Courtyard House: Time Traveler Not Yet a Ghost

It was the 26th day of the twelfth lunar month, late at night. The courtyard at No. 95 Nanluoguxiang was immersed in the stillness of the winter night, with only the occasional whistling of the cold wind passing through the cracks in the eaves. In the main room, He Damin, lying on the kang (a heated brick bed), slowly opened his eyes.

There was no dazzling divine light, no intimidating aura; his eyes were as deep as an ancient well, calm and still, seemingly reflecting the cosmos. He sat cross-legged, not deliberately cultivating his inner energy, yet a very faint, seemingly harmonious aura, resonating with the rhythm of heaven and earth, naturally flowed around him. His Nascent Soul was complete, his essence, energy, and spirit perfectly integrated, his spirit united with the Dao, his body connected with heaven and earth. At this moment, even in stillness, he exuded an unfathomable, profound, and otherworldly aura, like mountains and oceans.

With a slight thought, his consciousness sank into his dantian. The nascent soul, identical to himself, its body a clear, lustrous blue, seated cross-legged on a lotus platform shrouded in purple mist, emanated a warm, jade-like yet vast and boundless aura. The nascent soul's acupoints seemed subtly connected to the boundless energy of the outside world, its breath exhaling indescribable, profound Daoist principles. Perfect and flawless, without any imperfections. Given the right opportunity, he could attempt to break through to the even higher realm of the Nascent Soul stage.

But that's not all he's concerned about tonight.

His consciousness, like an invisible tentacle, reached into the depths of his consciousness into a larger, more fundamental space—the "Tai Chi Space" microcosm formed by the Tai Chi Yin Yang Jade Tablet.

The Yang Space, teeming with life, resembled a self-contained miniature world. Its area had expanded to an astonishing one thousand square kilometers! Mountains, rivers, plains, forests, lakes… the landscape was diverse, and while the spiritual energy (a mixture of faint primordial energy and energy generated within the inner world) wasn't as concentrated as in the external blessed lands, it was sufficient to sustain the ecological cycle. The silver-gray flying saucer he had previously acquired hovered silently above a plain, surrounded by piles of supplies and research data. A massive amount of military vehicles and small items "borrowed" from North Korea were neatly categorized and stacked in a specially designated storage area, resembling a small mountain. He had even designated a small area as a herb garden and experimental field, transplanting some common herbs and cold-resistant crops found outside. This space had become his exclusive logistics base, meditation room, and strategic reserve.

The Cathode Space, however, presents a completely different scene. Here, there is no sunlight, no life, only eternal darkness and profundity. The space is equally vast, yet permeated with a rich, extremely pure Yin energy and soul fluctuations. Most striking are the six slowly rotating, deep light holes at the heart of the space, each emitting a different radiance and aura—the nascent projections of the Six Paths of Reincarnation, gradually taking shape.

Purple (Heavenly Path), milky white (Human Path), scarlet (Asura Path), earthy yellow (Animal Path), ghastly green (Hungry Ghost Path)... and there is one more, radiating the deepest, most profound darkness and extreme cold, seemingly capable of devouring all light—that is the Hell Path, which also seems to be faintly taking shape. Between the six light holes, an invisible yet powerful force of rules flows, maintaining a fragile balance. In the center of the Yin-Yang Space, the dark and profound Soul Refining Banner itself floats, now trembling slightly, radiating a soul fluctuation more powerful and restrained than ever before.

"The Taiji Space is a harmonious balance of Yin and Yang. At its extreme, all things are born; at its extreme, reincarnation is governed… This path is becoming increasingly interesting," He Damin realized. The growth of this Taiji Space is closely related to his cultivation level and his understanding of the Yin-Yang Dao. Reaching the completion of his Nascent Soul stage further enhanced his perception of the laws of heaven and earth, directly promoting the evolution of the "Taiji Space" micro-world formed by the Taiji Yin-Yang Jade Tablet.

His consciousness swept over the numerous skills he now possessed. The basics from the Yin-Yang beginner's pack, such as talismans, footwork, and hand seals, as well as "The Three Pure Bells Usage Method" and "Introduction to Peach Wood Sword Forging," though seemingly "low-level," were profoundly simple, and some basic techniques proved remarkably effective in specific situations (especially against evil spirits). The Yang-Yang selections, such as "Twelve Tan Legs," "Tai Chi Harmony Skill," "Swallow Three Drops of Water," and "Eight Extremities Fist," had already been integrated into his martial arts system, imbuing every movement with immense power. He had also mastered techniques like soul clones, memory reading, and soul control to a high degree.

The most significant change came from the Soul Refining Banner, which was bound to his soul and grew and advanced alongside it. As his cultivation broke through to the Nascent Soul stage and his understanding of the Soul Dao and the power of reincarnation deepened, the Soul Refining Banner also completed its crucial fifth advancement!

When consciousness touched the Soul Refining Banner, a vast torrent of information surged in once more, more magnificent and profound than ever before:

[Banner Essence Leap]: The capacity and efficiency of absorbing, refining, and storing souls increase tenfold! It's as if a vast sea of ​​soul power has been opened up within the banner, theoretically capable of simultaneously absorbing and refining 100,000 souls without pressure. The [Soul Devouring Feedback] effect undergoes a qualitative change; the pure soul power fed back can be directly transformed into resources to nourish the Yang God, endlessly regenerating, making soul cultivation efficiency far surpass that of ordinary cultivators.

【Netherworld Chains - Yin-Yang Twin Chains】: The chain form has evolved once again! One yin and one yang, the twin chains rise together. The yin chain is as black as ink, wrapped with soul-corroding yin fire and extreme cold, specializing in binding souls and fixing spirits, corroding bones and destroying the mind; the yang chain is dark gold, its surface leaping with dazzling lightning, specializing in breaking through the armor and energy barriers of evil spirits, and also possessing powerful destructive force against physical objects. When the twin chains strike together, the power of yin and yang merges, which can temporarily freeze the target's form and soul, with terrifying power.

[Soul Banner Domain - Netherworld Ghost Realm]: The domain's range has been expanded to a maximum of 300 zhang (approximately 1000 meters)! Within the domain, light, temperature, and gravity can all be finely adjusted at will, creating a self-contained world. Its suppressive power and deceptiveness have reached unprecedented heights. The newly added "Ghost Realm Projection" ability can cover a real-world area of ​​100 zhang with the ethereal illusion at the core of the domain, blurring the lines between reality and illusion, making it impossible for enemies to defend against.

【Night Parade of a Hundred Ghosts, Court of Ten Thousand Ghosts】: The maximum number of summoned ghostly phantoms has increased dramatically, allowing one to summon thousands of ghostly figures with a single thought! Among them are ten "Ghost Generals" whose strength is comparable to a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator, possessing higher intelligence and combat instincts. Even more terrifying is that, by consuming a large amount of soul power and essence, one can even summon a "Ghost King" with simple intelligence and strength comparable to an early-stage Golden Core cultivator for a brief appearance! Although the duration is limited and the consumption is enormous, it is undoubtedly one of the strongest trump cards currently available.

[Soul Banner Projection - External Avatar]: The projection ability has undergone a qualitative leap! The differentiated Soul Banner phantom can now house a wisp of one's own soul, forming an "external avatar" with approximately 30% of the original's strength, capable of independent thought and performing complex tasks! The avatar can exist for up to twelve hours and is connected to the original's consciousness, essentially providing an extra life or a powerful reconnaissance/combat unit. (Note: Destroying the avatar will cause some damage to the housed wisp of soul, requiring time to recover.)

[Blood Soul Dao Soldiers - Dao Soldier Legion]: The maximum number of Blood Soul Dao Soldiers that can be created and maintained has been increased to one hundred! The types of soldiers are more complete, and they can form small battle formations such as sword and shield soldiers, spearmen, and archers. Dao soldiers exist between reality and illusion, and are not afraid of ordinary physical attacks. Once formed into formation, they are enough to rival a thousand well-trained mortal armies, making them an excellent force for defense and harassment.

【Soul Ties, Ten Thousand Miles of Pursuit】: The ability to track and locate enemies has been greatly enhanced! Now, no personal items or flesh and blood are needed; as long as the target's exact name and clear appearance (or spiritual imprint) are known, this technique can be cast by consuming soul power. The perception range has been expanded to a hundred miles, and the target's current basic state (such as whether they are injured, experiencing intense emotional fluctuations, etc.) can be vaguely sensed. Of course, if the target is protected by a powerful array or magical artifact, or if they are outside the range, it will be difficult to achieve the desired effect.

[Unlocked: Soul Banner Grotto-Heaven]: This is one of the most significant changes in this advancement! The interior of the Soul Refining Banner is no longer simply a space for storing and refining soul power, but has truly evolved into a stable "grotto-heaven" spanning approximately ten miles! This grotto-heaven is based on soul power and yin energy, with a dark environment suitable for the survival of souls and yin-attribute beings. He Damin's consciousness can freely enter the grotto-heaven, and more importantly, his physical body can now also briefly enter this grotto-heaven to hide or cultivate (the flow of time within the grotto-heaven is synchronized with the outside world). This means that, in addition to the yang world of the Taiji Space, he now has another extremely hidden hiding and combat space specializing in soul and yin-attribute abilities. The grotto-heaven can also be used to imprison enemy souls, or to raise and train ghosts and Dao soldiers.

[Unlocked: Reincarnation Guidance]: The ability to touch upon higher-level rules begins to emerge! He Damin can attempt to exercise preliminary "reincarnation authority" through the connection between the Soul Refining Banner and the projection of the Six Paths of Reincarnation in the Yin-Yang Space. First, he can actively guide and capture newly deceased souls that have not yet completely dissipated or are heading to the underworld directly into the Soul Refining Banner (the success rate depends on the strength of the soul, distance, and environmental interference). Second, he can attempt to "project" relatively "pure" souls, or souls that meet certain conditions, after being imprisoned and refined within the Soul Refining Banner, into the projection of the Six Paths of Reincarnation, sending them to "reincarnate" (currently, the relatively stable projection channels are mainly the Animal Path, Hungry Ghost Path, and Hell Path; the success rate is also affected by factors such as soul strength and karmic cause and effect). This ability is currently very rudimentary and involves immense karmic consequences, requiring careful use, but it undoubtedly opens a door for him to a higher realm.

As He Damin digested this information, even with his perfected Nascent Soul state of mind, he couldn't help but feel a surge of emotion. The fifth advancement of the Soul Refining Banner brought about a comprehensive and qualitative improvement. It was not only a powerful offensive and defensive magic weapon and a soul cultivation accelerator, but now it was also a "Cave Heaven Magic Weapon" capable of housing a physical body, and a "powerful object" that touched upon the rules of reincarnation. Its strategic value had already surpassed that of most so-called "immortal magic weapons."

"Soul Banner Cave Heaven... Reincarnation Guidance..." He Damin murmured to himself, his consciousness sinking into the ten-mile-long cave heaven newly opened by the Soul Refining Banner.

The cave was not entirely dark, but rather permeated with a soft, moonlit blue light, originating from naturally formed soul energy crystals in the cave's dome. The ground was hard, cold black rock, with some areas covered by grayish-white, moss-like yin-attribute plants. The air (if it could be considered air) flowed with pure yin energy and soul power, making it a treasure trove for cultivating yin-attribute techniques or souls. The edge of the cave was indistinct, as if shrouded in chaotic mist; that was the boundary of the cave, and also the space for growth.

With a thought, ten Blood Soul Soldiers materialized in the center of the cave. Their forms blurred between reality and illusion, clad in ancient-style armor shrouded in blood-red light, wielding weapons such as swords, spears, and bows. Their eyes flickered with eerie green soul fire, standing solemnly, radiating a chilling and murderous aura. Following He Damin's mental command, they swiftly formed a small battle formation, their movements perfectly synchronized and silent. With this cave, these soldiers could be stationed here permanently, ready to be deployed at any time.

"If we release Yin-attribute materials, or even some Yin spirits and ghosts, into this grotto-heaven, it might accelerate their growth and even evolve a unique ecosystem..." He Damin pondered. This Soul Banner Grotto-heaven has enormous potential.

He exited the Soul Banner Cave Heaven, his consciousness returning to his physical body. He Damin slowly exhaled a breath of turbid air, the long, drawn-out breath condensing into a white ribbon in the cold room, lingering for a long time.

His strength has leaped forward once again. With his Nascent Soul cultivation at its peak, combined with the fully upgraded Soul Refining Banner and the foundation of the Yin and Yang realms within the Taiji Space, his current overall combat power is enough to easily crush ordinary late-stage Nascent Soul cultivators. He even has the confidence to contend with and even defeat those who have just entered the Divine Transformation realm (depending on the opponent's methods and trump cards). In this mortal world, he has almost reached the pinnacle.

However, improving one's cultivation level and magical artifacts is merely a means, not an end. His vision has never been limited to personal strength.

Outside the window, the night was deep, and dawn was still some time away.

He Damin closed his eyes again, but not to cultivate. Instead, he quietly spread his divine sense like an invisible network towards the northwest. This time, the coverage and precision of his divine sense increased again with his breakthrough in cultivation. A hundred miles away, the outline of Shenyang City East Tower Airport faintly appeared on the edge of his perception. Although he couldn't clearly "see" the specific scene, he could vaguely sense that the area was currently teeming with vitality, with faint human voices and frequent energy fluctuations—clearly, the airport had "awakened" and was in a state of great shock and activity.

"The gift has been delivered; now it's up to us to accept it." A faint smile played on He Damin's lips. That generous gift was enough to shake the higher-ups, greatly alleviate the pressure on the front lines, and also make certain forces suspicious and troubled. Withdrawing his divine sense, his gaze fell on Xiao Yushui, who was fast asleep inside the house, and seemed to penetrate the walls, seeing He Daqing tossing and turning in the west wing of the backyard, unable to fall asleep, and also seeing the neighbors in the front yard, each immersed in their own joys and sorrows.

Human life, family and country, personal cultivation, the mysteries of the stars... multiple threads and multiple identities intertwine in his life.

But one thing is certain: with the cultivation of a perfect Nascent Soul and the fully advanced Soul Refining Banner as his trump card, he will be more confident in facing and controlling whatever lies ahead, whether it be wind or rain, people or ghosts, mortal entanglements or unknown crises.

Outside the window, the first faint rays of dawn quietly tore through the eastern night. The morning of the 27th day of the twelfth lunar month was approaching. He Damin got up, walked to the window, and pushed it open a crack, letting in the cool, fresh air. He gazed at the gradually brightening sky, his eyes deep as an abyss, yet calm as a lake.