For someone like Ling Yun, the Seven Spectral Lamps technique was heaven sent. The seven lamps represent seven different demonic spirits, each with their own strengths and attributes. After their condensation, it doesn't demand much Qi during battles; Ling Yun could such sit back and command the spirits as they do all the work.

  It could be called a technique of the demonic path but Ling Yun cultivated it on the basis of using only the souls of wild beasts, not humans. This is what he reasoned to console himself.

  Condensing even a single lamp requires a cultivator to collect 150 souls and refine them. The 150 souls spoken of are mortal level, collecting souls of higher realms could reduce this number significantly. But Ling Yun didn't try to attempt it because he wanted to play it safe and also many first rank demonic beasts have thick skin and other defenses. With Feel pain he can at most make them fall unconscious from intense pain. It was impossible to kill them using a dagger with his meager physical strength.

  Storing the souls and refining them requires a lot of mental strength which was impossible for a normal Qi refining cultivator. But it mattered little to Ling Yun. He could easily store all the collected souls in his soul sea and while a normal person can only refine 1 or 2 souls before needing rest, Ling Yun can easily refine all of them without feeling tired or losing concentration.

  After cleansing them, one has to split his own soul and use it as a core when combining all the 150 souls. Then he has to refine and condense all of them together into the demonic spirit of choosing.

  Even safely splitting the soul is quite a risky and dangerous thing to accomplish. Best cases could lead to instant death while worst case could make that person a living vegetable.

  Forget about Qi refining, not even a Foundation Establishment cultivator can attempt it. Only Nascent Soul cultivators or Core Formation with high knowledge of soul arts can do it. That is why soul lanterns of disciples are only found in top tier sects or clans.

  But someone with a mammoth soul like Ling Yun whose soul is strong enough to withstand any accidents and guided by Brahma who could be said the number one practitioner of soul arts, Ling Yun risked to attempt it at a meager fifth realm of Qi refining.

  "So have you decided which spirit you want to condense first?"

  For fighting top level opponents, the Grim Reaper should be the best choice. Its directly attacks and destroys soul defences after which Ling Yun can try to overwhelm them with the barrage of Feel Pain arrows.

  But he knows that a single lamp would not be sufficient. Like Brahma said before, cultivation should never be rushed. The spirit which would be the most effective in collecting more souls should be-

  "The Eternal Mourning Raven."

  "You really have grown up. I thought you will keep avoiding it and save it for the last."

  "I have to choose the most effective option regards of my feelings. Besides I won't waver from my convictions and fall into the demonic path."

  "Ling Yun I won't judge your convictions but take heed of what I say. Many people choose to be righteous because they lack the strength and guts to commit evil. After getting their first taste of power, values get discarded easily and they get drunk and consumed by it. Power can twist the nature of the very best."

  "It will never happen to me." His voice was firm and unwavering but was only met with Brahma's mysterious smile. Ling Yun wanted to double down but knew it was of no use.

  "Master, I'm ready to begin at any time."

  "Open the Third Eye and look into yourself."

  All the colours faded as the world turned pitch black before golden rays banished the darkness. Unlike all the other souls which were like a blue glowing orb, his was in a fully formed shape of his image, radiating immense might with a golden glimmer. This was the difference between Nascent Soul and those below them.

  Following the instructions of Brahma, Ling Yun carefully split a part of his soul, not too big to overwhelm the other souls nor too small so it couldn't function as a core to stabilise them.

  With his split soul at its centre, the 150 blue orbs merged into the golden globe with Ling Yun methodically circulating his Qi to control the refinement. With his Serene Ocean sutra there was no lapse of concentration and after some time it finally succeeded.

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  Ling Yun stared at the phantom lamp floating infront of him. It was black with a blue glow coming coming from inside it. The lamp didn't bring any warmth, even looking at it gave a chill eerie feeling.

  Ling Yun didn't feel joy or a sense of accomplishment. It was like he had taken a single step, a step which he didn't know was forward or backward or even sideways.

  The lamp entered the chest and Ling Yun stored it in his dantian. "Tomorrow you should go and practice it in the forest. Get a feel of the technique. Just go crazy and see the fruits of your labour."

  What getting feel for it, the Eternal Mourning Raven is the easiest to use. Still, atleast I should feel some excitement of using a new technique. Could it be that I'm afraid of it? How stupid!

  With nothing to do accept rest, Ling Yun just laid there on his back. Unable to sleep, his eyes remained open looking at the window waiting for the sun to rise.

  ***

  After finishing the morning shift, Ling Yun headed straight towards the forest. Uncle Ping has given him a great news, a representative of the Hundred Treasures Pavillion would be coming to the village.

  The Hundred Treasures Pavillion was a massive merchant organisation that spanned all over the Jiang region. It had branches in all four Immortal cities, including the Blue Moon city.

  Ling Yun had quiet an expensive harvest to sell from his plunder of sandwyrm's lair. Ordinary merchant don't have the means to buy Fire Spirit grass let alone second rank demonic essence. He had been saving money to enter the Blue Moon city to sell his wares but a representative coming here serves him just fine.

  "Ling Yun are you going to sell that egg?"

  Ling Yun could feel the demonic beast egg was close to hatching. In a week or two, the newborn would enter this world.

  "I don't have much of a choice. Raising a demonic beast costs much fortune. This small village also lacks many items that are required. And most of all, I don't know any taming techniques. What if it suddenly attacks me? I don't want to die like a fool killed by his own pet."

  "Demonic beasts do bear an intrinsic disdain for humans. But you don't have to worry about taming techniques, just make a soul imprint when it's born. It will make the beast obedient to you."

  "Soul imprint? I already have to condense six more lamps. Should I be splitting my soul this often? The irritation from last night has not gone yet and is still causing annoyance."

  Brahma had already warned him of the irritation that comes with splitting your soul even if everything goes perfectly. It wasn't causing any pain or headache, it was like getting an uncontrollable itch in a place where he couldn't reach to scratch. The irritation would only fade with time.

  He had asked Brahma if there was a way to reduce it faster. The answer was wine. Not ordinary wine but strong spiritual wine. Brahma had proudly proclaimed that she was one of the best Immortal Brewer. Among the many memories lost, she had still retained her knowledge of spritual brewing.

  Because of his alcoholic father, he doesn't have much regard for wine but Brahma had fervently stressed the importance of spiritual wine in his soul cultivation. He would suffer more irritation like this in the future so the wine was necessary. She had resolved to teach him spiritual brewing in the future.

  I should just focus on the positives. If cultivation doesn't work maybe I could make a living by selling wine.

  "You are the last person that has to worry about soul splitting. It would be a shame not to take full advantage of your immense soul. Also you don't have to worry about feeding it. The demonic essence left by the sandwyrm would be more than enough."

  "Let's talk about this after it hatches." Ling Yun cut the conversation short when he heard the footsteps rapidly inching closer. It was a pack of 15 wolves led by a fire wolf, a first rank demonic beast.

  The fire wolf stopped infront of him and howled, commanding the wolves to attack him. It was smirking on the inside on catching this human unaware but Ling Yun had sensed them approaching him far before it realised.

  The pack of wolves had some teamwork. They first formed a circle surrounding him, cutting all paths of escape but before they could pounce, Ling Yun struck first.

  For the past eight months Ling Yun had been avoiding groups, only sneakily attacking his prey when it was all alone. For the first time, Ling Yun was directly facing off against such large numbers. But Ling Yun wasn't worried a little bit.

  "Come, Eternal Mourning Raven!"

  The eerie black phantom lamp emerged from its chest and floated infront of him. By his command, the door of the lamp opened and a dark shadowy figure made its appearance.

  Upon observing closely, it was a slightly large black raven. The only thing diffrent about it was that it had no eyes. It looked like they were gouged out with scarlet tears of blood continuously flowing from the dark hollow holes.

  The raven flew in a circle and then hovered above Ling Yun. The blood never stopped flowing, like it would keep forever crying, eternally mourning. What is it mourning for, the wolves would find out soon.

  The raven let out a shrill cry, it's wail echoing in this corner of the forest. The grating sound entered the wolves' ears and then THUD- all the wolves collectively fell down, even their leader fire wolf.

  The raven closed its mouth and then there was complete silence. There was no sounds of breathing, no signs of life. Even the grass and the trees died. The only living survivor left in this small vicinity was Ling Yun.

  The Eternal Mourning Raven. It doesn't attack nor does it protect. Its only purpose being the harbinger of doom; its wails bringing indiscriminate death to the everyone who listens. No pain, no hurt, no final words. Just instant death.

  He watched in horror at the devestation caused by his own hands. "What are you waiting for, collect all the souls." Brahma's voice rang out breaking him from his stupor.

  Pushing the conflicting feelings in the back of his mind, Ling Yun started mechanically collecting the soul orbs working towards the second spectral lamp. Collecting the souls one by one like this took too much work.

  Maybe the next one should be Soul Swallowing Octopus.