Without a doubt, these over-forty minor Heavenly Demon Soul Generals had not yet Demon-corrupted the Ghost Bride, Master Hong Jue, and other Soul Generals.

It wasn't that they were unwilling, but that they couldn't do it yet!

In reality, according to Shen Mo's understanding and common knowledge in the cultivation world, any creature transformed into a Soul General would lose its potential for growth. Heavenly Demons were no exception!

Previously, Shen Mo had refined many Soul Generals, and these ninety-four Heavenly Demon Soul Generals hadn't consumed them.

Also, when the Heavenly Demon Soul Generals slew cultivators, devouring their Flesh and Blood, they didn't show any sign of growing stronger.

All of this had happened after they came out of the Abandoned Ghost Zone.

The Soul Refining Flag and the Heavenly Demon Soul Generals within it underwent changes that Shen Mo couldn't understand or control.

After these unknown changes occurred, Shen Mo refined hundreds of early-stage Class II Soul Ghosts into Soul Generals and collected them in the flag.

This, in turn, gave these minor Heavenly Demon Soul Generals an opportunity.

Because Shen Mo, as the Flag Master, hadn't forbidden them from consuming other Soul Generals, these minor Heavenly Demon Soul Generals held a Taotie feast inside the flag.

Hundreds of Soul Ghosts, meticulously selected by Shen Mo, became their delicacy. They also became the nourishment for them to grow stronger and devour the middle-stage Class II Soul Generals!

Some minor Heavenly Demon Soul Generals captured the early-stage and middle-stage Soul Generals that possessed the best innate abilities, the strongest powers, and special Skills. Thereby undergoing Demon-corruption! Consequently, they transformed into Mutant Demon Soul Generals!

The remaining minor Heavenly Demon Soul Generals, looking down on the leftovers, simply divided the remaining middle-stage Class II Soul Generals among themselves and devoured them. While their power skyrocketed, they still maintained their minor Heavenly Demon form.

Shen Mo suspected they were eyeing the Ghost Bride, Master Hong Jue, and the other eighteen late-stage Class II Soul Generals! They intended to Demon-corrupt and seize them.

With the power of the Soul Refining Flag, I could suppress their desire for Demon-corruption! But it's not necessary. Soul Generals like the Ghost Bride, although currently strong, have already lost their potential for growth. However, if Demon-corrupted, they would possess Heavenly Demon characteristics, enabling them to continue devouring creatures and to grow stronger and ascend continuously.

Shen Mo's thoughts flashed like lightning.

There's only one thing I need to be extremely careful about! After Demon-corruption, late-stage Class II Soul Generals, upon devouring a large amount of blood food, could possibly ascend to the peak of Class II and even step into Class III! With my current strength, I'm utterly incapable of suppressing an early-stage Class III Soul General. Forcing their suppression would only completely drain my Dantian, tear my soul apart, and endanger my life! If it really comes to that, the only chance of survival would be to ruthlessly destroy the Soul Refining Flag.

The current Soul Refining Flag, due to this unforeseen event, had become a magic artifact with great growth potential. One day, it might even grow into a Spiritual Artifact or a spiritual treasure!

Currently, Shen Mo still didn't know what kind of changes had occurred in the Soul Refining Flag and the minor Heavenly Demons within it that gave them this growth potential.

But Shen Mo knew. The Soul Refining Flag in his hand had become a unique soul-refining magic artifact in the cultivation world.

Otherwise, from a hundred years ago to twenty years ago, when the Lower Realm Heavenly Demons invaded the Red Flame Country, evil cultivators would surely have been refining Soul Refining Flags to refine Heavenly Demons.

If, merely by this Blood Sacrifice Evil Magic, one could obtain a magic artifact that could constantly grow by devouring creatures, then it wouldn't just be evil cultivators. The Five Great Sects, other minor immortal sects, and even rogue cultivators would likely have rushed to refine this flag!

In the beginning, they would only need to "sacrifice" some mortals, and then Heavenly Demon Soul Generals could be refined. By continuously refining other Soul Generals into it, or by making the Heavenly Demon Soul Generals devour Soul Ghosts, demonic beasts, and other creatures, they could refine a powerful Heavenly Demon Soul General of the Class III or even Class IV level...

If that were truly the case, the situation in the Red Flame Country today would be vastly different!

The Five Great Sects might still exist, but they would most likely have degenerated into The Five Evil Schools.

The myriad creatures of the Red Flame Country would still experience the Heavenly Demon calamity, but it wouldn't originate from the Lower Realm; instead, it would come from the Soul Refining Flag in the hands of cultivators.

Therefore, Shen Mo concluded that the Soul Refining Flag he held had diverged from ordinary Soul Refining Flags. If he ruthlessly destroyed it and then tried to recreate it using the same methods, refining the same Soul Generals into it, this particular flag could not be reproduced!

Given that it's impossible to suppress the Heavenly Demon's growth, I must be even more cautious when using the flag in the future. Unless the rate at which my cultivation and strength improve far exceeds the Heavenly Demon Soul General's rate of advancement from devouring blood food. If things truly get out of hand... I'll have to use the Soul-annihilation Spell to eliminate any Soul General on the verge of exceeding my control.

He spent some more time refining the Soul Refining Flag, deepening his connection with it before putting it away in his Universe Bag.

Regarding the overall potency of the Soul Refining Flag, it actually hadn't increased much. After all, the strength of the late-stage Soul Generals Shen Mo relied on most, such as the Red-Garbed Female Ghost, hadn't increased.

However, as long as the Heavenly Demon Soul Generals within the flag were constantly provided with blood food, the Heavenly Demon Soul Generals in the flag would quickly grow to the late-stage of Class II, and even to the peak of Class II. Even without Shen Mo needing to find and refine Class III powerhouses, Class III Soul Generals would eventually be promoted from among the Heavenly Demon Soul Generals.

The only thing Shen Mo needed to consider was whether his own Cultivation Realm could suppress the Soul Refining Flag! He couldn't afford to be killed by a backlash from the Soul Refining Flag!

This was a long-term concern, not an immediate worry.

BUZZ!

The Sound Transmitting Talisman on his waist kept vibrating.

Shen Mo picked it up and scanned it with his sense, an involuntary smile appearing on his face.

...

About the time it takes for a stick of incense to burn, Shen Mo entered the Cuizhu Elixir Room.

Zhao Lingyin, who had shed her long robe and veil for a plain white Alchemist robe, was already waiting in Room A.

Seeing Shen Mo push the door and enter, a peculiar light flickered in her eyes. Before she could speak, the beautiful woman smiled.

"A captivating smile, enchanting eyes. The ancients truly did not deceive me!" Shen Mo sighed from the bottom of his heart. He then closed the door, conveniently placing a Prohibition Talisman on it.

"I apologize, Senior Sister Lingyin. I gained some insights while refining a magic artifact and arrived a little late."

As he spoke, he took a delightful sip of the spiritual tea Zhao Lingyin had prepared.

Zhao Lingyin possessed an encyclopedic knowledge of countless spiritual medicines, and she had mastered the art of refining them into complex Elixirs; brewing a simple pinch of spiritual leaf tea was naturally effortless for her.

He took a light sip, and an immediate, refreshing, and lingering fragrance filled his mouth.

Coupled with the faint, unique medicinal aroma emanating from Zhao Lingyin, Shen Mo felt utterly relaxed and his spirits soared.

"Junior Brother Shen, in a few days, will you be attending the Tianshan Mountain Grand Ceremony?"

To Shen Mo's surprise, this time Zhao Lingyin wasn't speaking about matters of the Alchemy Path.

"Mm..." Shen Mo calculated the days and nodded with a smile, "In five days, I believe."

"At that time, I'll have to go with Brother Lu to Tianshan Mountain in Zhong State to compete for a ranking!"

"I shouldn't be away from the sect for too long. However, during that time, I'm afraid I won't be able to discuss Alchemy with you, Senior Sister Lingyin."

Zhao Lingyin acknowledged with a sound. She raised her hand to refill Shen Mo's spiritual tea, then picked up her own teacup and began to savor it quietly.

They drank in silence like this for a long while.

Only then did Zhao Lingyin take out a jade box from her waist and hand it to Shen Mo.

"This is the first batch of Grade IV Elixirs I've successfully refined—the Dragon Tiger Formless Pill."

"This Elixir can restore Mana and also heal injuries to one's vitality and soul. I thought you might need it."

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