The Patriarch of Ten Thousand Ghosts instantly wiped away the divine sense imprint left by Lei Dong on the ordinary Soul Nurturing Tower, then frantically cast an Appraisal Art on the single lingering Yin Soul inside. The shimmering golden light nearly enveloped half of the ghost’s body. The tension on his face instantly dissolved into sheer ecstasy, and after reconfirming the result several times, he burst into laughter: “Indeed, a High-Grade spirit ghost. A High-Grade one!”
Looking at Lei Dong now, the young man seemed infinitely more pleasing to the eye—even more so than Ding Wanyan, whom he usually found most agreeable. After all, Ding Wanyan merely possessed exceptional aptitude. But Lei Dong had delivered a High-Grade spirit ghost directly to him. However, being an ancestral figure, after the initial uncontrollable surge of elation, he feared appearing undignified before a junior like Lei Dong. His expression gradually calmed, and he spoke kindly to Lei Dong: “Good. It is indeed a High-Grade spirit ghost. Lei Dong, take it and properly blood-sacrifice it; it will become your greatest aid in the future.”
How could Lei Dong not know the Ancestor was concerned about his reputation? He was merely putting on a show. If he were foolish enough to take the ghost back now, he might not see the sun rise the next day. Settling his mind, he knelt with solemnity once more: “Reporting to the Ancestor, your disciple’s aptitude is dull, and he possesses little hope for true achievement. My youthful impulsiveness led to great calamity outside, and it is only due to the Ancestor’s powerful backing that I survive to this day. Despite my mediocre talent, the Ancestor graciously accepted me as a direct disciple, opening lectures every month and teaching with meticulous care, acting as both master and father. Though clumsy with words, I have recorded everything in my heart and secretly resolved to serve the Ancestor wholeheartedly, to repay even a fraction of the Ancestor’s immense kindness. Now, I have coincidentally acquired this mere spirit ghost; if it assists the Ancestor in ascending to the Nascent Soul stage even slightly, this disciple will be perfectly content.” Every word was sincere and heartfelt, coming from the deepest part of his being. Not only did the Ghost Slave nod secretly from the side, but the Ancestor also showed an expression of immense satisfaction.
Filial piety—this was true filial piety. The Ancestor felt a pang of emotion. It had been over seventy years, and he had accepted many direct disciples, yet not one had presented him with a High-Grade spirit ghost. Even when someone occasionally obtained one, they would certainly blood-sacrifice it in secret, hiding it from him. But Lei Dong, knowing the Ancestor himself practiced the Ghost Control Arts, was willing to forgo refining this High-Grade spirit ghost just to gift it. Hearing Lei Dong speak of him as a father figure, the Ancestor couldn't help but feel a flicker of paternal affection towards him. After all, Lei Dong could have refined the spirit ghost without telling anyone. Only a genius could possess a High-Grade spirit ghost without announcement.
Back when the Ancestor himself was at the fifth layer of Qi Refining, he obtained an Ultimate-Grade spirit ghost, but he didn't dare publicize it until after reaching the Golden Core stage. Had no one suspected anything during that time?
Therefore, Lei Dong must be genuinely loyal and grateful. Otherwise, no one else would ever manage to give away something as valuable as a High-Grade spirit ghost. The Patriarch of Ten Thousand Ghosts admitted that he himself would never have been able to do it. Thinking this, he softened his gaze toward Lei Dong again: “Lei Dong, are you not heartbroken to offer this High-Grade spirit ghost to this old one?”
Lei Dong offered an awkward smile: “Ancestor, of course, your disciple feels the sting. However, your disciple knows his aptitude is limited; reaching the Foundation Establishment stage in this life would already be a huge achievement. Refining a High-Grade spirit ghost would be far too wasteful for me. But the Ancestor possesses unparalleled talent and has a great chance of breaking through to the Nascent Soul realm in his lifetime. Your disciple struggled with this decision for several days before taking this action.”
The Patriarch of Ten Thousand Ghosts felt a sense of relief upon hearing this; it finally made sense. Nevertheless, even so, Lei Dong’s filial devotion was truly remarkable. Otherwise, nurturing such a High-Grade spirit ghost properly could easily make it more powerful than the Ancestor himself one day. After a moment of apparent contemplation, he conceded with feigned reluctance: “If this venerable one were to refuse now, it would surely crush your earnest intentions. Very well. This old one promises to ensure you reach the Foundation Establishment stage. When you succeed, return home and establish a clan. With my backing, you are guaranteed a life of boundless glory. Of course, pursuing the Golden Core path is not entirely out of the question, but for your aptitude, it is exceedingly difficult. This old one gives you another pledge: should this old one ever achieve the Indestructible Nascent Soul, I will find a way to bring you into the Dao of Elixirs. If no opportunity arises, I will still safeguard the peace and prosperity of your descendants.”
To Lei Dong’s ears, the Ancestor’s promises were incredibly valuable. The assurance of reaching Foundation Establishment was already a massive surprise. Considering that the Ancestor had accepted so many direct disciples over seventy years, yet only five ultimately reached Foundation Establishment, achieving it was clearly no easy feat.
Of course, if he didn't possess that heaven-defying treasure, simply getting a chance at Foundation Establishment in this life would be immense fortune. The best outcome would be as the Ancestor suggested: achieving Foundation Establishment, returning home to found a cultivation family, raising descendants, and achieving glory for a lifetime. Although this ideal was ambitious, it was achievable. As for the Golden Core, even with the Ancestor’s aid, he felt he might be powerless. Every single cultivator who achieved the Golden Core realm possessed the unparalleled aptitude of someone like Ding Wanyan. Even for Ding Wanyan, the Ancestor only hoped she might one day reach the Golden Core stage, not daring to guarantee it; even a fifty or sixty percent chance would be considered highly fortunate.
But Lei Dong was different now; he possessed the Soul Devouring Pagoda. While this treasure couldn't directly boost his cultivation realm, it could significantly enhance his combat strength. As long as his power was sufficient, he would have an overwhelming advantage in seizing resources. Although the path to the Golden Core was distant and arduous for him, he would still pursue it, conquering it step by step, never turning back.
“Thank you, Ancestor, for your boundless grace. Your disciple is deeply humbled.” Lei Dong genuinely felt the Ancestor’s pledge was excellent. Some stingy ancestors might offer minor favors and send one packing. As for discontent, who would care if a mere ant at the sixth layer of Qi Refining, with ordinary aptitude, was dissatisfied?
“Rise. Ghost Slave, take Lei Dong to select two High-Grade magic tools, plus ten thousand spirit stones.” Perhaps feeling his previous promise wasn’t quite enough, the Ancestor added another instruction. But it was likely he was already eager to refine and nurture the High-Grade spirit ghost upon obtaining it. With the Ancestor’s might, perhaps just one blood sacrifice could elevate that spirit ghost to the Ghost Guard level.
The Ghost Slave acknowledged the order and led Lei Dong to the treasury vault of the Ten Thousand Ghosts Cave, instructing Lei Dong that he had one full hour to browse and choose slowly.
Lei Dong was genuinely satisfied with the prospect of two High-Grade magic tools and ten thousand spirit stones. Stepping into the treasury, he saw rows of shelves lined with various magic tools, easily numbering several hundred. But the vast majority were Mid-Grade, or rare types of Low-Grade. Naturally, Lei Dong ignored the Mid-Grade and Low-Grade items immediately.
Even so, the Ancestor’s reserves contained at least several dozen High-Grade magic tools. These items ranged in value from a mere one or two thousand spirit stones to upwards of ten thousand. Just viewing this vault demonstrated that the Ancestor’s wealth was considerable. Taking advantage of the ample time, he began meticulously examining every single one of the dozens of High-Grade magic tools. None were ordinary; each either radiated a dark, ghostly aura or flowed with spiritual light. He favored one, yet felt reluctant to let go of another, making the choice difficult.
Finally, as time was drawing short, Lei Dong made up his mind after long deliberation. The first item he selected was a High-Grade Myriad Ghost Banner. The Myriad Ghost Banner was one type of artifact Lei Dong had long intended to acquire. It was an extremely peculiar artifact; a newly refined Myriad Ghost Banner usually possessed no power whatsoever.
To increase its might, the banner needed to continuously collect the souls of wild ghosts or the living souls of cultivators. The more ghosts collected, the stronger the Myriad Ghost Banner would become. Legend held that the most powerful iteration could summon ten thousand ghosts, shaking heaven and earth. Of course, the spirits within the banner were of mixed quality; since their consciousness was erased, they were all sluggish, retaining only a primal instinct to consume flesh.
Even so, once a Myriad Ghost Banner took form, its power, relying on sheer numbers, would be absolutely extraordinary. Since Lei Dong specialized in the Ghost Control Arts and had committed to the summoning route, ignoring a powerful Myriad Ghost Banner was impossible. Furthermore, when capturing Yin Souls normally, most of the wild ghost soldiers ended up as food for his Ghost Soldiers, which was a waste. Refining a Myriad Ghost Banner was the optimal choice.