Chapter 12: Merit (Requesting Monthly Votes)

Golden light, like a thread of gold, entered directly through Shen Siyuan’s forehead before he could react.

A normal person might not notice anything unusual, thinking only that they had imagined it.

But Shen Siyuan had devoured the soul of the Nine You Demon Lord and had developed a primordial spirit.

Under the illumination of his primordial spirit, he saw a thread of golden light within his mind sea.

If a normal person, they would not know what it was—but he, possessing the Nine You Demon Lord’s memories, knew perfectly well: this was merit.

Yet this merit had come far too easily.

Merely helping Doudou fulfill her wish earned him merit? Was she some child of heaven and earth?

But Shen Siyuan knew this was impossible: the Tao Guangxia family, though moderately wealthy, were merely ordinary folk, and Doudou had drowned in the sea—she could not possibly be one burdened with great destiny.

Even in the Great Wasteland, merit was exceedingly hard to obtain; one needed not only great destiny but also to have made immense contributions to heaven and earth.

In the long memories of the Nine You Demon Lord, only one human sage had ever received merit, for his teachings had benefited the world.

Almost no one else had ever gained merit; legends spoke of ancient times when merit would descend from heaven, but as heaven’s laws grew more refined, merit became ever harder to obtain.

Shen Siyuan had merely helped Doudou fulfill a simple wish—his act was at most a good deed—yet he had gained a thread of merit. The only possible explanation was that the laws of this world differed.

Merit was a precious thing: it could increase one’s destiny and aid cultivation.

Even in this turbid world, devoid of spiritual energy, with merit he could resume his path of cultivation—it was, in essence, a universal remedy, usable anywhere as a substitute.

Though only a single thread, if he performed many good deeds, accumulating sand into a tower, it might ultimately lead him to transcendence.

But this was another world, and the merit had come too easily—he did not know if this merit was the same as that of his former world.

Thinking of this, he stirred his will and summoned the Ten Thousand Souls Banner.

Then his primordial spirit reached toward the banner, and the golden thread settled upon it.

The banner, previously motionless, instantly flapped violently in a gale; a golden line flashed across its purple surface, adding a touch of noble splendor.

Shen Siyuan was overjoyed—he had not expected this thread of merit could truly repair the Ten Thousand Souls Banner, though it was far too little.

Shen Siyuan’s primordial spirit coiled around the banner, faintly perceiving a peculiar spot, hazy and indistinct.

The Ten Thousand Souls Banner was the sacred treasure of the ancient demonic sect, the Youming Sect, later seized by the Nine You Demon Lord, who earned his title through it.

Its origins were extraordinary, containing nine layers of sealing; what Shen Siyuan saw was the first layer of space.

This layer was not a storage space as the Nine You Demon Lord had used it, but a vessel for housing spirits.

“Guoguo~”

Seeing Shen Siyuan standing motionless, Doudou patted his leg.

Shen Siyuan came back to himself, his gaze sweeping over Doudou, then he gently shook the Ten Thousand Souls Banner in his hand.

An invisible force immediately drew Doudou into the banner.

On the banner’s surface, like water, ripples of deep blue spread outward.

Shen Siyuan had not intended to erase her memories to repair the banner—he had drawn Doudou in to command her.

This method, so long as Shen Siyuan did no harm, caused Doudou no injury.

Indeed, through this method, Doudou gained many benefits.

Once within the Ten Thousand Souls Banner, as long as she was not instantly shattered into oblivion, her soul would remain unextinguished, and due to the banner’s influence, she was granted certain supernatural abilities.

After all, the Ten Thousand Souls Banner was a weapon of attack and destruction, capturing dead souls and commanding them against enemies.

Yet most of these souls were ordinary people, and the rest were mostly soldiers—simply commanding such spirits as troops would make them mere cannon fodder.

But how could the Ten Thousand Souls Banner, a top-tier demonic treasure, be so simple? The spirits captured within were also granted special abilities: Ming fire, yin winds, martial techniques, stealth, assassination, and more.

Of course, benefits came with drawbacks: once a spirit was captured, a mark was branded upon it; unless the banner’s master actively erased the mark, the spirit would be bound to serve him through all lifetimes—as his eyes and ears, to fight for him, to shield him from harm, and so on.

Shen Siyuan shook the Ten Thousand Souls Banner again, and Doudou was instantly released.

“Waaah…”

Doudou widened her eyes, examining herself—her entire body now glowed with deep blue light, her hair blazing like fire.

“I look really powerful now,” she said proudly.

Before Shen Siyuan could speak, she transformed into a yin wind, howling through the air—Shen Siyuan stared, dumbfounded.

Is she really this strong? It made him want to die himself.

But seeing the little girl vanish from sight, Shen Siyuan shook the Ten Thousand Souls Banner again.

Doudou, soaring through the air wrapped in yin wind, was instantly pulled back by an invisible force, reappearing before Shen Siyuan.

“Don’t run off.”

“Guoguo~, Guoguo, I’m super strong now!”

Doudou clenched her tiny fists, her plump little face beaming with pride.

“I know.”

“Oh right, you’re a sweet potato.” Doudou seemed to remember something.

“You’re the banner master, right?”

“Hmm… big sweet potato…”

“I think your butt needs a beating.”

“Hehe, sweet potato Guoguo, I can fly, and I can spit fire…”

Doudou tilted her head back, imitating a fire dragon, roaring twice—then a true flame shot from her mouth.

This was the unique Ming fire of the Ten Thousand Souls Banner, capable of burning souls with immense power.

“Playing with fire is dangerous—don’t play with it often,” Shen Siyuan warned.

As banner master, his words were law—Doudou naturally obeyed.

“I’ll tell you, I can also do this…”

Doudou stuck out her waist, lifted her head, and puffed out her round little belly.

Shen Siyuan: …

“And then? Are you showing off your big belly?”

“Can you see me now?” Doudou asked.

“Of course I can see you—I’ve always seen you.”

“Oh right.” Doudou realized.

“With this, my mom and dad can see me—everyone can see me now,” Doudou said proudly.

“Wait—hide yourself first,” Shen Siyuan hurriedly glanced around; fortunately, it was night and no one was nearby.

He realized then: spirits bound to the Ten Thousand Souls Banner could manifest visibly to ordinary people.

But Doudou now glowed with blue light, her hair blazing upward—she was far too conspicuous for ordinary eyes.

“Sigh, this won’t work, that won’t work… Sweet potato Guoguo, you’re just like my dad…”

Doudou frowned, her little face full of mischievous charm.

“Listen to me properly—first learn to control these flames on your body.”

“Okay!”

Doudou answered brightly.

Clearly, once a soul was absorbed into the banner, it was not only granted abilities but also infused with knowledge—otherwise the little thing wouldn’t use them so skillfully, nor call him “banner master.”

Shen Siyuan thought for a moment, then shook the Ten Thousand Souls Banner again, drawing her back inside to keep her from running off.