Before the central column of light, Fu Zhenzhen was the first to exchange her merits. She received the “Herbal King’s Chapter,” one “Tiancong Pill,” and a bottle of “Lingzhi Qi-Replenishing Pills.” As expected, Zhang Yuanshan and Jiang Zhiwei only exchanged for the “Yijing Bone-Forging Chapter” and the “Merciless Sword Techniques (Sword Nineteen to Sword Twenty-Two)” of the “Holy Spirit Sword Method,” respectively.
Qi Zhengyan thought for a moment and decided to exchange for only two bottles of “Xuxing Yihua Pills” for now, planning to decide on other items after choosing suitable weapons.
The “Xuxing Yihua Pill” was a commonly used elixir for practitioners at the Qi-opening cultivation stage, each bottle worth fifty merits.
Watching them finish their exchanges, Meng Qi calmly extended the Poisonous Rain Pear Blossom Needles into the hazy column of light.
“Completing the Poisonous Needles of the Poisonous Rain Pear Blossom Needle set. Consumes fifty merits. Special reminder: this Poisonous Rain Pear Blossom Needle can only be used once more.”
“Exchanging for the ‘Yijin Duan Gu Pian’ section of the ‘Nine Yin Divine Scripture.’ Consumes three hundred merits.”
“Exchanging for the foundational essence of the ‘Wind Spirit Leg’ technique, ‘Catching Wind and Grasping Shadows.’ Consumes ninety merits.”
“Exchanging for one ‘Tiancong Pill.’ Consumes one hundred and ten merits.”
When Meng Qi withdrew his hand from the radiant column, the black front end of the Poisonous Rain Pear Blossom Needle regained faint silvery glimmers, and he now held two ancient-looking secret manuals and a pill sealed with wax in his hand.
After briefly flipping through the two manuals, Meng Qi was very satisfied and carefully stored them away, with the “Yijin Duan Gu Pian” being the most important.
He knew that aside from having a bit of innate talent, his natural aptitude wasn’t exceptional—merely above average, similar to Qi Zhengyan’s. Even with the “Tiancong Pill,” he might not necessarily succeed in opening his acupoint successfully. Qi Zhengyan had been fortunate enough to succeed on his first try, but Meng Qi wasn’t sure he could do the same. Therefore, before formally consuming the “Tiancong Pill” to open his acupoint, besides continuing to refine the remaining three related acupoints, he must cultivate the “Yijin Duan Gu Pian” to improve his innate talent and increase his chances of success.
Moreover, cultivating the “Yijin Duan Gu Pian” would also significantly enhance his internal strength and physical power. Even when performing the “Arhat Boxing,” it would no longer feel plain and crude but instead become steady, profound, and refined.
“It’s time to choose a fine weapon,” Meng Qi grinned, revealing eight white teeth.
“You’re smiling so happily,” Jiang Zhiwei couldn’t help but smile and tease upon seeing his expression.
Meng Qi walked over to them and began flipping through the jade manual, quickly skimming past the earlier sections describing divine weapons, treasures, and other high-priced fine weapons to avoid feeling disheartened at wanting something he couldn’t afford.
Therefore, he flipped past names like “Tiger Soul,” “Yama,” “Heaven’s Weeping,” “Snow Drink,” and “Dragon-Slaying Blade” without a second glance, only stopping when the price dropped below three hundred merits.
He was somewhat hesitant about exchanging the first four stages of the “Golden Bell Shield” manual for merits with the Master of the Six Gates Samsara, as his master had been so kind to him. Doing so would feel like a betrayal of his principles. Moreover, even if he did exchange it, he would gain only between eighty to one hundred and ten merits, insufficient for even a decent “Heavenly Demon Body Destruction Technique.” Adding this to his remaining one hundred and forty merits, he would still be under three hundred.
Therefore, he decided to start looking at weapons priced below two hundred merits first. If he found something suitable and good within that range, he wouldn’t have to compromise his principles.
“Precept Green Jade Saber, a fine weapon worth one hundred and thirty merits. It is especially effective at calming the mind, enhancing clarity, and resisting illusions and temptations.”
As Meng Qi focused his gaze, a precept saber of smooth jade-green color and gentle radiance appeared on the jade manual, as if it were real.
“This precept saber is quite good…” Meng Qi had suffered greatly from sensory illusions during this mission and highly valued a weapon that could help reduce such illusions and temptations.
Jiang Zhiwei bluntly remarked, “If you successfully open your eye acupoint before your next mission, you should gain some ability to see through illusions, which would overlap with the effects of the Precept Green Jade Saber.”
“That’s true,” Meng Qi nodded lightly.
He had mentioned cultivating the “Wind Spirit Leg” technique without mentioning opening acupoints because he figured opening his acupoint might take another year or so. Only after that could he visit the Sutra Pavilion to browse advanced techniques and learn martial arts techniques like lightness skills. Wasting that year or so without cultivating any lightness skill would be a shame, since the ability to see through illusions gained after opening the acupoint would be an immediate capability, unlike advanced techniques that would require relearning after obtaining them post-acupoint opening. Therefore, to prepare for the possibility of a short interval before the next cycle, potentially straddling the moment of acupoint opening, it made sense to exchange for a lightness skill as an emergency survival method.
He continued flipping through the manual. Not long after, he found another precept saber with a suitable price and effect.
“Cicada Wing Ice Blade, a fine weapon worth one hundred and eighty merits. Forged from polar ice marrow and cold iron, it is transparent and nearly invisible, like a phantom. It is icy cold, and when it wounds an enemy, the wound becomes stiff and frozen, directly affecting the opponent’s movement.”
“This is a blade that kills without leaving a trace.”
Once again, the jade manual displayed a short blade. Its blade was transparent and thin as a cicada’s wing. At first glance, it seemed like nothing was there at all. Looking closely, one could only perceive it by the faint chill it radiated.
“This blade is great, but…” Zhang Yuanshan didn’t finish his sentence, just watching Meng Qi.
Meng Qi sighed, “It’s a short blade.”
He was currently accustomed to precept sabers and long sabers, and not particularly skilled with short blades. Although this “Cicada Wing Ice Blade” was well-suited for the Blood Saber Style, creating the eerie effect of appearing from nowhere and vanishing without a trace, his strongest and intended development path was the “Ananda Breaking Precept Saber Technique” and its derived variations, which made this blade unsuitable. After all, he hadn’t yet reached the level of mastery where he could wield any blade effortlessly.
“Actually, we should consider special enemies,” Qi Zhengyan interjected at this point.
Meng Qi and Jiang Zhiwei both looked at him, waiting for his explanation.
Qi Zhengyan’s expression was grim as he said, “As I mentioned earlier, in this mission, I encountered many monsters. Their demonic aura was strong, their presence terrifying, making them very difficult to deal with and causing me considerable trouble. Therefore, I plan to choose a sword that can suppress such monsters.”
“This time it was monsters; next time, it might be ghosts, evil spirits, or experts from the demonic path. Since you’re choosing a precept saber, besides considering sharpness, why not also consider its effectiveness against such foes?”
“That makes sense,” Meng Qi nodded in agreement.
Jiang Zhiwei nodded and added, “Although some martial arts techniques and moves are righteous and bright, capable of subduing such creatures, having a weapon with similar properties would also be very beneficial. However, we must not neglect the weapon’s sharpness and durability, as in most cases, we still need to face ordinary enemies.”
“Right,” With this specific requirement in mind, Meng Qi found it much easier to search and eliminate unsuitable options. Soon, he found a precept saber that suited him well.
“Red Sun Demon-Subduing Saber, a fine weapon worth one hundred and fifty merits. Forged from iron ore found at the edge of magma where solar essence resides, it was later purified for ninety-nine days by a half-step external realm-level senior monk reciting sutras to remove its violent and impure qualities. It is particularly effective against evil beings and can suppress filth.”
“This is a scorching hot saber, painful both to oneself and others.”
The “Red Sun Demon-Subduing Saber” was an ordinary-looking precept saber, but its blade faintly emitted a reddish glow, covered with patterns resembling sutra inscriptions.
“This one!” After reading the description, Meng Qi’s eyes lit up, and he decided on this precept saber.
As for the issue of the blade being hot, with the fourth stage of the Golden Bell Shield, what did he have to fear?
Since Meng Qi had already made his decision and this saber was indeed excellent, Zhang Yuanshan and the others naturally had no objections. Jiang Zhiwei lent him ten merits, allowing Meng Qi to finally exchange for the “Red Sun Demon-Subduing Saber.”
Its entire body was scorching hot, as if just taken from a fire. When Meng Qi gripped it tightly, even with the fourth stage of the Golden Bell Shield, he still felt a burning sensation—but he could endure it.
“No wonder it’s only worth one hundred and fifty merits,” Meng Qi lovingly played with the saber. If not for his Golden Bell Shield cultivation, he would have to divert a significant portion of his internal energy to protect his right hand from being burned by the “Red Sun Demon-Subduing Saber,” which would reduce his combat effectiveness by nearly half.
Without this flaw, the “Red Sun Demon-Subduing Saber” would be worth at least two hundred merits.
Afterward, Meng Qi and the others helped Qi Zhengyan search for a long sword effective against monsters. Eventually, they found a dark red treasure sword with intricate patterns embedded within.
“Dragon Pattern Red Gold Sword, a premium weapon valued at two hundred and fifty merit points. Crafted from red gold tempered by a true dragon, it faintly radiates the majesty of a demonic deity, capable of not only intimidating monsters but also unsettling most adversaries.”
“This is a sword of majesty.”
Qi Zhengyan was very satisfied with the “Dragon Pattern Red Gold Sword.” His merits were sufficient, so he happily exchanged for it.
As he withdrew the sword from the pillar of immortal energy, Meng Qi, Jiang Zhiwei, and Fu Zhenzhen simultaneously sensed a faint yet majestic, noble, and terrifying aura—one that seemed to make their very souls tremble.
Jing!
Zhang Yuanshan’s “Teng She Sword” at his waist let out a dragon-like roar, as if eager to leap from its scabbard and challenge the “Dragon Pattern Red Gold Sword.”
“What a great sword! What a great sword!” Jiang Zhiwei, eyes sparkling with excitement, couldn’t help but praise it aloud.
Qi Zhengyan gently stroked the sword with two fingers, his usually expressionless face showing a hint of joy. For a swordsman, a treasured sword was as precious as a second life.
Of course, after switching to cultivating the “Hun Tian Mirror,” he was no longer purely a swordsman.
At this moment, the dignified and emotionless voice of the Master of the Six Gates Samsara rang out:
“Exchange completed. Store your items properly and return to your own world.”
Upon hearing this, Meng Qi suddenly remembered something. He was currently under “quarantine” due to the theft of the scriptures by Zhen Yong. If he carried too many secret manuals, he might be suspected as an accomplice. However, if he left the manuals in the space, he wouldn’t have time to memorize them and wouldn’t be able to cultivate them later.
Thus, he raised this issue to the Master of the Six Gates Samsara, hoping to apply in advance for an opportunity to enter the space midway.
The Master of the Six Gates Samsara responded in the same emotionless tone: “During the interval between two cycles, one cannot enter the cycle space unless one exchanges merits in advance for training time and confirms the specific date of entry.”
“However, upon returning to your own world, you may send designated items to a designated location once. The items must not be living beings.”
Upon hearing the last sentence, Meng Qi felt relieved. He placed the “Red Sun Demon-Subduing Saber,” the Poisonous Rain Pear Blossom Needles, and the white monk’s robe into his own room. Then he changed into a gray monk’s robe and another precept saber—his belongings had returned with him since no one had taken them during the transmission, including his purchased blue everyday robe, gray monk’s robe, bamboo hat, and spare precept saber, so there was no need to exchange merits for them again.
Then, he asked the Master of the Six Gates Samsara to send the “Yijin Duan Gu Pian,” the Tiancong Pill, and other items to the hollow of the Bodhi tree in the courtyard of Xuan Bei.
A flash of white light passed, and Meng Qi felt as if he had fallen asleep for a moment. When he opened his eyes, he was already back in his meditation room.
“Venerable Wu Jing, Zhen Ding and Zhen Hui are inside.”
At this moment, Zhen Miao’s voice sounded in the courtyard.
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