Chapter 12: Merit and Virtue (Seeking Votes)

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

An ordinary person might not notice anything unusual and would simply think they were seeing things.

But Shen Siyuan had devoured the soul of the Nine Nether Demon Lord, giving birth to his divine consciousness.

Under the illumination of this divine consciousness, he discovered a golden thread within his sea of consciousness.

Most people would be unsure what it was, but with the memories of the Nine Nether Demon Lord, he knew very well—it was merit.

Yet, this merit had come too easily.

Could simply helping Dou Dou fulfill her wish really grant merit? Was she some child of heaven and earth?

But Shen Siyuan knew this was impossible. Although Tao Guangsha’s family was modestly wealthy, they were an ordinary household at best, and Dou Dou had drowned in the sea, hardly someone destined to bear great fortune.

Even in the Great Wilderness, merit was extremely hard to obtain; one had to bear great destiny and make enormous contributions to heaven and earth to earn it.

In the Nine Nether Demon Lord’s long memories, only one human sage had ever gained merit for his virtuous teachings.

Others rarely obtained merit. In ancient times, merit occasionally descended from the heavens, but as the heavenly laws grew grander and more perfect, merit became harder to come by.

Shen Siyuan had only simply helped Dou Dou fulfill her wish—an act at most considered a good deed—but unexpectedly, he received a thread of merit. The only explanation was that the laws of this world were different.

Merit was a valuable blessing; not only did it increase one’s fortune, but it also aided cultivation.

Even if this world was murky and devoid of spiritual energy, with merit, he could once again embark on the path of cultivation. Merit was like a universal remedy, usable anywhere.

Though it was just a thread, if he performed more good deeds, accumulating merit like grains of sand forming a tower, it could eventually lead him to transcendence.

However, since these were two different worlds and merit came so easily here, he didn’t know if this merit was the same as merit elsewhere.

With this thought, he summoned the Ten Thousand Souls Banner.

His divine consciousness extended toward the banner, and the golden thread flowed into it.

The once motionless surface of the banner suddenly rippled like water stirred by a strong wind. A golden line flashed across the purple fabric, adding a touch of noble grandeur.

Seeing this, Shen Siyuan was overjoyed. He hadn’t expected this thread of merit to truly be used to repair the Ten Thousand Souls Banner, though it was somewhat too little.

His divine consciousness wrapped around the banner, faintly perceiving a strange place within, hazy and vague.

The Ten Thousand Souls Banner was the treasured relic of the ancient Netherworld cult, later obtained by the Nine Nether Demon Lord, solidifying his title.

Its origins were extraordinary. It contained nine layers of seals, and what Shen Siyuan saw was the first spatial layer.

This layer was not used as storage space by the Demon Lord but served as a place to contain souls.

“Paw paw~”

Dou Dou reached out and patted Shen Siyuan’s leg, bringing him back to reality.

Shen Siyuan’s gaze swept over Dou Dou, then he gently shook the Ten Thousand Souls Banner.

An invisible force pulled Dou Dou into the banner.

The surface of the banner, like a water surface, rippled with faint blue waves.

Shen Siyuan was not erasing memories or merely repairing the banner; he was drawing Dou Dou inside to command her.

This method, as long as Shen Siyuan did not act maliciously, would not harm Dou Dou.

In fact, it had many benefits for her.

Once inside the banner, unless a soul was instantly shattered, it would remain immortal and be granted certain divine abilities due to the banner’s power.

After all, the Ten Thousand Souls Banner was also a powerful weapon—capturing souls and commanding them against enemies.

Most of these souls were ordinary people, many soldiers; if simply used as cannon fodder, they were expendable.

But as a top magical treasure of the demonic path, the banner would not be so simple. The captured souls were also granted special abilities—nether flames, shadow winds, combat skills, stealth, and assassination techniques.

Of course, with benefits came drawbacks. Once captured, the souls were branded with a mark on the banner. Unless the banner’s master willingly erased it, they would be bound to serve the master through all reincarnations, acting as eyes and ears, fighting enemies, and absorbing damage.

Shen Siyuan shook the banner again, and Dou Dou was released immediately.

“Wow...” Dou Dou’s eyes widened as she examined herself, her entire body radiating a faint blue glow, her hair burning like flames.

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

Before Shen Siyuan could speak, she transformed into a gust of shadow wind and howled through the air, leaving Shen Siyuan dumbfounded.

So powerful? It made him want to die.

But seeing the little one vanish, Shen Siyuan shook the banner once more.

The shadow wind Dou Dou rode was instantly pulled back by an invisible force, returning to Shen Siyuan’s side.

“Don’t run off.”

“Paw paw~ Paw paw, I’m really powerful now,” Dou Dou said, clenching her small fists, her chubby face full of pride.

“I know.”

“Oh right, you’re the sweet potato.”

“Banner master, you mean?”

“Yeah, big sweet potato...”

“I think your butt’s about to get whacked.”

“Hehe, sweet potato paw paw, I can fly now, and breathe fire too...” Dou Dou looked up at the sky and roared like a fire-breathing dragon, then truly spat a ball of flame.

This was the banner’s unique nether flame, capable of scorching souls with immense power.

“Playing with fire is dangerous. Don’t do it often,” Shen Siyuan warned.

As the banner master, his words were law, and Dou Dou naturally obeyed.

“I can also do this...” Dou Dou said, placing her hands on her hips, tilting her head back, and puffing out her chubby belly.

Shen Siyuan: ...

“And then? Showing off your big tummy?”

“Can you see me now?” Dou Dou asked.

“Of course, I can always see you.”

“That’s right,” Dou Dou realized.

“With this, Dad and Mom can see me, everyone can see me,” she said proudly.

“Wait, hide your form first,” Shen Siyuan hastily glanced around. Fortunately, it was night and no one else was nearby.

He realized that souls inside the banner had the ability to manifest visibly to ordinary people.

But Dou Dou now emitted blue light, her hair blazing upward like fire—definitely not something ordinary people should see.

“Sigh, this won’t do, that won’t do... Sweet potato paw paw, you’re just like my dad...”

Dou Dou furrowed her brow, looking mischievous.

“You better behave and learn to control those flames on you first.”

“Okay!” Dou Dou responded crisply.

Clearly, after being absorbed into the banner, souls were not only granted powers but also infused with knowledge—otherwise, the little one wouldn’t use her abilities so skillfully or call him banner master.

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