Statues of immortal birds and divine beasts surround the Samsara Square, their emotionless, lifeless eyes eternally observing all changes within.
At this moment, white clouds swayed in midair as pillars of light descended, revealing five figures within.
As soon as Meng Qi slightly recovered from dizziness, the vast, indifferent voice of the Master of the Six Realms echoed in his ears: “The land of Chen has fallen into chaos. Although the new doctrine remains, universal love is lost. The mission has failed. Each of you must pay 2,500 Virtue Points to return. No evaluation will be given.”
Three months, and we still drew the Mohist sect! Even nearly succeeding counts as impressive for us! Meng Qi mentally flipped the bird at the Master of the Six Realms.
However, this trip wasn’t entirely fruitless. Just obtaining news of the Jade Void Palace and connecting with Duke Huan of Qi, Lord Xiao Bai, was worth countless Virtue Points. Additionally, many outer disciples were slain, especially Gongyang Zeng, who was both an unmatched expert and the clan head, possessing considerable wealth. Altogether, it seemed Virtue Points weren’t lost but rather gained handsomely!
Indeed, only by investing secret treasures can one preserve life and gain rich rewards. One must adapt to the ways of battle in the world of Fengshen!
As Meng Qi mused, he suddenly heard a “melancholic” voice: “Xiao Meng, what exactly did you mean by the ‘three outlooks’ you mentioned during your lecture?”
Huh? Meng Qi turned around and saw Zhao Heng’s slightly gloomy expression, prompting him to chuckle dryly.
“Old Zhao, why dwell on such details?”
Seeing Zhao Heng’s helpless expression, Jiang Zhiwei and Ruan Yushu cast curious glances. Meng Qi coughed once and explained the concepts of outlook on life, values, and worldview using classical language, inwardly quite nervous. Since graduating senior year, he had long fallen from his intellectual peak and couldn’t recall exact definitions, so he could only wing it based on vague memories.
Fortunately, since Zhao Heng and others had no prior exposure, Meng Qi easily fooled them.
After casual chatting, Qi Zhengyan, expressionless, remarked: “This time we gained much. If we exchange everything with the Six Realms, we’ll likely lose a significant amount of Virtue Points.”
This sentence pierced Meng Qi’s heart like an arrow. Right! The Six Realms was an unscrupulous merchant, excelling in buying low and selling high!
Sell the Xianji treasures there? First, it would take too long. Ruan Yushu and Qi Zhengyan were at critical stages of breakthroughs and couldn’t afford any delays. Second, they only had 300 Virtue Points among them, which wasn’t even enough for the basic query about the next mission. Third, after converting them into Virtue Points, they would still need to help each other redeem techniques and items. This would indirectly expose Meng Qi’s connection with Xianji to Zhao Heng, thereby violating their contract.
“We can directly select needed items from our gains, calculating by normal value,” Ruan Yushu then said coolly.
Upon hearing this, Meng Qi was momentarily stunned, then clapped his hands, laughing: “Excellent idea!”
Exchanging remaining items afterward wouldn’t benefit the Six Realms much.
Jiang Zhiwei and Zhao Heng joined Meng Qi in praising Ruan Yushu for her cleverness and intelligence.
Ruan Yushu’s expression remained unchanged, slightly lowering her head with a hint of self-satisfaction.
Thus, the five placed their loot in the center, including:
One “Scroll of Mountains and Rivers” from the yaoguai specialists of the All-Seeing Eye and the Wind-Listening Ear; one peach tree spirit; one Jiezi Ring; and three other celestial treasures, including centipede eyes.
From Gongyang Deng’s storage bag and Gongyang Bo’s Jiezi Ring, containing various treasures, secret items, heavenly treasures, and pills, though quantities were mostly singular, and the former’s items weren’t of high grade.
From two outer disciples guarding the prison, storage bags and treasure weapons, slightly inferior to Gongyang Deng’s items.
From Gongyang Zeng: one Jiezi Ring; heavenly treasures like Geng Metal Essence and spirit herbs/pills totaling ten; high-grade treasure weapons “Break-Cloud Spear” and “Blood-Slaughtering Sword”; four secret treasures: fifth-tier Five Light Stones, Earth-Diving Golden Light Talisman, fourth-tier Four Symbols Lute, and Eye-Piercing Pearl.
“If we hadn’t captured Gongyang Zeng, this mission would’ve resulted in a minor loss,” Zhao Heng roughly assessed after scanning the loot.
Minor loss meant that, considering consumed treasures and deducted failure Virtue Points, they’d end up slightly worse than before the mission, though not by much.
Meng Qi grinned, revealing white teeth: “But with Gongyang Zeng, each of us earned at least 5,000 Virtue Points.”
What a fat sheep!
Having experienced numerous missions and seen life and death, after avenging King Chen, Meng Qi had mostly recovered emotionally. Prolonged fixation on such matters would eventually lead to breakdown or demonic possession within the cycle unless one transcended it. This was the natural self-regulation of every mentally rounded, willfully strong outer disciple. Of course, if the tragedy involved someone dear, recovery might not be so easy.
After placing her remaining use of the “Heavenly Yellow Earthly Linglong Pagoda” in the center, Ruan Yushu looked at Meng Qi: “You contributed the most effort and Virtue Points. You pick first.”
She openly expressed her opinion.
Jiang Zhiwei, Zhao Heng, and Qi Zhengyan shared the same thought, nodding in agreement.
Without hesitation, Meng Qi stepped forward, scanned the items, and directly grabbed one.
Secret Treasure: Scroll of Mountains and Rivers!
This treasure ranked comparably to the previous Luo Hun Bell. Even if usable only once, its value was around 6,000 Virtue Points. For Meng Qi, attack and defense treasures weren’t lacking in his world, nor were his techniques inferior. Fully exerting himself equaled fourth-tier secret treasures, which were the better long-term investments. Thus, he sought out uniquely effective treasures.
Between the Earth-Diving Golden Light Talisman, Four Symbols Lute, and Scroll of Mountains and Rivers, Meng Qi had no hesitation. He chose the “Scroll of Mountains and Rivers,” capable of catching opponents off guard and turning the tide in crucial moments. Like this time against Gongyang Zeng, without this treasure, even with his unmatched expertise and Jiang Zhiwei’s assistance, he couldn’t have killed him. Any delay or fluctuation would have brought the Golden Light Cave Patriarch.
Of course, Meng Qi chose the “Scroll of Mountains and Rivers” for another crucial reason:
It had the highest value!
After tucking away the ink painting scroll, Meng Qi smiled at Jiang Zhiwei: “Your turn. Not by quantity, by value.”
While observing, Jiang Zhiwei had already decided. She selected one peach tree, one Geng Metal Essence piece, and one Sword-Rain Herb, totaling approximately 5,500 Virtue Points.
“They’re all suitable for forging. I want to enhance my sword,” she explained after choosing.
She had reached the third realm, and her White Rainbow Sword was nearly mid-grade.
Meng Qi laughed: “It’s time for enhancement. My Liuhuo has already become high-grade.”
During this mission, Meng Qi used Liuhuo to absorb blood from several outer disciples, but perhaps due to sword techniques having limited effect, the additional battle will and belief weren’t sufficient, so its growth didn’t meet expectations. Nevertheless, its heat became increasingly internalized, its ruby-like surface generating coolness through extreme heat.
Next, Ruan Yushu picked four heavenly treasures, all previously exchanged with the Six Realms. Since she was nearing an outer disciple breakthrough, these could aid cultivation. She couldn’t possibly ask elders for help at the last moment, having just given “Gang” (hardness).
Qi Zhengyan didn’t look further. He simply reached out and took the Earth-Diving Golden Light Talisman. According to the Six Realms’ appraisal, this secret treasure was worth around 5,000 Virtue Points, a decent option for survival.
Zhao Heng carefully examined the items, finally choosing the “Heavenly Yellow Earthly Linglong Pagoda” with one remaining use and a pill aiding mental clarity and calmness, totaling around 5,000 Virtue Points.
After the first round of selections, Jiang Zhiwei smiled at Meng Qi: “It’s your turn again.”
Frowning at the remaining items, Meng Qi realized his two-headed, four-armed form still needed a sword. The high-grade treasure weapon Blood-Slaughtering Sword seemed suitable, but it exuded slaughter, bloodlust, and brutality—a malevolent sword incompatible with his nature. The Five Light Stones and Four Symbols Lute had uses but weren’t essential.
Thinking of what he planned to redeem this time, Meng Qi inhaled lightly: “I’ll skip picking. I’ll just take more Virtue Points later.”
Can’t afford insufficient Virtue Points!
As he spoke, he noticed the Jiezi Ring meant for the subordinate team was still there, realizing Yuanyang and others probably lacked sufficient Virtue Points temporarily.
Hearing Meng Qi’s words, Jiang Zhiwei, Ruan Yushu, and Zhao Heng examined the remaining items. Qi Zhengyan hesitated slightly before suggesting: “How about this? We appraise all remaining items, convert them into Virtue Points on paper, distribute them among everyone, then use this ‘Virtue Points’ to redeem needed items, finally converting them into real Virtue Points.”
“Good, this makes distribution easier,” Jiang Zhiwei and Meng Qi agreed, avoiding complications when someone skips picking.
The five tossed the remaining items into the central light pillar for appraisal:
“Five Light Stone (replica), fifth-tier secret treasure. Emits five-colored lights, confusing vision and striking opponents’ faces with perfect accuracy… valued at 5,100 Virtue Points, redeemable for 4,000.”
“Four Symbols Lute (replica), fourth-tier secret treasure… valued at 4,300 Virtue Points, redeemable for 3,200.”
“Eye-Piercing Pearl (replica), fourth-tier secret treasure… valued at 4,200 Virtue Points, redeemable for 3,100.”
…
After appraisal, Meng Qi and others discovered the Six Realms offered relatively high prices for secret treasures and spirit herbs. The remaining peach tree essence and Jiezi Rings could be redeemed for 4,600 Virtue Points. Combined, Gongyang Deng and Gongyang Bo’s items totaled 12,000 Virtue Points. The two outer disciples from the prison contributed 9,000. Adding Gongyang Zeng’s remaining “relics,” the total Virtue Points reached 49,000!
Subtracting 100 and the previous remaining 300 for the next mission’s intelligence, each person could receive 9,780 Virtue Points. Qi Zhengyan picked the Five Light Stone, ending with 5,780. Ruan Yushu took the Four Symbols Lute, receiving 6,580. Zhao Heng took the Eye-Piercing Pearl, getting 6,680. Jiang Zhiwei, like Meng Qi, skipped selecting fourth-tier or lower treasures, taking 9,780.
“You have something in mind to redeem?” After distributing the Virtue Points, Jiang Zhiwei smiled at Meng Qi.
He preferred enduring the Six Realms’ exploitation rather than picking items, surely needing something urgently.
Meng Qi chuckled: “Yes, a sword technique.”
“A sword technique?” Jiang Zhiwei’s eyes lit up. Which sword technique had the little monk set his sights on?
He always managed to dig up decent techniques from the vast sea of martial arts!
“A set of outer disciple sword techniques progressing from simplicity to complexity, three forms total,” Meng Qi gazed longingly at the central light pillar, “One Sword Conceals Emptiness, Hundred Swords Without End, Ten Thousand Swords Return to Primordial Unity!”
This was what he had long anticipated—the “Three Swords” among the Three Blades, Three Swords, and Three Divine Techniques!
The Three Blades was a saber technique, the Three Swords a sword technique, and the Three Divine Techniques were divine body techniques combining blade and sword. Now, Meng Qi finally embarked on the gradual path of blade-sword combination, partially compensating for his shortcomings in sword techniques!
Jiang Zhiwei was initially confused, but after following Meng Qi’s hints, she finally located the description. She found the “Three Swords” cost 8,800 Virtue Points, quite valuable among outer disciple techniques.
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage