The ghost shrieked as the **Ghost Banner's pull intensified**.
Large portions of its mist-like body were already being dragged toward the dark fabric, twisting and compressing as the runes devoured its Yin energy.
"NO—!"
The spirit roared, hollow eyes blazing with fury.
Its remaining form surged violently, straining to break free from the banner's suction.
The fox planted her paws firmly in the ground, claws digging deep as she held the artifact steady.
The cloth whipped wildly in the wind.
"Stop struggling!" she barked.
"You're making this harder than it needs to be!"
The ghost snarled, expanding its form again to resist the pull.
Yin energy exploded outward, briefly slowing the banner's suction.
The fox's grin faltered slightly.
"…Stubborn thing."
Then—
A low crackle of **lightning** echoed behind her.
The ghost felt it instantly.
Before it could react—
A massive shadow **dropped from above**.
The lizard.
Silent in flight, his wings had carried him effortlessly into the air.
Now he descended like a falling blade.
The ghost's hollow eyes widened.
"What—?!"
The lizard's golden eyes blazed.
Lightning surged along the black scales of his tail.
He didn't speak. He simply **swung**.
**CRACK—BOOM.**
His tail slammed through the ghost's unstable form like a thunderbolt.
Storm energy exploded through the spirit's body.
Yin mist shattered violently.
"AAARRRGHH—!"
The ghost screamed as its already damaged soul-body fractured further.
This time, it couldn't resist.
The **Ghost Banner's pull overwhelmed it**.
Swirling fragments of dark mist were dragged violently toward the cloth.
The fox's eyes lit up.
"Yes!"
The ghost thrashed desperately as its body was drawn into the banner.
"I will not—!"
Its voice was cut off as more than half its form vanished inside.
The fox leaned forward, pouring more spiritual energy into the artifact.
The runes blazed like silver fire.
The banner trembled violently, swallowing the spirit piece by piece.
Only the ghost's head and shoulders remained outside now.
Its hollow eyes burned with hatred as it glared at the lizard.
"You…" it hissed.
"…I will remember you—"
The banner **yanked again**.
The rest of the ghost's body collapsed inward.
With a final furious shriek, the last fragment of Yin mist was **dragged into the banner**.
**WHUMP.**
The cloth snapped shut.
The clearing fell silent.
The **Ghost Banner** fluttered once… then went still in the fox's paw.
For a moment, neither of them moved.
The fox slowly lowered the artifact, ears twitching.
"…Well."
She exhaled.
"That worked."
Faint black mist still swirled weakly beneath the fabric, pressing against the runes as the trapped ghost struggled inside.
The fox stared for a moment, tail swishing proudly.
"Well of course you'll remember me," she said casually, turquoise eyes gleaming.
"From now on…"
She lifted the banner slightly, inspecting the glowing runes.
"…I'm your **master**."
Inside the banner, the ghost roared in fury, muffled by the sealing formation.
"YOU—! I WILL TEAR YOUR SOUL APART WHEN I ESCAPE—!"
The fox rolled her eyes.
"Oh please."
She flicked the banner once.
The runes pulsed, sending a wave of suppression through the artifact.
Inside, the ghost cried out as the formation crushed its struggling form.
"AAAGH—!"
The fox smirked.
"You should really calm down."
Her voice carried clear amusement.
"Your situation hasn't quite sunk in yet."
She lowered the banner and slung it across her back beside the storage pouch.
"You're not escaping anything."
Her tail flicked.
"You're inside the **Ghost Banner** now."
She paused before adding cheerfully,
"And I'm the one holding it."
Behind her, the lizard watched silently.
His golden eyes glowed faintly as he studied the artifact.
He could still feel the **Yin energy** swirling inside it.
The fox's grin widened.
"Not bad, Little White."
She stretched her front legs lazily.
"That soul attack of yours came in very handy."
Her eyes gleamed with excitement again.
"Do you realize what I just got?"
She lifted the banner slightly.
"A **ghost servant**."
Inside, the ghost snarled again.
"I WILL NOT SERVE—!"
The fox ignored it completely.
Her mind raced.
A ghost bound to a banner like this could become extremely powerful if nurtured correctly.
And more importantly—
Ghosts were **perfect scouts**.
Perfect assassins.
Perfect spies.
Her smile grew a little more dangerous.
"Oh, this was absolutely worth opening that box."
Then she looked back at the lizard.
Her eyes glinted mischievously.
"You know…"
She said slowly,
"With the storage ring, the spirit tool, the corpse puppet, and now this ghost…"
Her tail swayed behind her.
"…that Golden Core cultivator named **Zhao Kairen** just accidentally funded my future."
The fox lifted the **Ghost Banner** slightly, watching the faint ripples of Yin energy moving beneath the dark cloth.
Her turquoise eyes gleamed with satisfaction.
"You know what this means, right?"
She glanced toward the lizard and gave the banner a small shake.
Inside, the trapped spirit thrashed again, dark mist pressing against the glowing runes.
The fox smirked.
"This ghost…"
She tapped the banner lightly with her paw.
"…is roughly equivalent to a cultivator at the **mid stage of Foundation Establishment**."
Her tail swayed slowly behind her.
"That's not weak at all."
Inside, the ghost snarled, its distorted voice echoing through the artifact.
"I WILL NOT SERVE YOU!"
The fox ignored it completely, speaking as if discussing a tool.
"Once it stabilizes inside the banner and absorbs enough Yin energy…"
She tilted her head thoughtfully.
"…it might even grow stronger."
Her eyes gleamed.
"Ghosts cultivate by devouring other spirits or feeding on death energy."
The banner twitched again as the spirit tried to push outward.
"Let me out!"
The fox flicked the banner once more.
The runes flashed, forcing the ghost back down.
"Quiet," she said flatly.
Then she looked back at the lizard.
"Think about it. A mid-Foundation ghost that can fly, pass through walls, scout ahead, and attack souls…"
Her grin widened.
"That's an incredibly useful servant."
She lifted the banner over her shoulder.
"And best of all…"
Her ears twitched with amusement.
"…it can't really betray me unless the banner is destroyed."
Inside, the artifact, the ghost growled furiously.
"You underestimate me, beast!"
The fox snorted.
"Maybe." She said casually.
"But right now…"
Her eyes glinted.
"…you're just **equipment**."
Behind her, the lizard's golden eyes watched quietly.
He could feel the ghost's **Yin aura** pulsing inside.
A tool like this… could be useful. Very useful.
The fox stretched, satisfied.
"Honestly…" she sighed.
"This night turned out far better than I expected."
Her tail flicked once.
"Storage ring. Spirit-grade tool. Corpse puppet. And now a ghost servant."
She looked up at the moon, then returned her gaze to the lizard.
"Not bad for a single day of work."