Chapter 585: Preparation

“Mo School?” Meng Qi looked at Jiang Zhiwei. Their eyes met, and both simultaneously thought of the Mo Palace behind the Senluo Wondrous Gate, the Mo Palace that inherited from the ancient artifact sage, and its mysteriously wonderful machinery techniques.

Unfortunately, the gate could not be opened within the cycle of reincarnation!

Ruan Yushu lightly frowned and murmured, “Universal love, non-aggression, advocating unity and virtuous people, frugality in usage and burial?”

Upon hearing this, Meng Qi and Jiang Zhiwei suddenly realized. To spread the “Dao” among the various states must mean spreading one’s own philosophy and path. Machinery techniques are skills and tools, methods of cultivation, and have little to do with following this “Dao.”

If spreading machinery techniques were useful, things would be much simpler. Which monarch wouldn’t want his people to have more methods of creating machinery to enhance military strength?

Therefore, combining the context and previous tasks, Meng Qi believed that this mission was to spread the philosophy of the artifact sage, that is, the Mo School’s doctrines centered on universal love, to make the world no longer chaotic and dark, and to end the warring states’ disputes.

Thinking of this, Meng Qi couldn’t help but grit his teeth. Why not the Legalists, the Military Strategists, or the Confucianists? At least those schools could be used for governance, and the feudal lords wouldn’t be too resistant, merely weighing the pros and cons. But the Mo School’s philosophy was unsuitable for this world. To persuade a monarch to spread and enforce it from the top down would be extremely difficult.

“At least it’s not the School of Names or the Agrarian School. Otherwise, we’d just collect resources and items and forcefully return after three months,” Meng Qi blurted out.

In this world of ours, during ancient times, besides the so-called “Sages” who each had their Dao traditions and philosophies, many strange ideas also appeared. Those who held these ideas weren’t particularly strong, but merely left behind some records, such as the Agrarian School. Therefore, after hearing Meng Qi’s self-comforting remark, Jiang Zhiwei smiled slightly, feeling the same way.

Ruan Yushu, wearing a white dress that reached her ankles and exuding a cool aura, slightly raised her head and gazed at the misty air above: “Hmm, preferably the teachings of Buddhism or Taoism, unfortunately…”

“Yeah,” Meng Qi nodded heavily. If it were Taoism, “governance through non-action” would be a decent philosophy for recovery and development after turmoil.

Wait a second, he suddenly frowned and asked in confusion: “I understand Taoism, but what about Buddhism?”

The Hundred Schools of Thought didn’t include Buddhism, right?

Ruan Yushu, with her clear black-and-white eyes, looked at Meng Qi: “Under the Bodhi tree, the Buddha expounded his teachings, revealing the profound meaning of the Dao, rescuing sentient beings from suffering. Isn’t that also a way to govern the world? You have deep karmic connections with Buddhism. If you were assigned to the Buddhist school, you might truly transform the Fengshen world into a Buddhist land.”

She spoke sincerely, but Meng Qi felt increasingly uneasy as he listened:

“Who has deep karmic connections with Buddhism?”

Jiang Zhiwei couldn’t help but giggle, while Zhao Heng’s lips twitched, seemingly trying hard to suppress his laughter.

Qi Zhengyan, on the other hand, remained expressionless and nodded: “Yes, with the General Principles of the Tathagata Palm and your deep Buddhist connections, you might indeed transform the Fengshen world into a Buddhist land.”

Brother Qi, you’ve become wicked… Meng Qi was momentarily speechless, letting out a dry laugh: “The Hundred Schools of Thought don’t include Buddhism. By the way, how far have you all progressed?”

“I broke through to Perfect Half-Step three months ago and haven’t yet exchanged for Tianjing to cultivate the ‘Dark Chaos.’ However, this past year has still brought some gains, and I’ve sensed its hidden aspects somewhat.” Compared to before, Qi Zhengyan had become darker, the surrounding light seeming to transform into a faint shadow, his demeanor increasingly reserved.

“Dark Chaos” was the sixth level of the Hun Tian Treasure Mirror, surpassing the first level of Tian Ti’s perfection.

Ruan Yushu then said: “I achieved Perfect Half-Step half a year ago. Perhaps in a few more months, I can step into the Outer View.”

Her tone was calm and flat, with faint musical notes drifting around her. She held the Qifeng Qin in her hands, covered with an ancient yet lustrous sheen, already transformed into a treasure weapon.

Upon hearing her words, Meng Qi felt a sense of sadness and pity. Unlike Qi’s brother, who had long decided to take steady steps, with her naturally gifted musical heart and the efforts she had made in learning various musical pieces to find her own path, given a bit more time, she might have ascended directly to the heavens. But to keep up with the team and not become a burden, she ultimately chose the path of Perfect Half-Step.

Meng Qi took a deep breath, pushing away his emotions: “I’ve already reached the third level of the Outer View.”

Qi Zhengyan and the others, unaware of the challenges of the eighth and ninth levels, were not surprised by this. For someone bearing four calamities, only the Tian Ti might be able to slow down the advancement speed a little.

“I’m also at the third level,” Jiang Zhiwei said without any show of pride.

The Tai Shang Sword Sutra didn’t have the same difficulties as the Eight-Nine Mystical Arts at the first and second levels. With ample time and resources, Jiang Zhiwei actually broke through two months earlier than Meng Qi.

Zhao Heng said, “I’m still a bit short of the second level.”

“It seems none of us have been idle,” Meng Qi laughed, easing the slightly oppressive atmosphere. “After this mission, we should truly become a genuine Outer View team.”

The emergence of a gap in cultivation levels between each other, except for Jiang Zhiwei and Meng Qi, and not having seen each other for over a year, inevitably caused a bit of unfamiliarity and pressure. Earlier, Ruan Yushu’s teasing of Meng Qi was an attempt to break this feeling, but it still seemed a little off.

Jiang Zhiwei smiled at Ruan Yushu, similarly trying to make an effort: “Everyone has surely had many wonderful adventures while wandering the martial world, but since the mission is about to begin, we should first discuss and exchange resources.”

Shifting attention to the mission was a good way to eliminate the sense of unfamiliarity.

Understanding the meaning behind the music, Meng Qi immediately said: “With no sages appearing, the Hundred Schools cannot flourish. That is, the doctrines of the Mohist School may not even have sprouted yet, making it quite difficult to spread, which doesn’t quite fit the situation of the Fengshen world’s warring states. Therefore, besides exchanging for secret treasures for self-defense, we must also reserve enough good karma to leave forcefully if needed.”

The Fengshen world is dangerous; even opening a cavity might lead to someone wielding a strange secret treasure killing an Outer View cultivator. Meng Qi and others weren’t afraid of common secret treasures but worried about similar items and had to be prepared.

“I have fifty-four hundred units of good karma,” Qi Zhengyan stated succinctly.

So much? Meng Qi was startled, but upon reflection, it made sense. Qi Zhengyan had climbed to the top ten of the Human List and become a Perfect Half-Step cultivator, already gaining the attention of the Huanhua Sword Sect. He wouldn’t lack cultivation resources and had likely already been granted some rare treasures.

Most importantly, he must have inherited an Outer View sword technique from the Huanhua Sword Sect, or even experienced the true essence of the “Immortal Bestowed Longevity Sword” inheritance. Even though core techniques might require a Yuan Shen vow to prevent leakage, especially after the Shaolin scandal, such high-level techniques wouldn’t be that strictly guarded.

Considering Qi Zhengyan’s casual attitude toward exchanging sect techniques and his gains from over a year and a half of wandering the martial world, even with the devaluation of good karma, the total amount was still considerable.

Ruan Yushu looked at Meng Qi and others: “I can gather around seven thousand units of good karma.”

“Seven thousand units of good karma?” Meng Qi’s eyes widened. How did this little glutton get so much good karma?

Qi’s senior brother could exchange for the Huanhua Sword Sect’s Outer View sword techniques, but this little glutton probably wouldn’t betray her family!

Feeling Meng Qi’s surprise, Ruan Yushu slightly lifted her head: “After I broke through to Perfect Half-Step, my grandfather, grandmother, father, mother, and several uncles and grandfathers gave me rare treasures or other items.”

No wonder she’s the legitimate daughter of the clan leader, the most beloved child in a prominent family… Meng Qi suddenly experienced the bitter taste of inferiority when comparing oneself to others. It used to be others who felt this way about him.

“How nice…” Meng Qi sincerely praised.

If I return to the Su family, I might also be able to get some rare treasures from the clan?

But I would also owe a favor…

Zhao Heng coughed slightly: “After selling unused rare treasures and secret treasures, I can probably have more than four thousand units of good karma.”

After becoming the Crown Prince, his life had been very difficult. These were all deducted from his normal cultivation, resulting in a slower improvement in his cultivation level.

Meng Qi’s expression became serious, and he nodded lightly: “You managed to save more than four thousand units of good karma under the strict surveillance of the Political Council, which is already difficult. It’s truly heartbreaking.”

He waved his hand heavily: “Don’t worry, we won’t discriminate against you.”

Zhao Heng’s lips twitched slightly, unsure of how to react, while Jiang Zhiwei struggled to suppress her laughter.

Under his humorous remarks, the atmosphere gradually became less oppressive and unfamiliar.

“I have more than seven thousand units of good karma,” Jiang Zhiwei said, her smile fading.

Meng Qi wasn’t surprised by this, because part of the items from the Wondrous Gate and the Mo Palace were traded through Jiang Zhiwei, and the commission should have been several thousand units of good karma. Combined with the parts she was granted and collected herself, seven thousand units were quite normal.

Seeing that everyone had revealed their good karma, Meng Qi cleared his throat and announced: “I have ten thousand and seven hundred units of good karma.”

“Oh,” Ruan Yushu and the others remained expressionless.

“Aren’t you surprised?” Meng Qi felt like his flirtatious glance was wasted on blind people.

Ruan Yushu pursed her lips: “Dongji Changsheng Pill.”

“Haha, you guessed it was me…,” Meng Qi dryly laughed, quickly changing the subject. “Your third uncle’s paralysis is cured, which is a cause for celebration.”

Ruan Yushu lowered her eyelids, hiding her large, dark, and bright eyes: “My third uncle wasn’t suffering from a martial arts mishap but was imprisoned in the forbidden area by my grandfather for making a mistake.”

“What mistake?” Meng Qi instinctively asked.

Ruan Yushu maintained the same demeanor: “I had just been born then and didn’t know the details.”

Meng Qi didn’t ask further: “Since everyone has so much good karma, why not each of us reserve two thousand and five hundred units as preparation for forced departure, and then pool the remaining good karma together for unified exchange?”

Since he had the most good karma, this kind of thing could only be said by him.

“I have no objection. After all, I haven’t broken through to the Outer View yet, so I can temporarily not exchange for ‘Dark Chaos’,” Qi Zhengyan expressed his opinion first.

Only medicinal pills for healing wounds had already been prepared within the sect.

Jiang Zhiwei, Ruan Yushu, and Zhao Heng also had no objections.

After exchanging and summarizing, the five-person team had a total of twenty-three thousand two hundred units of good karma.

Since discussing the details of the mission was extremely time-consuming, Meng Qi and others mainly focused on selecting secret treasures to prevent being killed by unknown minor characters.

In the end, they exchanged for four secret treasures, leaving three hundred units of good karma:

“Luohun Bell (replica), a treasure-class secret artifact. Once this bell tolls, those below the Grandmaster level will lose their composure, and even Grandmasters will experience dizziness. It can be used once. Those with nine apertures can exert their full strength to activate it, valued at six thousand nine hundred units of virtuous karma.”

“Kunxian Rope (replica), a treasure-class secret artifact. It can restrain Outer Realm cultivators below the Grandmaster level for three breaths, compelling them to rely solely on unique techniques and physical strength to endure assaults. It has two uses, and those with nine apertures can exert their utmost effort to activate it, valued at five thousand six hundred units of virtuous merit.”

“Yuxu Apricot Yellow Flag (replica), a treasure-level secret item. It can release golden lotuses, emit brilliant light, and connect with the earth, blocking attacks, techniques, and secret treasures up to the sixth level of the Outer View, weakening stronger attacks. It can be used twice, valued at five thousand units of good karma.”

“Heavenly Earth Xuanghuang Linglong Pagoda (replica), a treasure-level secret item. Formed from the aura of merit, it is impervious to all laws and untouched by all evil. This item is a replica, limited to those below the sixth level, and can be used twice, capable of reacting instinctively, valued at five thousand four hundred units of good karma.”

The two defensive secret treasures were respectively held by Qi Zhengyan and Ruan Yushu because they were the most vulnerable.

The Kunxian Rope was given to Zhao Heng because Meng Qi and Jiang Zhiwei would be facing the front lines and might not have the opportunity to use secret treasures.

The Luohun Bell was given to Meng Qi because of his versatility and strongest survival ability. With this secret treasure, there might be a chance to turn the tide.

After making preparations, Meng Qi placed the Jiezi Ring at the pawn shop of the subordinate team and heard Jiang Zhiwei’s transmitted voice saying she would find him after returning, giving the items needed by the Wondrous Gate and the Mo Palace to Yunhe Zhenren. As for the spiritual wood, there was still no clue.

The light rose, and Meng Qi and others disappeared from the reincarnation plaza.

…

The night was deep, looking afar at the solemn palace halls, the sounds of turning and tossing echoing in the ears.

Two men, dressed in ancient yet worn clothes, sat facing each other in a room, silent for a long time.

After a while, the one with a short beard under his chin looked out at the deep night and sighed deeply: “The states are in constant strife, rituals and morals are collapsing, the feudal lords only know how to indulge in pleasures and vie for dominance, oblivious to the hardships of the world, the white bones filling the grass, the people’s suffering, their lives fleeting, and the moral degradation. When will this long night ever end?”