Wang Xiu arrived at the heart of the Ghost Immortal Blessed Land.

The place was already bustling with activity.

Thousands of disciples from the various branches of the Sanqing Immortal Sect streaked through the gloomy wilderness on rays of light. All over the mountains and fields, Human Souls were being chased, scattering like frightened chickens.

The clamor of voices was incessant.

"Don't run, girl! Let this humble Taoist save you! I've specialized in soul salvation for thirty years. My technique is flawless, and I'll let you experience the pleasure of a painless ascension!"

DING!

[Detected someone nearby bragging. Congratulations, Host, for gaining Mana +6.]

"Don't listen to him! Just look at that ferocious face of his; you can tell his methods are crude. I'm not like that. They call me the 'Ghost-Pampering Prince,' and I'll only ever cherish you..."

DING!

[Detected someone nearby bragging. Congratulations, Host, for gaining Mana +6.]

"Heavenly Venerable Tianzun! A bunch of charlatans who can't even recite the Rebirth Mantra properly, posing as great masters of virtue? Little girl, my cultivation is a hundred times stronger than theirs! I guarantee you a blissful ascension. In fact, I just helped your father cross over, and he passed on very peacefully.

"If you're willing, I can help not only you, but also your mother, your grandfather, your grandmother, your second great-uncle—your entire family!

"Who knows, you might even have a family reunion down there!"

DING!

[Detected someone nearby bragging. Congratulations, Host, for gaining Mana +66.]

...

This whole business of saving souls was a bit like a doctor treating a patient. If the target cooperated, the process was incredibly smooth. But if they struggled and resisted, all sorts of hindrances would arise. It wasn't as simple as reciting the Rebirth Mantra once for a perfect salvation. Otherwise, how could there be so many Resentful Ghosts still wreaking havoc on the world?

Although these Human Souls had been ordinary people in life and their resentment wasn't strong enough to cause much trouble for the Sanqing disciples, forced salvation still presented an issue. It wasn't that it couldn't be done, but spending even a few extra moments on each Human Soul added up. This accumulation represented a considerable time cost, seriously affecting the speed at which they could reap spiritual merits.

Therefore, the disciples of the Sanqing Immortal Sect resorted to sweet-talking and deception. While their lips moved with honeyed words, their hands never stopped forming seals. The moment a Human Soul showed the slightest hint of belief and hesitated, a Soul Stabilizing Curse would be cast upon it. They would then seize control, recite the Rebirth Mantra, and send the soul on its way—all in one smooth motion. Classic scoundrels.

No wonder these Human Souls ran for their lives the moment they saw them! Who wouldn't be terrified?

Of course, while this method was somewhat unethical, it was undeniably effective. The number of Human Souls in the wilderness was rapidly decreasing.

Meanwhile, in the dim firmament above, brilliant streams of golden light—spiritual merits—tore through the clouds and descended upon the world. They merged into the bodies of the disciples who had saved the souls. As far as the eye could see, the golden light rained down like a continuous curtain. Even the dense, perennial yin energy within the Blessed Land seemed to be ignited by this light, giving rise to a silent, stunningly bright golden wildfire that was intoxicatingly beautiful.

...

HUM!

Wang Xiu sat on that familiar hillside. He hadn't saved a single Human Soul, yet a portion of the golden light raining from the sky was also his to claim.

Wang Xiu was slightly stunned, then hazily guessed the reason. It's probably because I'm the orchestrator of all this, so the Heavenly Dao has deemed I have a share in the merit.

Even though the amount of spiritual merit wasn't huge, it was an unexpected delight.

As the golden light completely merged into his body, a warm current flowed through his organs. His Dantian trembled slightly. His Golden Core became more lustrous and full, its radiance growing more restrained. His Cultivation Level at the peak of the Second Layer of the Golden Core realm reached completion, and he broke through directly to the Third Layer. His Divine Sense became purer and more refined than ever before.

Improving one's Cultivation Level was just one of the many benefits of spiritual merit, and one of the most inconspicuous at that. The real advantages were subtle, nourishing him silently. For instance, his temperament grew even more transcendent and amiable, his eyes became brighter, and he had even become much more handsome than he was just moments before!

...

Meanwhile, not far away under a green tree, a short, older man wearing a monocle stood with his hands behind his back, watching a few disciples with an exasperated look. "Hurry up! Faster! What's the use of that mouth of yours? You controlled that Human Soul first, but you let someone else save it before you did! You're too slow-witted!

"And you over there, stop chatting with that female ghost! What's the point of getting to know her so well? Is she going to let only you save her and no one else? In the end, doesn't it all come down to strength?

"Good heavens, someone beat you to it again!

"Fools! You're all fools! How did my Manipulation Sect produce such a useless lot like you?"

He was fuming. From his posture, it looked as if he was tempted to go down there and demonstrate by saving a few female ghosts himself.

Beside him, Mo Wuwei patted Gongshu Wumao's back, consoling him, "Master, please don't be angry. Be careful not to harm your health!"

Gongshu Wumao said anxiously, "How can I not be angry? We all borrowed money to get in here, and we arrived earlier than them! But look at us now... those little bastards who came later have reaped far more spiritual merits than we have!"

Mo Wuwei was also helpless. She didn't know how things had developed this way. Originally, Gongshu Wumao had brought her to the Divination Sect in a huff, wanting to see the Puppet Birds that Wang Xiu had supposedly created. But as soon as they arrived, they heard the news that Wang Xiu had opened up access to the millions of Human Souls within the Blessed Land. In an instant, Gongshu Wumao's mind was blown. He understood all too well the importance of spiritual merits, so he promptly forgot his original purpose.

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