The specific details of the “Myriad Phenomena Gate” would cost another one thousand merits. Even with his current wealth, Meng Qi was unwilling to waste them. After finding the gate, he would first explore it himself. If he still couldn’t figure it out, he would return to the Six Paths. Since he could freely enter and exit the Immortal Relics now, Meng Qi no longer needed to wait until before or after missions to appraise items.
Ju Jiulian caressed the key, imagining the rewards after opening the treasure vault. Her eyes softened, full of tenderness and emotion, far from her usual fierce demeanor. As for how to find the vault, she had an intelligence network spread throughout the Western Regions, so she didn’t need to spend merits here in the Six Paths.
Meng Qi put away the two keys and the token for opening the Myriad Phenomena Gate, then looked at the list of available items, contemplating what he truly needed.
After obtaining the “Golden Chapter of Primordial Origin” and its Outer Manifestation section, he was no longer lacking in Outer Manifestation techniques. However, this only referred to quantity. His main combat styles—sword and saber techniques—still seemed insufficient.
Among the sword techniques, he currently had the “Solar Tathagata Sword,” the “Eight Divinities and Naga Sword,” the “Celestial Flight,” and the upgraded “Solitary Sword of Nine Swords” from the “Muscle Transformation Sutra,” though only the first was of high quality, while the latter two were relatively weak. The “Breaking Momentum Sword” was newly acquired, embodying sword principles that could integrate with any sword technique, offering much potential for exploration and improvement. But this required exposure to more sword techniques and deeper understanding of their principles.
Compared to swords, his main saber techniques seemed even worse. Apart from the “Heavenly Thunder Striking Five Elements” and “Heaven and Earth Splitting,” both techniques of the Dharma Body level, he rarely used the “A-nan Broken Precept Saber,” and only had one strike of the “Seven Strikes of Purple Lightning,” while the “Celestial Saber” of the early Outer Manifestation level was more like a general outline. In other words, the only practical saber technique he could use regularly was the “Yu Xu Pure Saber Technique.”
Of course, deeply mastering one good saber and one good sword technique, capable of infinite variations, was better than learning bits and pieces from many different techniques, which would result in superficial knowledge. However, he had inherited the Thunder God legacy and had long focused on lightning-based saber techniques. Abandoning this path would mean wasting his previous efforts and betraying his inheritance. After all, focusing on two main saber techniques wouldn’t overly divide his attention.
As for his personal pursuit of combined saber and sword techniques, he had only exchanged for one move so far—”Reversing Yin and Yang”—but due to its low rank, it wasn’t very powerful. It was mainly a foundational move to understand the technique of dual-wielding saber and sword, rarely used in actual combat. This time, he should exchange for a high-rank combined saber-sword technique.
“Hmm, I still lack a top-tier sword technique…” Meng Qi mused, suddenly struck by inspiration.
“Why not directly undergo the ‘Sticking to Karma’ empowerment?”
“Even if the Six Paths’ version is merely a secret manual rather than the true Dao intent, ‘Sticking to Karma’ might not be an invincible saber technique. However, undergoing the baptism would help me grasp the true intent. Combined with my previous experiences in karmic matters and my upcoming study of the ‘Golden Chapter of Primordial Origin’s’ section on karma, even if I can’t fully master it, I should be just one step away from success!”
(Note: “灌体” is translated as “baptism” here, as it conveys the idea of a transformative ritual or infusion of power. If a more specific term is preferred in context, alternatives like “empowerment” or “infusion” could also be considered.)
“No matter how many secrets surround A-nan’s affairs, or how well they’re hidden, eventually, karmic entanglements will arise. If I master the Dao of Karma and learn the Karma Saber, I can shift from a passive to a more active stance, no longer living in constant fear without any countermeasures!”
“The Primordial Lord is said to be the cause of all effects. The Golden Chapter’s content will definitely complement the cultivation of ‘Sticking to Karma,’ and it should deviate from A-nan’s original path!”
With these thoughts, Meng Qi made his decision. Since he already possessed the general Dao intent, undergoing the baptism for “Sticking to Karma” would cost only twice its original price—2,400 merits.
Without hesitation, he stepped into the central jade pillar.
Although it looked like jade, Meng Qi felt as if he were passing through a sticky swamp. Mentally, he recited:
“Undergo the infusion for the fifth move of ‘Anan Broken Precept Saber’—’Sticking to Karma’!”
“With the Dao intent inheritance, only 2,400 merits will be deducted. Infusion commencing.” The Six Paths’ Overseer’s voice echoed directly in Meng Qi’s mind.
The mist descended, drenching his entire body. Meng Qi felt the surroundings darken, filled with countless faintly glowing star-like threads. Though seemingly chaotic, they followed profound principles, exuding an indescribable mystery.
A saber light fell, severing a knot of entangled threads. All the threads stuck to the saber light—good and bad alike. The knot, now free of karma, became fragile. With another saber strike, it vanished entirely.
“Kill your body, bear your karma!
Bear your karma, take your life!”
Everything vanished. Meng Qi opened his eyes, countless threads of emptiness swirling within them. His mind flashed with images—events from the Tang Clan, the Su family, physical karma, and more. He felt deeply moved.
“Indeed, it’s not truly an invincible saber technique. It can only slightly surpass one’s own cultivation level. The heavier the opponent’s karma, the easier it is to succeed, forcing the enemy to endure it passively. Moreover, the true ‘Sticking to Karma’ only transfers the heaviest portion of the target’s karma, not all of it. But the Six Paths’ Infusion forcibly attaches all karma onto the user, which can be extremely troublesome. Mishandling may result in death and Dao dissipation…” Meng Qi contemplated the technique.
Ju Jiulian had already put away her key and was watching Meng Qi’s exchange, but she didn’t ask questions—cultivation methods were personal matters.
Suddenly, she noticed Meng Qi gazing at her, his eyes deep like voids, seemingly concealing something that made her heart race with unease.
“Your Majesty, you carry quite a bit of karma…” Meng Qi said, his voice slightly ethereal.
Ju Jiulian was startled: “What?”
Meng Qi smiled without answering, giving the impression of a mysterious fortune-teller. He could only “see” that Ju Jiulian had accumulated much karma, but the specifics remained unclear unless he bore it himself.
Seeing Meng Qi remained silent, Ju Jiulian turned back to her own exchange, muttering angrily: “Acting all mysterious just because you’ve got the ‘Golden Chapter of Primordial Origin’s’ Outer Manifestation section! Just because you’re the ‘Cause of All Effects’!”
Exactly… Meng Qi thought inwardly. Following his earlier plan, he decided to complete the “Seven Strikes of Purple Lightning.”
As for treasures, he already had the Nine-Heart Chan Beads, which he wouldn’t use for now. He would exchange for them before the “Fengshen” task, when he expected to earn more merits.
At this thought, Meng Qi felt particularly aggrieved. He had finally become a Silver Seal Constable, only to discover that the prices for enlightenment items had crashed. Previously earning around 300 merits per month, he now barely scraped together 30. He nearly gnashed his teeth in frustration at the Six Paths.
The “Seven Strikes of Purple Lightning” cost 8,800 merits, but Meng Qi had already spent 2,000 merits on the outline and the fifth strike—”Thunder Shocking the Nine Heavens.” He spent another 4,400 merits to obtain the remaining five strikes: “Spring Thunder Bolt,” “Heavenly Rotation and Thunder Turning,” “Hellish Thunder,” “Winter Thunder Crash,” and “Five Peaks Thunder Explosion.”
After acquiring the saber techniques, Meng Qi carefully examined them before selecting a powerful combined saber-sword technique that aligned with his cultivation method or treasure weapon.
With a comfortable budget, he didn’t need to overly consider cost-effectiveness. Soon, he found a high-rank Outer Manifestation technique worth 3,000 merits.
A single move costing 3,000 merits! Even “Sword Twenty-Three” was only 4,000!
Of course, this move—”Solar Eclipse”—didn’t carry the same severe backlash as “Sword Twenty-Three.”
“Solar Eclipse, Outer Manifestation Supreme Technique (Middle Rank). Combining the sword’s brilliance and the saber’s heaviness, it unleashes terrifying explosive power like a falling sun. Created by an ancient master who observed a solar eclipse, the true intent has long been lost. This version is merely a modern reconstruction based on scant clues. Price: 3,000 merits.”
Seeing that the original version was lost, Meng Qi casually scrolled up to check if the Six Paths had it. He found it in the “Supreme Divine Techniques” category, described as equal to the power of a collapsing and dying sun when fully mastered.
So terrifying… Meng Qi wiped imaginary sweat and exchanged for this combined saber-sword technique that perfectly suited his cultivation method and treasure weapon. Then he winced at his rapidly depleting merits.
He had already spent nearly ten thousand merits!
With only over 2,000 merits left, Meng Qi turned to Ju Jiulian and asked: “Your Majesty, does our Immortal Relic have medicinal pills for healing wounds?”
Earlier, he had checked the surrounding jade pillars but didn’t find what he needed. Wanting to improve quickly, he hadn’t listed unnecessary treasures for sale yet. Once he passed this stage and no longer urgently needed merits, he could choose other formal members of the Immortal Relic.
“Yes, in the Biyou Palace. The pills refined by ‘Master Baopu’ are all sold to the Immortal Relic. All members can exchange for them, about 30% cheaper than the Six Paths.” Bi Xia Yuanjun had already regained her composure and returned to normal. “The most suitable for you now is the ‘Fire Exhaling and Black Heaven Pill.’ It’s one of the best healing pills at this level, priced at only 1,300 merits.”
Meng Qi checked the Six Paths’ description of the “Fire Exhaling and Black Heaven Pill” and was satisfied with its effects. He then asked: “What about Daoist robes or immortal garments? Not necessarily strong defense, just something that can adapt to changes and won’t tear easily…”
Meng Qi had long felt ashamed about this issue.
Ju Jiulian couldn’t help but laugh: “Yes, the True Lord of Clear Origin specially asked Master Yunzhong to refine a few. You can exchange for them directly at Biyou Palace, only 700 merits.”
She seemed to imagine something, soon laughing so hard she nearly fell over.
My image is ruined… At least in Jiulian’s eyes… Meng Qi felt somewhat dazed.
At this moment, he noticed a letter at the base of the central jade pillar. Picking it up, he found it was from his subordinate team.
“Uh, so not only can Immortal Relic items be sent to the Reincarnation Plaza, but items from the Reincarnation Plaza can also be retrieved from the Immortal Relic?” Thinking, Meng Qi unfolded the letter.
The subordinate team, apart from the initial newcomers, had already undergone three reincarnation missions. Without the same extraordinary encounters as Meng Qi and the others, their strength had progressed normally. Consequently, the increase in difficulty had been moderate. They had not yet experienced factional battles, having only lost two later newcomers, and now consisted of five members: Min Renlong from the Taiyue Sect, who had recently opened six apertures; Wu Xiuxian at four apertures; Yuan Cang and Weng Lingyu, both approaching four apertures; and a swordsman named Wu Xing, also at four apertures.
They often wrote letters asking for advice, and Meng Qi and Ruan Yushu answered them in great detail, especially regarding different modes of reincarnation tasks and cultivation difficulties.
The letter was written by Yuan Cang, asking several questions about knowledge, then mentioning that he had begun traveling the world, planning to head north to the Great Jin, secretly meeting with companions to discuss future tasks. He subtly hinted that if the seniors had time and interest, they could meet in Jiangdong in half a year.
Transitioning from “online” communication to “offline” meetings… Meng Qi silently mused.
Putting away the letter, Meng Qi followed Ju Jiulian back to Biyou Palace, exchanging for the Fire Exhaling and Black Heaven Pill and the Clear Origin Daoist Robe.
Then, since Dou Mu had already departed, he solemnly asked Jiulian about the “Fengshen” matter.
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