Cranes soared into the clouds, their cries echoing through the cold and desolate Biyou Heaven, where only a few young Daoist apprentices were sweeping the halls and staircases.
There would be many gains from sweeping the grasslands. Many members of the Fairyland Sect had joined using their original identities. For them, when progress in power slowed, collecting treasures in the main world, exchanging them for merit points, and using these points to obtain useful items or deduct for failed tasks was a good way to survive the cycles of reincarnation. Therefore, at this moment, except for one on duty, the Fairyland Bazaar and Biyou Palace were completely empty, giving Meng Qi an overwhelming sense of desolation.
“Have the fallen Celestial Venerables made them feel urgency?” Meng Qi thought of Chonghe Daoist as a breeze blew against his face, sighing deeply.
Then, he composed himself and walked to the central jade pillar, tidying up his storage bag.
With the experience gained from recent battles, Meng Qi had finally clarified the proper place for himself and external objects. Moreover, his “Bajiu Xuangong” had reached the Master level, he had acquired five of the Yuanshi Nine Seals, and the general principles of the Dharmic Body had also been mastered. Many items that were once useful were now ineffective, so it was time to clean up and free up space in his storage bag. For instance, the “Invisible Sword Cursed Art” obtained from the top-tier blue-blooded expert, although extremely effective for ambushes, was now surpassed by his current abilities.
“The Netherworld Gate…” As he rummaged through his belongings, Meng Qi saw this primary divine weapon material. Because he recognized it, he decided not to appraise it.
He toyed with this gemstone, divided into countless facets, dark and shadowy, with ghostly reflections around it, as if it were opening doors to the Netherworld.
“It can probably be activated three times, with a cold and sinister nature, and can be paired with the Ice Eye Crystal Soul to forge a divine weapon…” Meng Qi mused thoughtfully.
After witnessing the current state of the Netherworld Emperor, he realized the Yellow Spring Hand Bone still had significant uses, and using it to forge an ordinary divine weapon would be a waste.
After a while, Meng Qi finished tidying his storage bag. Apart from two sabers and two swords, he only kept the Tree of the Dao, fragments of the Mirror of Rebirth, the Yellow Spring Hand Bone, the Ice Eye Crystal Soul, the Netherworld Gate, the auxiliary weapon “Mountain-Sea Bow,” the mysterious celestial meteorite crystal, the diluted blood of the Demon Sage, the object carrying the Yuanxin Seal, the Fairyland symbol “Yuanshi Eye,” two jade bottles capable of holding immortal pills, the “Seven True Sutras,” the formula for the Dongji Longevity Pill, and one each of land and house deeds, along with other secret scrolls and books.
Lightly equipped, Meng Qi felt much better seeing his bountiful harvest, and he placed each item into the central jade pillar:
“Invisible Sword Cursed Art, Treasure (Middle Grade), relatively few… valued at 3,300 merit points, exchangeable for 2,000 merit points.”
“Evil Temptation Banner, Magical Artifact (Top Grade)… valued at 9,400 merit points, exchangeable for 5,000 merit points.”
In addition, the top-grade treasure weapon Tianmo Hand of the Evil Heaven Mara, the black robe, the Jiezi Ring, and a pile of demonic artifacts and pills totaled 23,500 merit points. Gao Qianyuan’s entire collection was exchanged for 16,000 merit points, Lan Jingtian’s for 19,000 merit points, and the Jinzhang Warrior Master who cultivated the Great Diamond Divine Strength, including his treasure weapon, storage bag, and its contents, totaled 15,000 merit points. Hasiwula, as the leader of the Jinzhang Warriors and the wealthiest, gave Meng Qi a staggering 29,000 merit points.
The reason he didn’t receive more than the Evil Heaven Mara was because Meng Qi, following the concept of Bajiu embracing change, skimmed off some benefits by reviewing the cultivation techniques he intended to inherit and those he had collected. Thus, the exchange rate was relatively lower. The same applied to Lan Jingtian and the other two.
“109,500 merit points…” Meng Qi couldn’t help but suck in a breath, his eyes narrowing with a dazzling gleam, and a wide grin curling his lips.
Nothing beats killing a Master for making money quickly!
No, this is upholding justice, eliminating evil, and supporting righteousness!
There’s nothing more satisfying than defeating your enemies while making a fortune!
How should he spend such a large sum of merit points? Meng Qi was immersed in the pleasant dilemma.
“Hmm, first, I should repay the 5,000 merit points I owe to Fairyland…” Meng, at heart, was still a good young man who believed in repaying debts promptly, and this was the first thought that came to mind.
“Then, I’ll keep most of the merit points for deductions due to failure in solo missions and the expenses for forging a second divine weapon.” His demand for other secret treasures, talismans, and pills had already dropped to a minimum.
He didn’t plan to apply for forging a second divine weapon right now because the one-year deadline hadn’t passed, and he couldn’t yet obtain the first divine weapon. Once he had a divine weapon, completing the forging mission would undoubtedly be much easier. Therefore, these matters would be considered after the solo mission—the solo mission would occur a year after the last one, just a few days earlier than the one-year deadline for forging the divine weapon.
Thinking of this, Meng Qi placed the Ice Eye Crystal Soul and the Netherworld Gate into the central jade pillar and inquired about the cost of forging a divine weapon:
“…These two primary materials can forge a divine weapon of any shape. However, since the Ice Eye Crystal Soul has some inherent damage, if you don’t want the divine weapon to have flaws, you need to exchange for auxiliary materials worth 30,000 merit points. Otherwise, it would cost 18,000 merit points, plus a forging fee of 40,000 merit points and completing a divine weapon exclusive task.”
“Indeed, using multiple primary materials for a divine weapon affects the final forging,” Meng Qi mused thoughtfully. “And forging a divine weapon within this tier range seems to have a fixed forging fee of 40,000.”
Since forging a divine weapon, no one would want any flaws, especially since Meng Qi now had ample funds. Thus, he reserved 70,000 merit points, including deductions for solo missions, as there would likely be more gains in the future.
This way, Meng Qi had 34,515 merit points at his free disposal.
After thinking for a while, Meng Qi began preparing for the upcoming solo mission, which would start in just over three months, mainly to address his current shortcomings:
“The Ancient Void-Piercing Talisman, a treasure-level item originally belonging to divine talismans and inscriptions, was the work of a great being from antiquity. Later obtained by the Great Emperor Zhenwu, its power has slowly diminished over time due to frequent use, causing its quality to drop. Currently, it can be used to break through the void for escape, and can only be stopped by a Dharmic Body or a counter-method. It can be used twice and is valued at 9,800 merit points.”
“The Black Emperor Nourishing Pill, a top-tier spiritual pill originally an immortal pill, can now only be refined into a spiritual pill due to the decline of the world. It quickly recovers injuries and depleted strength, fortifying the body and nourishing the primordial essence, valued at 9,900 merit points.”
Because it lacked life-prolonging effects, the Black Emperor Nourishing Pill was not as good as the Dongji Longevity Pill. However, Meng Qi had consumed too many Dongji Longevity Pills and had developed some resistance, making their effects less effective. Therefore, he decided to switch to other healing pills. Besides these two items, Meng Qi did not exchange for any other treasures, as he already possessed the great ability “Qiankun in the Sleeve” and many top-tier cultivation techniques.
Moreover, treasures capable of significantly impacting the Half-Dharmic Body level were not merely top-tier but genuine Dharma artifacts, which required the completion of exclusive quests!
(Note: “法宝” is translated as “Dharma artifacts” to convey its spiritual significance in cultivation contexts, while maintaining the original meaning of powerful treasures.)
As for enemies below the Half-Dharmic Body level, who would he fear?
This was the confidence Meng Qi gained from repeated battles!
After exchanging for the talisman and pill, Meng Qi had 14,815 merit points left.
He absentmindedly flipped through the exchange list, thinking about what he should exchange for next.
Suddenly, his gaze swept over an entry, and he already had an idea—the three divine techniques of the sword and saber combined attack, particularly the final technique of the three, “Vast and Boundless Shattering the Heaven and Earth”!
This was not a sudden whim but a decision after weighing many factors. Currently, his sword and saber combined attack only had the self-created technique “Fierce and Relentless Burying the Starry River” which was somewhat effective, but overall it was still not a primary technique. He had already exchanged for the “Three Sabers” and “Three Swords,” laying the groundwork. Exchanging for this divine technique was a natural progression.
Moreover, this technique involved the void, which would perfectly compensate for his current shortcomings and lay a solid foundation for his future cultivation of the Void Seal. Additionally, the combined attack of sword and saber would definitely involve the interplay of strength and weakness, primary and auxiliary, yin and yang, allowing him to grasp the Yin Yang Seal more comprehensively and advance further.
Once he mastered this seal, with the martial concepts of the “Three Sabers” and “Three Swords” as a foundation and this divine technique as a reference, he might even be able to create the first two divine techniques himself!
On the exchange list, all three divine techniques were Dharmic Body level martial arts moves. The first move, “Endless Turmoil Severing the Winds and Clouds,” was valued at 15,000 merit points. The second move, “Sorrowful Slaughter Annihilating the Mortal World,” was valued at 25,000 merit points. The third move, “Vast and Boundless Shattering the Heaven and Earth,” was valued at 40,000 merit points, totaling 80,000 merit points.
“40,000 merit points…” Meng Qi hesitated slightly before making a decision. He would temporarily reallocate the reserved merit points. After all, there was still a shortfall of about 25,000 merit points. When the Fairyland members returned from the grasslands with ample merit points, the Tree of the Dao, this money-making tree, would help him replenish much of the deficit. It wasn’t a big problem.
Taking a deep breath, Meng Qi boldly spent 40,000 merit points, leaving 47,515 merit points as a reserve.
The indifferent voice of the Lord of the Six Dao reincarnations sounded: “The Dharmic Body move ‘Vast and Boundless Shattering the Heaven and Earth’ exclusive task: Obtain the Seven Killing Tablet in the Lanruo Temple world, with a time limit of two months. Failure will result in a deduction of 20% of your merit points.”
The Six Dao reincarnations would surely not let me complete the task now… Meng Qi had already mentally prepared himself. He accepted the task and chose to heal and repair the Zhan Yu Saber, spending a total of 4,000 merit points. Then he left Biyou Heaven to undergo a three-month retreat to consolidate his gains.
…
On the Three Immortal Island, “Oceanic Wanderer” Wu Jizhen stood behind a desk, holding a brush and concentrating on sketching a woman.
It was not ink painting, but meticulous brushwork. Wu Jizhen’s painting skills were quite impressive; with just a few strokes, he could convey the woman’s freshness and liveliness.
“Master, the latest issue of the Heaven, Earth, and Man Rankings.” The old servant entered the study, holding a stack of paper.
Wu Jizhen did not look up, calmly saying, “The latest issue arriving at our Three Immortal Island must be at least a month or two old. It’s just old news.”
Without an external scene to facilitate travel, a round trip by ship would take at least two months.
Knowing his master’s temperament, the old servant directly said, “The Heaven Ranking has not changed, but there have been many changes in the Earth Ranking.”
“It appears the pursuit of the Grassland Master has borne fruit.” Wu Jizhen maintained his indifferent demeanor. “Who has dropped out of the top twenty, and who has made it in?”
“‘Fairy of Ice’ Ye Yuqi has obtained her own divine weapon and fought the leader of the Life and Death Unpredictable Sect to a draw, placing her fifth in the Earth Ranking. Master, you’ve been pushed to tenth.” The old servant stole a glance at Wu Jizhen.
Wu Jizhen’s lips curved slightly, smiling, “I’ve met Ye Yuqi a few times. We’re both fallen souls. I can tell she has emotional troubles that have become heart demons. It’s hard to say what the future holds for her.”
He habitually added a comment.
The old servant did not dwell on the matter and continued, “Also, there’s the ‘Crazy Saber’ Su Meng, whom you met last time. He has entered the top twenty!”
He was quite surprised by this.
Wu Jizhen frowned, putting down his brush, “He can enter the top twenty? Does he have the combat power of an almost Grand Master?”
Only a few months have passed. His improvement is too shocking!
Cultivation is getting harder and harder as one progresses.
The old servant, holding the Earth Ranking, read verbatim: “Name: Su Meng.”
“Age: Under twenty-five.”
“Nickname: Crazy Saber, Saber King.”
“Cultivation techniques: Unknown, similar to the Indestructible Diamond Divine Strength, saber reaching the ultimate realm, questioning the heart and the Dao, acting as Heaven’s punishment, possessing the inescapable ‘Causality Saber’.”
“Battle records: Three times repelling assassins from the Benevolent Tower’s Blue Rank, severely injuring them; one slash of ‘Causality’ killing the Crying Elder; killing Hasiwula, who wielded a divine weapon, and two Masters.”
“Ranking: Eighteenth.”
“Evaluation: Grand Master.”
“Grand Master?” Wu Jizhen murmured the evaluation.
This meant that Su Meng was not a Grand Master but was as good as one!
Has he already reached this level?
…
A man wrapped entirely in a black robe entered a hall. Mist shrouded both sides, and countless resentful and clinging spirits, shaped like ghosts, writhed there, each exuding a mighty aura.
He hesitated, afraid to step forward, for these were the fallen subordinates of the Hall’s Master.
“Master, there is a commission,” he respectfully said.
A voice, neither male nor female, responded, “What commission requires my involvement?”
The man spoke concisely, “Assassinate ‘Crazy Saber’ Su Meng!”
…
Three months later, Meng Qi ended his retreat, drinking wine and admiring the moon in a small courtyard, his heart serene.
Suddenly, he felt a slight dizziness and lost his awareness of the outside world. The voice of the Lord of the Six Dao reincarnations echoed in his ear: “Main Task: Go to Lanruo Temple, find the true form of the Black Mountain Demon, investigate its origins, and completely eliminate it. The deadline is three months. Success will reward 4,000 merit points, failure will deduct corresponding merit points. If the merit points are insufficient, you will be killed.”
…
A cold wind blew, scattering sheets of white paper money. Several men and women suddenly appeared.
The leader was a woman dressed in tight-fitting clothes. She scanned the area and said, “Everyone knows the mission, but I must emphasize one thing: do not randomly start side missions.”
“After the Death Mission, we are no longer isolated from other reincarnation teams. We may encounter other experienced reincarnators during missions—terrifying individuals who have survived two or even three Death Missions. Last time, someone died because of this, nearly dragging everyone down.”
“Therefore, do not act recklessly!”
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