Jieyin and Zhunti sat facing each other.
Daoist Jieyin looked at Zhunti and grinned. "Junior Brother, if our Western Sect had a disciple like this, why would we worry about our Western Sect failing to prosper?"
Daoist Zhunti nodded in deep agreement and grinned. "Senior brother, rest assured. As long as the hoe is swung well, no wall cannot be dug down. This humble Daoist will certainly find a way to recruit this boy into our Western Sect..."
A smile appeared on Daoist Jieyin's bitter face.
If Li Xiao's previous two acts of bringing down merit had already been remarkable, then what followed utterly blinded the Saints of All Heavens with sheer disbelief.
That day, Li Xiao summoned someone else.
Li Xiao pointed at a fallen leaf on the ground and held it over the man's body. "Cover your shame..."
The man picked up the leaf and held it against himself for quite a while.
Li Xiao smiled. "Wrap animal hides around your body. They can keep you warm and cover your shame..."
The man seemed lost in thought as he walked away blankly.
After an unknown amount of time, the man attained enlightenment. He taught people how to make clothes and was respectfully called Zi Yi Shi.
Suiren Shi, Youchao Shi, and Zi Yi Shi were also honored by humanity as the Three Ancestors of Humanity!
On the day Zi Yi Shi attained the Dao, an enormous Golden Cloud of Merit drifted over and showered down a vast amount of golden merit light.
As before, eighty percent fell into Zi Yi Shi's body. His cultivation soared directly to the Grand Unity Golden Immortal realm.
The remaining twenty percent descended toward Li Xiao.
With a sweep of his sleeve, Li Xiao stored the merit away as before.
Silence...
At that moment, the primordial world was strangely quiet!
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh...
The gazes of the Saints of All Heavens turned once more toward humanity's ancestral land. More precisely, they were fixed upon Li Xiao.
On Golden Ao Island, within Biyou Palace, Tongtian Cult Master excitedly sprang up from his cloud couch. His face was flushed red, and he was so gratified that he nearly began dancing with joy. Stroking his long beard, he threw back his head and laughed. "With such a disciple, this humble Taoist has no regrets in this life! The fortune of my Jie Sect has risen again! It has risen again! Hahaha..."
Shameless Zhunti, Tongtian Protects His Disciple
On Shouyang Mountain, within Eight Views Palace.
Boom...
A heaven-shaking blast suddenly rang out. The roof of Eight Views Palace was blown clean off, while thick smoke billowed and flames shot in every direction.
Taishang Laojun had been staring at humanity's ancestral land and forgotten the pills inside his furnace, causing an explosion of the furnace.
Taishang Laojun crawled out from the rubble in a bedraggled state. Even so, his eyes remained fixed upon humanity's ancestral land, gleaming with wonder as he exclaimed, "This boy's ability to scheme is astounding. He has actually obtained such immense merit three times. Extraordinary, truly extraordinary..."
"Master, you..."
Grand Master Xuandu, his face blackened with soot, looked at Taishang Laojun with deep resentment.
Taishang Laojun looked embarrassed and gave an awkward laugh. "A mistake, a mistake..."
Elsewhere, on Mount Kunlun, known as the ancestor of all mountains, the skies had been clear and the scenery bright only moments ago. Yet in the next instant, vast black clouds suddenly surged across the heavens. Dark clouds rolled, lightning flashed, and thunder roared, terrifying the insects, fish, birds, and beasts into fleeing in all directions.
Primordial Heavenly Venerate had witnessed Li Xiao bring down merit once more. His face turned green with rage, triggering heavenly phenomena.
This boy is far too monstrous. If the Chan Sect and Jie Sect wage war in the future, he will surely become a great calamity for my Chan Sect. I must find a way to eliminate him...
Primordial Heavenly Venerate's face darkened to the extreme as he thought viciously.
Within the Palace of Nuwa, Empress Nuwa rose from her cloud couch in shock. She stared at humanity's ancestral land in utter disbelief and exclaimed, "This boy has actually obtained immense merit three times. Extraordinary, truly extraordinary! It seems I should spend more time interacting with him. Perhaps I may rise to an even higher level..."
In the Western World, atop the golden peak of Mount Sumeru.
Jieyin and Zhunti sat facing each other. Their breathing had both grown heavier, and they panted like oxen, like men who had just rocked a bed.
"Swing the hoe, swing the hoe! As long as the hoe is swung well, no wall cannot be dug down..."
Daoist Zhunti said excitedly.
Daoist Jieyin's eyes gleamed as he looked at Daoist Zhunti. "Junior Brother, if you can truly recruit this boy into our Western Sect, why would we worry that our Western Sect cannot flourish?"
"Senior Brother is absolutely right!"
Daoist Zhunti nodded vigorously.
However, it did not end there. What followed left the Saints of All Heavens even more dumbfounded. They were practically numb with shock.
Li Xiao taught humanity to polish stone tools, and merit descended from heaven...
Li Xiao taught humanity to set traps and hunt, and merit descended from heaven...
Li Xiao taught humanity to sow seeds, and merit descended from heaven...
Li Xiao invented the plowshare, and merit descended from heaven...
In just over a dozen years, the Heavenly Dao seemed to have gone mad, frantically bestowing merit more than a dozen times.
At first, the Saints of All Heavens had been filled with shock. Later, even when they saw merit descending, they had become somewhat numb!
They truly did not know when merit had become like cabbages—so worthless that it came flooding down in endless waves, directly blinding them with disbelief.
Within Biyou Palace, Tongtian Cult Master's face twitched violently. His eyes were bloodshot, the beard at the corners of his mouth trembled, and his hair stood on end as though he had been struck by lightning. He was beside himself with joy. "To have obtained such a disciple is truly a blessing for my Jie Sect..."
Tongtian Cult Master had never been skilled at scheming. That was why Primordial Heavenly Venerate had repeatedly set him up in the past, while he had been powerless to do anything about it.
But things were different now. Li Xiao's appearance had perfectly made up for the Jie Sect's weakness!
Li Xiao could obtain merit more than a dozen times in a row. Such planning could only be described as earth-shattering and ghost-weeping, unprecedented and unsurpassed!
It could be said that Li Xiao's intelligence was practically demonic!
He even surpassed the Saints of All Heavens!
From Shouyang Mountain came continuous booms of explosions. Over more than a dozen years, Taishang Laojun's pill furnaces exploded several times, and the furnace fire nearly burned Shouyang Mountain into ruins.
One could well imagine just how shaken Taishang Laojun was.
Within Jade Void Palace on Mount Kunlun, Primordial Heavenly Venerate's face had completely twisted. Cold light surged in his eyes as he gritted his teeth. "This boy must be eliminated! Otherwise, he will surely become a great calamity for my Chan Sect. He must be eliminated..."
Within the Palace of Nuwa, Empress Nuwa stared at Li Xiao in stunned silence, the corner of her mouth twitching as she muttered, "Li Xiao actually possesses such skill in planning. Terrifying, utterly terrifying. It seems I must make some careful plans..."
In the Western World, atop the golden peak of Mount Sumeru.
Jieyin and Zhunti exchanged a look, then shouted in unison, "Swing the hoe! We must recruit this boy..."
Such a huge commotion from Li Xiao naturally drew the attention of countless gods and demons.
Countless gods and demons howled as they surged toward humanity's ancestral land.
Hmph!
At that moment, a heavy snort rang out.
That snort was like thunder from the ninth heaven exploding beside the ears of those gods and demons, shaking them until they coughed up blood without end.
A mere snort possessed such power. Clearly, a Saint had acted!
Then, an immortal sword flew through the heavens!
The sword rippled with azure light from end to end. Its sword intent pierced the heavens, carrying the majestic divine might of the Heavenly Dao. A single glance at it was enough to make one's heart tremble.
"Sage Tongtian..."
Those gods and demons recognized the Qingping Sword. How could they dare approach any further? They hurriedly fled as though running for their lives.
Curiosity was certainly good, but sometimes it could cost one's life. That simply was not worth it!
Just then, space rippled, and a Daoist stepped out.
That Daoist was none other than Daoist Zhunti.
Daoist Zhunti glanced up at the Qingping Sword, then headed straight toward humanity's ancestral land.
He had already grown impatient to swing his hoe and recruit Li Xiao into the Western Sect.
Hmph!
Another heavy snort came from the void.
Then Tongtian Cult Master stepped out in a single stride, blocking Daoist Zhunti's path.
If Li Xiao had seen this, he would surely have mocked Tongtian Cult Master. Why had he not ridden over on his ox this time? Clearly, he was in a hurry...
"Fellow Daoist Zhunti, what are you trying to do?"
Tongtian Cult Master recalled the Qingping Sword with a wave of his hand, then coldly stared at Daoist Zhunti and asked in a deep voice.
Daoist Zhunti looked at Tongtian Cult Master and grinned. "Fellow Daoist Tongtian, this humble Taoist made a calculation and discovered that I am fated with your disciple Li Xiao. Yes, we share an immense karmic connection. Might Fellow Daoist Tongtian be willing to yield him and allow Li Xiao to join my Western Sect?"
Upon hearing this, Tongtian Cult Master's face immediately turned as black as the bottom of a pot, longer than a donkey's face. His eyes nearly spewed fire as he glared at Daoist Zhunti and cursed, "What bullshit are you spouting? Li Xiao is this humble Taoist's disciple. How is he fated with you? An immense karmic connection, my ass! Stop trying to fool this humble Taoist with that trick you use to deceive ghosts! Do you take this humble Taoist for a three-year-old child?"
What? There Was Something Fishy About Merit Too?
After being thoroughly cursed out by Tongtian Cult Master, Daoist Zhunti's face reddened in embarrassment. He glared at Tongtian Cult Master, took a deep breath, and said, "Fellow Daoist Tongtian, how about this? This humble Daoist can trade for him!"
Before you continue