A golden light, like a single Golden Thread, entered Shen Siyuan's forehead before he could even react.
An ordinary person might not have noticed anything unusual, simply thinking their eyes were playing tricks on them.
But Shen Siyuan, having devoured the Nine Nether Demon Lord's soul, had developed a Divine Sense.
Under the illumination of his Divine Sense, he discovered a single Golden Thread within his Sea of Consciousness.
If it were anyone else, they certainly wouldn't know what this was, but with the Nine Nether Demon Lord's memories, he knew all too well—this was Merit.
But this Merit had come far too easily.
Just for helping Doudou fulfill her wish, he could obtain Merit? Was she some kind of child of heaven and earth?
But Shen Siyuan knew that was impossible. Although Tao Guangxia's family was well-off, they were just an ordinary family, and Doudou, having drowned in the sea, couldn't possibly be someone who carried Great Fortune.
Even in The Great Wilderness, Merit was extremely difficult to obtain. One not only had to possess Great Fortune but also make a massive contribution to heaven and earth to be granted Merit.
In the Nine Nether Demon Lord's vast memories, only a single Human Sage had ever received Merit for their achievements in enlightenment and education.
Other than that, basically no one else had ever obtained Merit.
Legends said that in ancient times, Merit would occasionally descend from the heavens, but as the rules of the world became more complete, Merit became increasingly difficult to acquire.
And yet Shen Siyuan, simply by helping Doudou fulfill her wish—an act that could at most be considered a good deed—had unexpectedly received a thread of Merit.
The only possibility was that the rules of this world were different.
Merit was a wonderful thing.
Not only could it increase a person's Fortune, but it could also aid in Cultivation Practice.
Even if this world was murky and utterly devoid of Spiritual Qi, with Merit, he could once again set foot on the path of cultivation.
Merit was, in a sense, a universal panacea; it could be used as a substitute for almost anything, anywhere.
Although it was only a single thread, if he performed more good deeds, the grains of sand could build a pagoda, eventually allowing him to step onto the Path of Transcendence.
However, these were two different worlds, and it had been so simple to obtain. He wondered if this Merit was the same as that Merit.
At this thought, his mind stirred, and he summoned the Ten Thousand Souls Banner.
He then extended his Divine Sense toward the Ten Thousand Souls Banner, and the single Golden Thread landed upon it.
The previously motionless surface of the banner instantly began to flutter in a fierce wind. A golden line flashed across the purple fabric, adding an air of nobility.
Seeing this, Shen Siyuan was overjoyed. He hadn't expected that this single thread of Merit could actually be used to repair the Ten Thousand Souls Banner.
It was just a little too small.
Shen Siyuan's Divine Sense wrapped around the Ten Thousand Souls Banner, and he could faintly perceive a peculiar, hazy area within it.
The Ten Thousand Souls Banner was the Sect Guardian Treasure of the Ancient Demon Sect, the Netherworld Sect. It was later obtained by the Nine Nether Demon Lord, which helped him earn his title as a Demon Lord.
Its origins were extraordinary. It contained a total of Nine Layers of Restrictions, and what Shen Siyuan saw was the First Layer Space.
This layer of space wasn't used by the Nine Nether Demon Lord as a Storage Space, but rather as a place to contain ghosts.
"Big Bwother~"
Seeing Shen Siyuan standing there in a daze, Doudou reached out and patted his leg.
Snapping back to his senses, Shen Siyuan's gaze fell on Doudou, and he gently shook the Ten Thousand Souls Banner in his hand.
An invisible force then directly pulled Doudou into the Ten Thousand Souls Banner.
The surface of the banner rippled like water, sending out waves of faint blue light.
Shen Siyuan wasn't doing this to erase her memories or repair the Soul Banner, but to draw Doudou into the banner to serve his command.
As long as Shen Siyuan had no ill intentions, this method would not harm Doudou.
In fact, this method even offered Doudou many benefits.
Once on the Ten Thousand Souls Banner, as long as one wasn't instantly Soul Scattered and Destroyed, their soul would remain an Indestructible Soul. Furthermore, thanks to the banner, they would be granted certain Supernatural Powers.
After all, the Ten Thousand Souls Banner was also an Offensive Weapon, meant to capture Wandering Souls and command them against enemies.
But most of these Wandering Souls were ordinary people, with the rest being mostly soldiers.
If he simply used these ghosts to fight, they would be nothing more than Cannon Fodder.
But how could the Ten Thousand Souls Banner, a peak Magic Treasure of the Demonic Path, be so simple? Ghosts absorbed into it would also be granted special abilities like Netherfire, Yin Wind, Armor and Combat Arts, Stealth and Assassination, and more.
Of course, where there were benefits, there were also drawbacks. After a Ghost was absorbed into the Ten Thousand Souls Banner, a Brand would be seared onto them.
As long as the Banner Master didn't actively remove the Brand, they would be subject to the Banner Master's command for all of eternity, serving as his Eyes and Ears, fighting his enemies, and taking damage for him.
Shen Siyuan once again shook the Ten Thousand Souls Banner in his hand, and Doudou was instantly released.
"Waaah…"
Doudou's eyes went wide as she looked herself over. Her entire body now radiated a faint blue light, and her hair looked like burning flames.
"I look so powerful right now," she said proudly.
Then, before Shen Siyuan could say a word, she transformed into a gust of Yin Wind and zipped through the air, leaving Shen Siyuan dumbfounded.
Was she really that amazing? It almost made him want to die himself.
However, seeing the Little One disappear from sight, Shen Siyuan shook the Ten Thousand Souls Banner in his hand.
Doudou, soaring through the air wrapped in Yin Wind, was immediately pulled by an invisible force and instantly returned to Shen Siyuan's side.
"Don't run off."
"Big Bwother~, Big Bwother, I'm super powerful now, you know."
Doudou clenched her small fists, her chubby little face filled with pride.
"I know."
"Oh right, you're the Sweet Potato."
"You mean Banner Master, right?"
"Mhm, Big Sweet Potato…"
"I think your bottom is asking for a spanking."
"Hee hee, Sweet Potato Bwother, I can fly, you know! And I can make flames…"
Doudou looked up at the sky, let out a couple of little roars, and then flames began to rise from her entire body.
This was the unique Netherfire from within the Ten Thousand Souls Banner, capable of burning a person's soul, and its power was immense.
"Playing with fire is dangerous.
You should play with it less often," Shen Siyuan warned.
As the Banner Master, his words were law, so Doudou would naturally listen obediently.
"Let me tell you, I can also do this…"
As Doudou spoke, she put her hands on her hips, tilted her head back, and puffed out her chubby little belly.
Shen Siyuan: "…"
"And then what? To show off how big your tummy is?"
"Can you see me now?" Doudou asked.
"Nonsense, I've always been able to see you."
"Oh, right," Doudou realized.
"Like this, Mom and Dad can see me, and everyone can see me too!" Doudou said proudly.
"Wait, hide yourself first," Shen Siyuan said, quickly looking around.
Fortunately, it was nighttime, and there was no one around.
He had also just realized that a Ghost on the Ten Thousand Souls Banner possessed a Manifestation Ability, allowing them to be seen by ordinary people.
But Doudou was currently covered in blue light, and her hair was like burning flames, flaring upwards. It was definitely not something an ordinary person should see.
"Sigh, I can't do this, and I can't do that… Sweet Potato Bwother, you're just like my dad…"
Doudou furrowed her brows, looking like a mischievous little pixie.
"You listen to me. First, learn to control those flames on your body, and then we'll talk."
"Okay."
Doudou replied with a crisp, clear voice.
Evidently, after her soul was absorbed into the Soul Banner, she was not only granted abilities but also infused with some knowledge. Otherwise, the little thing wouldn't be able to use her powers so skillfully, nor would she call him Banner Master.
Shen Siyuan thought for a moment, then shook the Ten Thousand Souls Banner in his hand again, pulling her back into the banner to prevent the little thing from running around all over the place.