Liu Wu held the Soul Banner tightly in his hand and attempted to step beyond the boundaries of the city.
He walked straight along the widest main street, watching as the bustling market slowly receded behind him. Ahead, the scenery opened up into what seemed like the outskirts of the city.
Yet no matter how far he walked, the distant city walls always remained just out of reach—hovering like a mirage, forever close yet untouchable.
He tried another direction, hoping to break free from the other side, but the result was the same.
This city of illusion was far larger than the Dead City, its scope boundless, like an endless prison that held him fast within. There was no way to simply walk out.
Liu Wu stopped in his tracks, his brows furrowed.
After a moment, a new thought surfaced in his mind.
If Luo Feng City was like the Xuán Pìn Sect and the Sancai Workshop—each being one of the Great Dao Heavenly Demon Sect's sacred domains—
then this place should also be a cultivation haven.
Yet, as he gazed across the crowded streets, he saw only ordinary mortals, with no trace of a single cultivator.
Something so strange could not be simple.
If he could find just one cultivator and discover how they cultivated here, perhaps he could figure out a way to return to reality.
But how to find them?
Suddenly, Liu Wu thought of the Soul Banner!
The banner could only be used by cultivators. Those mortals who purchased them would eventually hand them over to cultivators.
If that was the case, then by following anyone who bought a Soul Banner, he might be able to track one down.
With his plan set, Liu Wu returned to the area near the "Cloth Shop," pretending to stroll idly about the street while secretly observing.
Before long, a thin, middle-aged man caught his attention.
The man bought a Soul Banner without a word, then quickly turned and left, walking with hurried steps as if not wishing to linger.
Liu Wu followed quietly.
They passed through several bustling streets before finally arriving at the barren outskirts of the city. The land here was desolate, with only jagged stones and waist-high withered grass.
The middle-aged man stopped, glanced about to ensure no one was watching, and then suddenly flung the Soul Banner forward.
A bizarre scene unfolded.
The flimsy banner expanded in midair, swelling as it caught the wind. Strange, intricate runes flashed across its surface, and in the blink of an eye, it transformed into a square, ancient-looking mansion that landed solidly on the ground.
Next, several phantoms flew out of the banner, drifting through the air before solidifying into servants dressed in identical uniforms. Their faces were blank and expressionless as they began sweeping the courtyard and repairing the veranda with orderly precision.
The Soul Banner itself faded from sight, seemingly merging into the newly formed mansion.
Hidden behind the rocks, Liu Wu's eyes widened with shock.
So the Soul Banner… could be used this way?!
Wait—could it be… that the entire city, all its magnificent buildings, had been created by Soul Banners?!
He had always been suspicious of the banner gifted to him by Fatty, and so hadn't dared to use it. But now, unable to resist, he pulled it out and mimicked the middle-aged man, slowly channeling a trace of spiritual power into it.
Buzz—
The banner quivered violently, then shot into the air. Just like before, it unfolded and transformed into a mansion of similar style.
However, Liu Wu's banner contained no souls. His mansion stood silent and empty, devoid of attendants, lifeless and cold.
The middle-aged cultivator noticed him and walked over, greeting him warmly:
"Fellow Daoist, you must be new here? I see your mansion is completely empty—have you not had time to gather any souls yet? Would you like me to spare you a few to start with?"
Liu Wu's heart tensed. Only then did he realize—these seemingly ordinary mortals were cultivators all along.
Was it that his cultivation was simply too low to perceive their true strength?
Keeping his expression calm, Liu Wu shook his head politely.
"Thank you for your kindness, fellow Daoist, but there's no need. I'd rather go out and find some on my own."
The man chuckled knowingly.
"I understand, I understand. Who doesn't want souls from the Xuán Pìn Sect? Every one of them practices the Xuán Pìn Technique. Their souls are far more condensed, perfect for use as core spirits or guardians of a mansion. Truly priceless!
It's a pity though—our sect forbids us from fighting among ourselves. So unless those disciples willingly enter a banner, collecting them takes much longer."
Then, with a shift in tone, he pointed toward Liu Wu's empty mansion.
"But you must also be practical, fellow Daoist. Right now you don't even have a single soul—not even a gatekeeper for your mansion! That's hardly proper. Why not buy a few beast souls from the 'Hundred Beasts Hall' in town? They'll serve you just fine for now."
Liu Wu's mind stirred.
So the so-called "pet shop" he had seen earlier was in fact selling beast souls!
Thinking it over, he decided to ask directly:
"Your suggestion is reasonable, fellow Daoist. However… I still wish to leave the city. Do you perhaps know how?"
He asked frankly, since he already knew how to enter the city. Besides, with a new day come, his true body could summon fresh avatars. If something went wrong, he could simply abandon this one.
The middle-aged man didn't think much of it, and replied casually:
"Leave the city? That's easy. You can't find the old locust tree in the city center, can you? That's because it only appears at midnight. When the time comes, just walk toward it, and you'll naturally leave the city.
But honestly, why would anyone want to leave? To go out, you need a fleshly body. That thing is fragile, troublesome, a burden! We worked so hard to be free of the flesh—who would willingly put it back on?
Only a few oddballs go in and out, bringing us items from the outside."
He smirked with disdain.
"Truth be told, there's nothing outside worth fetching. Everything is illusory. Only cultivation is real.
Here in Luo Feng City, as long as we live comfortably, the Soul Banners and the souls within form a spirit-gathering array. Just by dwelling in the mansions they create, our cultivation increases on its own with every breath. Far better than bitter cultivation outside!"
The man's eyes gleamed with enthusiasm as he went on:
"Fellow Daoist, you must have grown weary of the dull, joyless training of the outside world. That's why you came here, yes?
Everything here may be false, but this place is for enjoyment. You can do whatever you wish—and still grow stronger without effort! Compared to grinding away in a stone cell for a hundred years, isn't this life far more delightful?"