"The power of merit has always existed since ancient times; good deeds accumulate good karma, while evil deeds grind against themselves."

"The Path of Merit lies in the waxing and waning, where merit and evil karma cancel each other out in the unseen world, erasing each other's existence."

"This is the rationale of the cycle."

"No person's power of merit lasts forever, unless they are Immortals transcending the mortal world or Buddhas who have escaped the chains of karma."

Could this child be... the reincarnation of a Pixiu?

Elder Shui stared in astonishment at Qi Xiu, who continuously absorbed the power of merit, his gaze flickering uncertainly.

Every ounce of the power of merit that this child took into his body seemed to enter a bottomless pit.

It only went in, never out.

Perhaps to the common eye, it was invisible, but to his ancient divine vision, he could clearly see strands of grey-purple, bordering on black, karmic forces encircling Qi Xiu, attempting to take away part of the power of merit.

But from within the mysterious unknown, a supremely domineering force guarded this power of merit very tightly.

Not even a jot or a tittle was allowed to escape.

Noticing the increasingly solid and clear object above Qi Xiu's head, Elder Shui had a sudden epiphany: No wonder this young fellow's power of merit isn't particularly profound, yet he can condense a Merit Treasure. Nothing escapes, just continuous accumulation. How could it not succeed? This child has too many extraordinary aspects.

He has the body of someone from the Human Race, yet bears the True Dragon Mark.

Endowed with merit, absolutely nothing escapes.

Add to that the fact that the scripture this child cultivates is the Great Volume Scripture [Primordial]…

How come all the good fortune in this world has fallen into his lap alone… With a light chuckle, Elder Shui couldn't help but lament.

Could this be what they call predestined by fate?

A vast ocean of merit, converging within one person!

When the grand phenomenon, extending over a great part of Dianchuan Province, took a new turn, the Ancient Sect Nobility who had been paying close attention, as well as the Loose Cultivators, began to set out, heading towards the site where the patches of meritorious golden clouds were descending.

"Hurry, hurry, hurry, the massive tide of merit has shifted! If we're late to this grand event, we'll miss it."

"Damn, who is this lucky bastard with such a tide of merit upon him, embarking on a bright Dao Path!"

"Mind your words. Whoever could generate such immense merit is likely to be at least a Dao Expert. If they overhear your careless talk, watch your heads."

The unattached Loose Cultivators, filled with curiosity, set off first.

In an instant, across the skies of Dianchuan Province, countless Escape Lights flew past, like a magnificent meteor shower, prompting countless common folk to kneel and pray, pleading for peace.

Unlike the Loose Cultivators who were purely there for the spectacle, the movements of the major Ancient Sect Nobility organizations were much more substantial.

The ten major groups of the Ancient Sect Nobility in Dianchuan Province each dispatched many people, all heading towards the site of the meritorious phenomenon.

Among them were no lack of Dao Experts.

Moreover, the County Yamen, the nominal ruler of Dianchuan Province, sent quite a few people, including three old relics of the Gao Family who were in the Dao Body Realm.

Compared to the Human Race, the response from the Demonic Evil Cultivators was even more intense, with all seven Kings of Divine Sorrow Ridge marching out.

At the same time, the vast army of Demonic Evil Cultivators currently engaged in a fierce battle with the various Sect Aristocracies of the Human Race, began to realign their battlefront toward the site of the meritorious phenomenon.

And at that same moment, a young monk wearing a black Kasaya and a string of blood-red Buddha Beads picked up the Longsword wrapped in several layers of sealing cloth beside him and stepped away, vanishing from Divine Sorrow Ridge.

...

Upon the vast, turbid Nu River, Elder Shui sat cross-legged, curiously observing Qi Xiu who was still absorbing the power of merit. Suddenly, his ears twitched, and his clear blue eyes swept the surroundings.

"Quite a few have come."

Glancing at Qi Xiu, still leisurely absorbing the power of merit with no time for anything else, Elder Shui stretched and stood. "Well then," he began, "if you're going to help someone, might as well see it through. Considering you helped this old man achieve a longstanding wish,

"I'll see you through this ordeal."

With a flip of his palm, a simple and ancient-looking tortoiseshell, exuding a sense of vast heaviness, suddenly appeared in Elder Shui's hand.

This tortoiseshell shimmered with a profound brown hue, its surface etched with countless irregular patterns from ages past, each one seemingly telling an ancient legend.

Looking down upon this tortoiseshell, one would find that these patterns mysteriously came together to form the image of a majestic and martial True Dragon.

These dragon patterns seemed to have been concealed by some supreme being through an unsurpassed method and would inadvertently reveal the subtle features of their massive bodies.

These dragon patterns were not simply carved or painted on.

They were more like natural wonders grown from deep within the tortoiseshell.

When light hit it at certain angles, those dragon patterns seemed to awaken, slowly moving across the heavy, weathered surface.

"When I ascended to godhood, my flesh turned to ashes, leaving only this shell behind," Elder Shui explained.

"My old master personally refined it for me, making it the life treasure of my being.

"With it safeguarding you, it can block everything for you."

With a gentle toss, the tortoiseshell in Elder Shui's hand transformed into a streak of light, landing on Qi Xiu's chest and unfolding a nearly intangible Magic Domain to firmly protect him within.

「The next moment.」

Countless streaks of light and colors rushed from all around.

At that moment, the world was a tapestry of light and shadow, weaving a magnificent mural.

Endless streams of light poured in from all directions in the void, cascading down like a waterfall of boundless stars.

As the Escape Lights gradually solidified into forms, powerful silhouettes appeared one by one.

Each of them stood upon the grandeur of multicolored forces, looming in the infinite cosmos as if celestial beings descended among mortals.

They stood above the Nine Heavens, each figure distinct yet equally majestic and awe-inspiring.

Some were as handsome as sharp blades, others as mighty as unyielding towers, and still others possessed a gentle elegance without losing the air of a king.

Each silhouette emitted an aura of extreme might and unshakable presence.

Their deep and sharp gazes gleamed like distant stars, exuding a chilling brightness. A nearly tangible strength and foundation surged from their proud chests. With every step, they seemed capable of traversing the galaxy, and with every breath, of summoning changes in the wind and clouds.

Under such a grand and oppressive atmosphere, the heavens themselves seemed to become heavily burdened.

In the complete stillness, only the rustling of the Escape Lights could be heard.

Cultivators from all around, far and wide, gathered here, filling the sky for hundreds of miles with their silhouettes.

Countless focused and substantial gazes were directed towards the Golden Pillar of Merit that descended from the Sky Dome above.

Voices of admiration, exclamations of surprise, sounds of envy, muttered curses, and sneers rose and fell in succession.

Standing to one side, managing his vermilion treasure ship, seated upon his throne, Song Tingye watched the immensely spectacular and vast Golden Pillar of Merit, his hands clenched into fists so tight that his fingernails sank deep into his flesh.

All of this should have been mine!

Yet now, the die was cast. Even if resentment churned within him, he could only silently suppress it in his heart.

"Look quickly, there seems to be something condensing above that person's head!"

A cry of surprise suddenly shifted everyone's attention.

"That's right! Could this be the legendary... Merit Treasure?!"

"Damn it, this trip wasn't in vain! Actually getting to witness the emergence of the legendary Merit Treasure—that's powerful, seriously damn powerful."

"Rumor has it that only those of great virtue qualify to condense a Merit Treasure. Who exactly is this holy being that can attract such immense merit to form a Merit Treasure for themselves?"

At that moment, everyone was intensely curious about the identity of the indistinct figure within the Golden Pillar of Merit.

Almost instantaneously, all sorts of divinations, calculations, and methods of Asking the secrets of heaven were employed, hoping to catch a glimpse of the true identity behind that figure.

BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG!

In an instant, numerous screams echoed across the heavens as those who attempted to divine Qi Xiu's identity through various means were all met with the backlash of the Human Path Merit.

The more malicious the intentions in one's heart, the heavier the backlash received.

Those who were merely curious about Qi Xiu's identity only had their eyes injured and their Cultivation damaged, but could recover in a few months at most.

As for those harboring ill intents, plotting to kill for treasure, they were in a sorry state.

One by one, their eyes exploded, their skulls shattered, and even their souls were violently bombarded by the Human Path Merit, nearly perishing on the spot.

They fell from the clouds like flies without wings.

"Don't try to divine any further! This person is protected by the Human Path Merit, which prevents any divination and calculation."

"Whoever divines will suffer the consequences!"

Those who had learned their lesson the hard way began to warn others in the crowd.

The effects of being protected by the Human Path Merit varied.

Some safeguarded the soul, others the body, and some increased blessings and longevity.

People had not expected the protective effect of Qi Xiu's Human Path Merit to be one that prevented all divinations and calculations.

Perhaps this was also connected to his deep-seated desire for caution and a low profile, his unwillingness to attract attention.

Those Demonic Cultivators who had just arrived and were preparing to make their move promptly halted upon hearing this, thus avoiding the backlash.

"Hahaha! So everyone has come. It seems that we all share an unspoken understanding, wanting to see which lucky kid has garnered such great merit."

As the words were spoken, the seven Kings of Divine Sorrow Ridge arrived one after another.

The sky was nearly half obscured by the pervasive Demonic Poison Cloud, and the light dimmed in an instant. Hidden within the dark clouds were countless Demonic Evil Cultivators, their blood-red menacing eyes looming like lanterns, unabashedly staring at the Human Cultivators opposite them, their ferocity and malice surging like an angry tide.

With the arrival of the Demonic Evil Cultivator faction, the previously independent Human Race factions quickly united.

They subtly positioned themselves to protect Qi Xiu.

Strife within the Human Race was commonplace, never ceasing over the long years.

But when faced with a foreign enemy, the Human Race was among the most united of All Heavens and Myriad Races.

I may fight my own people.

But if outsiders also want to take action, that's unacceptable!

Seeing that the Human Race was protecting the young whelp accumulating merit, the expressions of the seven Kings subtly shifted, and they covertly signaled to those behind them.

At that moment, numerous Demonic Evil Cultivators began to use their Evil Methods and Demon Skills to divine Qi Xiu's identity.

Watching the Demonic Evil Cultivators also begin their divinatory intrusions, the assembled Human Cultivators exchanged a look, keeping silent with tacit understanding, all the while quietly counting in their minds.

One, two, three…

AAAH!!!

Agonized screams arrived as anticipated, abruptly resounding through the entire camp of Demonic Evil Cultivators.

Hearing these screams, which were far more terrible than before, all the Human Cultivators simultaneously revealed a hint of a smile.

That felt good.

...

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