Merit

Li Zhouwei shook his head, leading him outward, and said in a low voice, "It is more than just that. Look, Granduncle." The two rose upon streaks of light and traversed the Great Void. Li Zhouwei led the way northward, and they emerged within a pavilion on the riverbank. The north lay submerged in thin mist. Boundless white bones still stretched endlessly into the distance. Faint figures flickered among the vast fields of bone, walking through before quickly vanishing into the white fog. Though the north bank beneath their feet was still bustling, it was no longer heavily garrisoned as before. It was now under standard guard, merely preventing rogue and demonic cultivators from sneaking onto the lake. Without a word, Li Zhouwei led him across the river. Li Ximing looked out over the endless expanse of skeletons with a conflicted expression, keeping silent. "Our family lost quite a few cultivators: over a hundred in Qi Nourishing, though fewer in Qi Refinement—thirty-one, eleven of whom were from the main branch. Ten Foundation Establishment cultivators perished, mostly Qingchi guest elders. Two belonged to us." "That is not too many," Li Ximing nodded. Li Zhouwei, however, shook his head. "I knew he intended to cross the river and kept in mind that casualties might occur, so I instructed them early on not to be overly reckless... "Besides... at home, neither Qu Bushi nor Sun Bai can match anyone in a fight; Miaoshui was already injured, and Chen Yang is shrewder than anyone. Looking around, all we have are the old, the weak, the sick, and the crippled—none of them suited to charging at the front. The only one capable of real fighting is Ding Weizeng... Once I made arrangements for him, Qingchi's Foundation Establishment cultivators naturally had to hold the front line. "The ones who charged farthest ahead on our side were the Wen demonic cultivator brothers and my clan brother Zhouda. The Wen brothers fancied that, as demonic cultivators, they could escape with their lives no matter what, and any injuries would be compensated by the lake, so they grew brazen, hoping to reap greater gains. They never expected to encounter such a catastrophe and both perished. Fortunately, Zhouda had protective magical artifacts and talismans, barely clawing his way back with his life..." Li Ximing sighed quietly upon hearing this and replied, "He truly has great fortune to survive. In normal times, the Old Master would grumble to me about his rash temper—the moment blood rushed to his head, he would glare and charge ahead... I have no idea how he ended up like that." As the two Masters strolled inside, they immediately felt a wave of sinister chill sweep over them. Surges of Shaoyin and baleful qi eroded flesh and gnawed into bone marrow with icy cruelty, accompanied by the howl of ghostly winds and the frantic cawing of night ravens. The two Masters naturally restrained their divine abilities so as not to provoke any clash of spiritual forces that might expose them. Li Zhouwei remarked, "The landscape of Baijiang Creek has changed entirely. Cultivators great and small now call this place Zhuoshaling. It is the very site of the former Three Mifan Caves... "The waters of Lushui here have long since dispersed, but baleful qi roils, festering resentment spreads, and spiritual forces seethe. Mortal men still cannot dwell here, and even Qi Refinement cultivators cannot linger for long..." Li Ximing glanced around and indeed saw several Qi Refinement cultivators equipped with magical artifacts and talismans searching for something. Li Zhouwei said faintly, "Aside from all manner of magical artifacts and treasures left behind by the fallen cultivators back then, the spiritual forces here fluctuate at an uncanny pace. From time to time, tremors echo through the Great Void, giving birth to spiritual items. Over the past year, they have appeared with increasing frequency." Hearing this, Li Ximing understood in his heart: *How could spiritual items simply be born from nothing? The most common explanation is a grotto-heaven... Whether it is a divine ability or magic treasure in the Great Void, something is slowly guiding that grotto-heaven back into the mortal world, disturbing the spiritual balance and throwing it into turmoil, which causes spiritual items to coalesce from the void.* *Most have realized by now that the repeated clashes between north and south, the rise of multiple killing tribulations, were all for Wanling Heaven. Zhouwei once caught a glimpse of it back then; it now seems it will descend precisely here in the future.* Li Zhouwei pointed toward the north and said softly, "Nowadays, everyone says monks find Zhuoshaling impossible to cross, granting us a few days of peace. I hear Murong Yan and his cohorts are stationed north of Zhuoshaling, while Mount Xiaoshi and Mount Tangdao remain occupied by Buddhist cultivators... Xuanmiao serves as the cultivation ground for Qi Lanyan and his peers... and Xuanyue... has been restored." *Impossible for monks to cross? That is merely wishful thinking from those below the Violet Palace! Since this is the ground where Wanling Heaven will be summoned, who would dare fight recklessly here?* Understanding dawned on Li Ximing step by step, yet hearing the name of Xuanyue Gate brought no words of congratulation to his lips, only a sigh of emotion: "The Kong clan... has not had it easy." As they headed into the array together, Li Zhouwei picked up the thread of conversation: "Duxian Dao returned the mountain, yet it cannot be touched. Most of the Crimson Palace's key core lineage were taken away, leaving behind quite a few demonic cultivators for them. Kong Xiaxiang was consumed by fury and vented his wrath by seizing those few small fry... though whether that was prearranged to make a public statement of allegiance, I cannot say. "Senior Kong has not visited the lake to this day; presumably, it would be inappropriate. Instead, she sent Kong Guxi and Kong Xiaxiang over." He raised an eyebrow. "Kong Guxi was weeping with gratitude yet dared not speak much. Kong Xiaxiang can be considered grateful to our family. He was always impatient by nature, but having suffered such abrupt rises and falls entirely beyond his control, his mind has broken. "People often speak of being haunted by inner demons, but his condition is worse—his peace of mind has been completely shattered, and it will be difficult to mend... Not that one can blame him." Sitting down by the table in the grand hall, the Master in platinum Daoist robes found himself at a loss for words. He simply watched the clear tea stream into the cup with a faint splashing sound. Li Zhouwei poured the tea and spoke quietly: "In the eleventh month, Sui Guan slew Xindu and Si Lianmin, leaving no survivors at Baijiang Creek. The world could not see clearly and still points the finger at Master Qiuhu, but Quewan and the others knew the truth, and the events were recorded. "Later, the blessed land sealed itself off, Xiukui retreated from the world, and Xuanyue reopened its sect. Third Granduncle's disciple, Quan Yuduan, arrived to deliver the news." Pausing slightly, he explained, "The things Guest Elder Wushao learned had previously been disclosed by them." Li Ximing nodded to show he understood. Li Zhouwei continued, "I met with him personally. He harbored quite a distaste for the Ning clan and was at a total loss, so he could only leave the mountain. When speaking of Master Sui Guan, Quan Yuduan only remembered that such a Great Master once existed; as for any doubts or suspicions, they had vanished entirely." Li Ximing's brow furrowed. Li Zhouwei went on, "I then had Quewan fetch the records from back then. The two characters for 'Sui Guan' had vanished without a trace, and the entire passage had blurred into illegibility. "Now, the whole world only remembers that Master Ning of the Qingchi Sect slew the demonic cultivator Xindu over the river using a secret talisman preserved by Qingchi. As for everything else—and the person of Sui Guan—none can remember. "According to my deduction, in today's world, barring a few families of noble bloodline, no one below the Violet Palace can clearly remember him. And since they cannot remember, it all gets attributed to Master Qiuhu." Li Ximing was silent for a moment before asking, "How is Master Qiuhu?" Li Zhouwei's gaze turned slightly complex. "Master Qiuhu has been in secluded cultivation for over a year, not emerging for even a single day. Lin Wuning is mediocre; how could he keep those beneath him in check? Now, Qingchi is riddled with factions, in utter chaos from top to bottom, to the point where it lacks the strength to rein in the local territories... "According to Quan Yuduan, there are rarely explicit assignments for markets or islands these days. If anyone wants a position anywhere, bribing with spirit stones and spiritual resources will usually secure it." This was an extremely bad omen. Li Ximing frowned slightly and asked, "Whatever they pay in bribes can ultimately be recouped from the post. If this continues in the long run, how can it be sustainable..." Li Zhouwei sipped his tea and replied, "Granduncle speaks truly. Ever since the tragedy of Mount Bianyan, Qingchi has been a mixed bag. The Ning clan has always been weak; now that their spirit has collapsed and Master Qiuhu has let go of the reins, those below are lost. The commanderies harbor discontent, held back only by fear of the Master's might. "Now, everyone exploits Qingchi's name and influence to pursue their own schemes. Most tributes exist only in name and have effectively fallen into neglect. I fear that even in Simin Commandery at the foot of Mount Qingchi... few hearts still turn toward Qingchi." Li Ximing shook his head and sighed, "What does it matter to them? Even if Qingchi rots to the core, its scraps alone could feed the clans across the commanderies for a century. For now, it has merely loosened its grip and taken a nap. So long as the treasures locked in the vaults remain untouched and the fruit status stays exalted, it is in truth merely nourishing the local territories. "The day it rolls over and wakes up, another cycle begins." Li Zhouwei's expression was unfathomable as he murmured, "I fear it may never wake." The two paused, pursuing the topic no further. Li Zhouwei said solemnly, "There is one matter I must discuss with you, Granduncle. Jiangqian is in secluded cultivation, and calculating the days, the time for his emergence is not far off. Once he succeeds, he will be in the late Foundation Establishment stage. We must begin looking out for his portion of Violet Palace spiritual items!" Li Ximing's heart stirred, and he made quiet calculations in his mind. *The Tianli Rize Sutra is of the sixth rank, containing four secret arts. Back then, I cultivated three, taking just over ten years in total...* The Tianli Rize Sutra was a cut above the Scripture of Minghua Huangyuan, but the secret arts of the Scripture of Minghua Huangyuan were far simpler and naturally incomparable. The instruction and resources Li Jiangqian received now were also vastly different from what Li Ximing had had back then. Striking a middle ground, he thought: *Even assuming he cultivates swiftly, completing the secret arts will take at least fifteen to twenty years... That is on par with refining a divine ability. It is indeed time to give it thought.* Pondering back and forth, Li Ximing admitted somewhat sheepishly, "Indeed. In truth, Quewan's share must also be considered together with his. Back then, that 'Complete Dan' spiritual item was traded away, and the debt still falls on me... If we have twenty to twenty-five years, acquiring two such items is tight indeed. "Fortunately, I have some connections in the Southern Border now... Once I pen a letter to ask those Demon Kings of the Southern Border, there might be some leads." Li Zhouwei nodded and replied, "Granduncle's considerations are sound." He was actually wondering whether entering Wanling Heaven might yield any gains, but since it was not yet certain, he could not say much. He thought to himself: *By all appearances, Guanxie is the most direct subordinate of Sunset Glow. In that case, he must also be eager for my cultivation speed to increase. If Wanling Heaven presents an opportunity for people to enter, he will at least deliberately allocate a spot for me.* Seeing Li Ximing begin pondering spiritual items, Li Zhouwei took out a thick letter and placed it into Li Ximing's hands, saying with a smile, "This is a letter from Qize. It arrived at the family home a month ago, but fearing it might be inappropriate to pry, everyone waited for you to open it." Li Ximing chuckled, shook out the letter silk, and gave it a quick glance. A flicker of surprise flashed across his eyes, and he smiled. "Good news indeed! "That Master Luo from the Southern Border... has his eye on the Miaohui Whisker in my possession. Over these past days, he traveled to the South Sea, sought out Demon King Tuodu of Sihai, and traded for an ore called Astral Red Gold." The name sounded somewhat familiar. Li Zhouwei asked in return, "Is that the white elephant constrained by Buddhist cultivators, walking the path of baleful qi?" "Indeed... "This Astral Red Gold... is a Violet Palace spiritual resource of Lihuo. It condenses when stars in the heavens shift positions and the light of fire-gold plunges into the frigid sea. It makes for an exceptionally suitable spiritual item for forging helmets and armor." The letter was a thick bundle, apparently filled with many pleasantries. Li Ximing chuckled, "There is even a handwritten letter from Tuodu here, explaining the exact provenance of the spiritual item. He says he obtained the Astral Red Gold in the Reef Sea and split it evenly with Changyun of Chengyun Gate, so there are no issues regarding its origin. "That is the first matter." Li Ximing laughed heartily and continued, "Then there is this white elephant's invitation... That monster is poor as can be. He wants me to concoct pills for him, yet is reluctant to part with anything of value, only offering to take half the yield... Quite uninteresting." Complaints aside, Li Ximing was not going to be reserved. He smiled and said, "As for me, I will not only keep one or two pills for myself, but also ensure he receives far more than he ever imagined, leaving him indebted to me... so he can go gather news of spiritual items on my behalf!" Laughing, he continued, "Not only that, Senior Liu Changdie has been in the East Sea for over a year. With his assistance, the Throat Feather has likely condensed by now. Just focus on your cultivation with peace of mind, and I will handle all these matters!" Li Zhouwei could not help but smile and shake his head. With a light wave of his sleeve, the doors of the grand hall closed and locked one by one. His expression turned solemn as he asked, "Does Granduncle remember the Xuan Token of Shanghuan Pavilion? Do you remember how much immortal merit was in it?!" Infected by his grave demeanor, Li Ximing asked in bewilderment, "Of course I remember. Three hundred and fifty-seven, untouched by a single point!" Li Zhouwei lowered his voice: "Through these recent battles, I have felt my shortcomings keenly. After the great war, wanting to select a spell, I entered the pavilion to inspect various Mingyang spells, and among them, I took a liking to Diqi Light." Li Ximing was struck by sudden realization and immediately answered, "What does that matter? If you exchange for a spell, both of us can cultivate it! Though I do not have the energy to deploy so many at once, even taking it as reference is wonderful. What kind of effects does it have? How much immortal merit does it cost?" Interrupted by him, Li Zhouwei explained solemnly, "There is good reason why I took an interest in this art. It is similar to the Shangyao Subduing Light spell, yet it is of the fifth rank. Shangyao Subduing Light builds up over time and bursts forth to suppress, being somber and heavy. This art, however, gathers power between the brows and casts rays of light, prevailing through sheer multiplicity, razor sharpness, and swift, darting recourses. "'Audience at the Heavenly Gate' is already an unwieldy divine ability. If my spiritual implements, divine abilities, and spells are all heavy and ponderous, it will be all the easier for others to target and counter me. I ought to cultivate something agile and swift. Not only do the two arts each have their strengths, but it will also be convenient for you to study, Granduncle... and I can use this opportunity to put the Taiyang spiritual item Fulüe Gold to use!" "As for immortal merit, it requires one hundred and nineteen points." Li Ximing was overjoyed upon hearing this and gave immediate approval: "Exchange for it!" Li Zhouwei smiled and shook his head, a glimmer of delight surfacing in his eyes as he answered, "What I wish to tell you is not just this. At that time, a thought stirred in my mind, so I took the Xuan Token to inspect and compare at the stone platform in Shanghuan Pavilion. Quite by accident, I discovered... the immortal merit has reached four hundred and seventeen!" "Eh?!" Li Ximing froze. His heart gave a lurch, and as his gaze met Li Zhouwei's eyes, tinged with subtle joy, realization finally struck: *Slaying monsters and purging demons, suppressing heterodox paths!* Li Ximing had never dared mention the events in heaven back then, but they remained vivid in his memory. The celestial general had explicitly explained the methods for acquiring immortal merit! His eyes lit up, and he asked, "Could it be from all our exertions over these years?!"