Chapter 736: Their Own Samsara

Meng Qi nodded slightly, “Apart from this, the rest either cannot be exchanged or hold little significance.”

As for divine weapons and immortal pills, his current strength likely wouldn’t complete the exclusive tasks. While there was some possibility with Dharma Body techniques, it involved great risk. Considering he already had a sufficient array of Dharma Body techniques, it wasn’t worth the danger. His four treasures and protective Daoist robe were already top-grade, so his need for such items was minimal. Worthwhile exchanges were scarce—mainly healing pills like the Dongji Changsheng Pill, auxiliary external techniques, and escape or life-saving secret talismans.

The “Yijin Jing” was divided into three volumes. The first volume covered improvement from Qi-opening to early External Manifestation, valued at ten thousand. The second volume covered External Manifestation to near-Dharma Body, valued at forty thousand. The third volume covered near-Dharma Body to full Dharma Body. If one already practiced a Dharma Body-level technique, it might offer further advancement, valued at a hundred thousand. Thus, only the third volume required completing a corresponding task for exchange. The first two volumes had no special requirements apart from needing more virtue points.

Moreover, these could transform the mundane into the extraordinary, comprehensively enhancing the quality of various techniques. If Meng Qi had sufficient virtue points, it would be an excellent choice.

“Then I’ll lend you five hundred virtue points. Remember, nine out of thirteen must be returned,” Jiang Zhi said with a smile.

With Qi Zhengyan leaving the team, everyone inevitably recalled the past, bringing up memories with smiles to mask their inner helplessness and melancholy.

“Nine out of twenty can be returned. Five hundred virtue points are nothing,” Meng Qi laughed, playing the role of a wealthy patron. With the insight of “Dao Spreads Across the Universe” and the gains from “Only I Am Supreme,” he had no worries about virtue points.

After Jiang Zhi transferred five hundred virtue points, Meng Qi directly approached the central jade pillar and selected the second volume of the “Yijin Jing.”

Then, a moderately thick book appeared in his hands, containing thirty-three postures along with annotations and aphorisms.

While flipping through it, Meng Qi casually asked Zhao Heng, “Which world do you plan to go with your Cycle Talisman? Shouldn’t you clarify the next task’s details first?”

“That makes sense. Just now, I was too hasty and impulsive,” Zhao Heng exhaled slowly.

His first death mission coincided with a time of great wealth, allowing him to use secret treasures freely. Although many teammates died, he himself remained relatively safe, making the mission easier. However, this death mission had scared him. Their success seemed largely due to luck. Without Master Lu’s wooden carving, it might have required Qi Zhengyan sacrificing himself to drag the Benevolent Sage Emperor into the depths, severely demoralizing the imperial army. Then, through alliances and hard-fought battles, they would have eventually won.

In that scenario, two or three of their team would likely have died.

The experience of teetering between life and death made him realize his weakness and spurred his urgent desire to grow stronger. Thus, upon obtaining the Cycle Talisman, he immediately thought of using it for cultivation, forgetting to exchange for the next mission’s details.

Meng Qi smiled but said nothing, requesting to exchange for the next mission’s information.

“The next mission will be individual tasks, possibly intersecting with other reincarnators or teams. Exchange separately, still costing four hundred virtue points,” the Sixfold Cycle Sovereign intoned without emotion.

Individual task? Good thing I borrowed five hundred! Meng Qi thought simultaneously. He took out four hundred from his remaining four hundred and fifteen.

The Sixfold Cycle Sovereign’s voice echoed directly in Meng Qi’s mind:

“The world is in chaos, with demons and monsters running rampant, poisoning the lives of people. Although Daoist priests, monks, and swordsmen fight against these evils, they cannot reverse the tide, only protecting major cities and barely eliminating a few.”

“Main Task: Go to Lanruo Temple, find the true form of the Black Mountain Demon Elder, investigate its origins, and completely eradicate it. Success rewards four thousand virtue points. Failure deducts corresponding points. If insufficient, annihilation follows.”

“Details of individual tasks must not be disclosed to other team members. Violators will be annihilated.”

What? Qian Nv You Hun? Directly confronting the Black Mountain Demon Elder was really a good idea? Meng Qi was stunned. Moreover, judging from the requirement to “investigate its origins,” it seemed very different from what he knew, hinting at hidden secrets. The demons’ and monsters’ strength had likely grown exponentially compared to the original story!

Regaining his composure, Meng Qi looked at Jiang Zhi and others, finding them shaking their heads slightly, indicating they couldn’t disclose their individual tasks either.

Zhao Heng pondered before saying, “I plan to return to the previous divine and demonic world. Now that the path to heaven is severed, the rebel army is about to win. With our previous two times of assistance, I can gain considerable help, beneficial for honing and improving.”

What he didn’t say was that the imperial court was about to collapse, and opportunistic gains would be plentiful. He could also borrow human Daoist aura from Du Huaishang for cultivation!

“Good choice,” Meng Qi praised. By the next mission, Zhao Lao Wu would likely cross the first Celestial Ladder.

Zhao Heng spent two thousand four hundred virtue points to exchange for a year’s time, stacking with the two months from the Cycle Talisman itself. Since he had previously exchanged protective secret treasures for virtue points to prepare for the death mission, he now selected an upper-grade “Golden Light Earth Travel Talisman,” usable twice, valued at six thousand three hundred virtue points, just in case!

With one thousand eight hundred virtue points remaining, he re-exchanged for the “Dragon Snake Holy Hand” to counter the surveillance of the Political Affairs Hall, ultimately leaving only one hundred virtue points.

“I think exchanging time to use the Cycle Talisman is a good choice. At least it makes full use of it,” Meng Qi said, looking at Ruan Yushu and Jiang Zhi.

When he himself became a Grandmaster, he would make the same choice, though the destination world would be Fengshen!

Ruan Yushu nodded, “I also plan to exchange similarly, striving to cross the first Celestial Ladder before the next mission.”

After speaking, she pursed her lips slightly, seemingly dissatisfied with her current strength and her performance during the death mission.

“Then which world do you plan to go to?” Jiang Zhi asked with interest.

Choosing a world too weak wouldn’t provide effective honing, while one too strong and dangerous would risk her life.

“I want to return to the Fengshen world to learn the guqin and spread its art,” Ruan Yushu’s lashes fluttered like a fan, as if she had long considered this.

“Fengshen world?” Meng Qi frowned, “Well, at least it’s relatively orderly. As long as you don’t get involved in the warring states’ struggles and the reforms of enfeoffing counties, it shouldn’t be too dangerous. Still, you should exchange for some secret treasures for protection.”

Compared to the Xiyu world, filled with demons and dangers everywhere, Fengshen was much better.

Jiang Zhi smiled brightly, “I also want to return to Fengshen, wandering with my sword and visiting the Mohist school in Qi. It would be perfect to travel with you, Yushu.”

With the Cycle Talisman, she wanted to make full use of it. During her fierce battle with Wen Jing, she had pushed her sword Dao to its peak, vaguely sensing a further breakthrough. Thus, she didn’t want to exchange for other sword techniques but instead hone her skills through wandering, integrating and elevating them for improvement!

Meng Qi rubbed his brow, smirking self-deprecatingly, “You can also help gather information about the Jade Void Palace. Yes, the Immortal Traces have a presence in the Fengshen world, which can be utilized.”

Everyone present was from the Immortal Traces, so Meng Qi had no reservations discussing such matters.

Like Zhao Heng, Ruan Yushu had previously exchanged her life-saving items for virtue points. Now, she had to re-exchange for one, a necessary loss that benefited the Sixfold Cycle. With Meng Qi’s help, she selected the “Yunxiao True Form Talisman,” which could passively activate twice, creating false forms to absorb attacks. Its defensive effect wasn’t as strong as the fully activated Cold Jade Robe but effectively deceived most rope-like treasures. Combined with the Cold Jade Robe, it made her less vulnerable to strange treasures and abilities, valued at seven thousand virtue points.

Additionally, since she would return the Seven Immortal Guqin after returning from Fengshen, Ruan Yushu used four thousand virtue points to upgrade the Qifeng Guqin to mid-grade, aiming to reach upper-grade before the next mission.

After deducting two thousand four hundred virtue points for a year’s time, Ruan Yushu had one hundred twenty-five virtue points left.

Jiang Zhi, intending to travel in Fengshen, naturally needed to guard against strange treasures and abilities. On Meng Qi’s suggestion, she exchanged for two secret treasures to complement the Seamless Robe. One was the upper-grade “Great Luo Jade Pendant,” protecting the Yuan Shen twice, passively activated, valued at seven thousand virtue points. The other was the “Righteous Stake,” which could substitute for her being bound twice, valued at six thousand virtue points.

In the end, Jiang Zhi had seven hundred twenty-five virtue points left, nothing worth exchanging, so she kept them as backup.

“You’d better first go to Biyou Heaven to ask Master Baopu to borrow some healing pills, just in case,” Meng Qi finally suggested.

Just like the Lady Bixia!

Jiang Zhi and Ruan Yushu nodded without much comment. Qi Zhengyan’s incident had made them feel the helplessness of life, leaving them in low spirits. Zhao Heng, eager to improve his strength, didn’t want to waste time.

Watching them disappear in the Cycle Plaza, Meng Qi sat cross-legged, lost in thought. The surroundings felt misty and quiet, with only carved divine beasts and celestial birds standing silently, seemingly a paradise yet exuding an indescribable chill.

In the end, who would remain here?

After a long while, he sighed deeply, chose to return, and appeared at the Pure Yang Sect.

Unsure whether Master Lu was willing to disclose his matters to others, Meng Qi temporarily refrained from mentioning “That Sword” to Taoist Chonghe, instead bidding farewell and heading directly to Huamei Village.