically. His legs gave way, and he collapsed to the ground with a thud.
His lips trembled, pale and bloodless. The scene before him completely halted his thoughts.
Why...
Why did this happen?
All the evil spirits I’ve spent half my life accumulating... gone, just like that?
Step... step...
"Where the demonic flames reach, even ghosts and gods tremble, and all living beings retreat."
"Your evil spirits are nothing more than this."
Qin Luo leisurely walked over from the side.
His eyes gleamed with a faint light, and behind him, crows gradually materialized one by one.
Wind Ghost knelt on the ground, his expression shattered, looking up in disbelief at Qin Luo as he approached.
He had no strength to refute Qin Luo's mocking words.
All he knew was that he had lost.
Lost completely.
As the demonic flames burned, the surrounding air gradually grew tranquil.
The aura of evil spirits had been completely purified.
The bright sky slowly returned to darkness.
It seemed as though everything had returned to how it was before.
Wind Ghost remained kneeling in place. With the dissipation of his evil energy, his life had reached its end.
But in his final moments, there was still one thing he wanted to ask.
He looked up at Qin Luo, gritting his teeth, and asked, "Why would someone as strong as you willingly become someone else's subordinate?"
"If we joined forces, the world would be ours!"
Hearing this, Qin Luo gave Wind Ghost a puzzled look. He stepped forward,
lightly raised his hand, and chuckled, "Are you an idiot? Join you? You think you’re worthy?"
"Not to mention you're just an old geezer, while my young lady is soft and fragrant."
"Besides..."
Qin Luo reached out, placing his hand on Wind Ghost's head, then slowly grinned. "You should know...
my lady is the strongest in the world!"
As soon as he finished speaking,
Hum!!
Streams of black energy continuously flowed from Qin Luo's body into Wind Ghost.
[Soul Extraction!]
[Contract!]
Activate!!
"Ah—!!"
Wind Ghost let out a scream as his consciousness began to fade.
But, that damned life flashback appeared once again.
This time, however, it was different.
He saw himself when he first entered the mountain sect.
That year, his village had been attacked by evil spirits, and he was the only survivor.
He followed the Daoist priests of Dragon Tiger Mountain into the sect, beginning his cultivation.
[Little Feng, why do you want to join Dragon Tiger Mountain?]
[To... eradicate every last evil spirit in this world!]
...
[Little Feng, all men must die, but their beliefs live on. That’s why humanity will never be defeated by evil.]
[I understand, Master! I will protect everyone and eradicate all evil spirits!]
...
[Master, this isn’t right. This person turned into an evil spirit because their parents were killed. Why should I eliminate them and save the ones who killed their parents?]
[Little Feng... because we are human... killers will be punished by the laws of the alliance....]
...
[Little Feng, why did you hurt your fellow disciple so severely? Have you forgotten he’s your senior brother?!]
[In martial combat, injuries and deaths are inevitable. Senior brother was just too weak!]
...
[Little Feng, you’ve practiced the forbidden techniques from the scripture repository?!]
[That’s right! If it means I can become a heavenly master and change the rules of Dragon Tiger Mountain!! Why shouldn’t I learn them? I’m the most talented disciple Dragon Tiger Mountain has seen in a century!]
[You’re all biased! You just look down on me because I’m a stray orphan!!]
...
[Master, you’ve grown old. Even the mighty you from back then can no longer lift the peach wood sword.]
[Take me back?]
[Master... you should just... enter my Ten Thousand Demon Banner!]
The memories gradually returned.
Only then did Wind Ghost recall the look in his master’s eyes in his final moments.
It was the same look he had given him when he was a child.
As if he were looking at a mischievous child he could no longer discipline....
A tear rolled down Wind Ghost’s cheek as he murmured, "Master... your disciple was wrong..."
Hum—!
His consciousness vanished.
Rustle...
A cloud of black mist enveloped Wind Ghost, thick with the aura of evil spirits.
The black mist churned, as if countless twisted souls were struggling and wailing within it.
Wind Ghost’s body turned pitch black, as if soaked in ink.
The surrounding air seemed to be sucked away in an instant, creating an oppressive, suffocating atmosphere.
In the blink of an eye, a massive shadow slowly coalesced within the black mist, gradually taking form.
The aura of evil spirits intertwined with the black mist, forming a body of black and red.
This figure resembled a demon from hell.
Its skin shimmered with an eerie black glow, exuding a bone-chilling coldness.
Crimson-black mist swirled around it.
[You have contracted an S-rank shadow creature.]
[Shadow Soul Demon]
[A shadow creature born from the descent of heaven and earth’s evil spirits into the abyss!]
[Ability: Can absorb and control evil spirits!]
"My lord."
The Shadow Soul Demon respectfully knelt on one knee. Wind Ghost’s consciousness had completely dissipated.
Now, only the Shadow Soul Demon existed between heaven and earth.
Qin Luo nodded, quite satisfied with his newly contracted shadow creature.
After a moment of thought, he gave it a domineering name: "From now on, you shall be called Little Demon."
"Yes."
Little Demon nodded.
Then, Qin Luo turned his attention to the Ten Thousand Demon Banner nearby.
With a wave of his hand, the banner flew from mid-air into his grasp.
Qin Luo gripped the Ten Thousand Demon Banner, feeling its structure slowly crumbling.
It was as if it had come into contact with something terrifying.
Qin Luo smirked.
He had thought he could use it.
But unfortunately, due to his unique constitution, evil artifacts could not approach him.
Oh well.
Qin Luo tossed the Ten Thousand Demon Banner to Little Demon, saying, "This will be your weapon from now on."
"Yes."
Little Demon accepted the banner, and a surge of black energy flowed from it, marking its new allegiance.
Oh, fickle Ten Thousand Demon Banner...
With the matter settled,
Qin Luo first stored Little Demon away.
Then he walked to the edge of the building, closed his eyes, and took a deep breath.
Good, the air was fresh and clean.
Everyone should be able to sleep peacefully tonight.
And as for the young lady...
Qin Luo smiled. She shouldn’t be troubled anymore by tomorrow.
As if he had foreseen something,
Qin Luo’s lips curled into a slight smile.
Whoosh!
His figure vanished into the shadows.