Walking the River of Time and Space

Hongjun, who was walking along the River of Time and Space, also revealed a look of surprise and asked in confusion, "Fellow Daoist, is that true?"

The merit required for such a decision was so immense that even he, the Spokesperson of the Heavenly Dao, might not be able to bear it, much less the Heavenly Dao itself.

Lu Changqing answered confidently, "Do I look like I'm joking?"

Lu Changqing had given this decision careful thought.

Recalling memories of his past life, was there any money-burning project more extravagant than infrastructure? Though this was the Primordial Wilderness, the essence was no different.

Thinking of the day he would squander a hundred trillion merits and become a Great Dao Saint on the spot, Lu Changqing could not help but smile.

"For the sake of this venerable one's Great Dao Saint realm, you all will have to work harder!"

With that thought, Lu Changqing immediately swept his sleeve and announced to the Primordial Wilderness:

"From this day forth, Wuji Heaven shall enact new rules.

"All living beings beneath Sagehood may open other worlds within Great Thousand Worlds."

He paused slightly before adding, "But there is one requirement: the worlds you create must contain vitality, give birth to living beings, and possess complete laws."

After setting the rules, Lu Changqing pondered briefly before announcing the rewards for opening heaven:

"Those who open a Great Thousand World according to these requirements shall be rewarded with twelve million merits."

As soon as these words were spoken, a sharp gleam flashed through the eyes of the Six Saints.

"Those who open a Middle Thousand World shall be rewarded with three million merits."

Upon hearing this, the great powers of the Primordial Wilderness were all delighted—three million merits were no small sum.

"Those who open a Minor World shall be rewarded with one million merits."

The cultivators at the peak of the Grand Unity Golden Immortal realm immediately became wildly excited.

Only Sages could open Great Thousand Worlds, and opening a Middle Thousand World required Quasi-Saint cultivation. But Minor Worlds were something even Grand Unity Golden Immortals like them could barely manage to create.

This was a rare opportunity to earn merits!

"Those who create the myriad minor worlds shall be rewarded with one hundred thousand merits! Those who create stellar river universes shall be rewarded with ten thousand merits!"

As soon as these words were spoken, cultivators below the Grand Unity Golden Immortal realm, who had initially thought the matter had nothing to do with them, were also stirred up.

Lu Changqing declared solemnly:

"This venerable one announces that from today onward, the Primordial Wilderness shall enter a new era—an era of creation for all!"

These words reached the ears of countless trillions of living beings across the Primordial Wilderness, and the entire land immediately erupted in frenzy.

Exchanging treasures for merits had already been shocking, but treasures were limited, and cultivators could only exchange them a few times.

Opening heaven was different. So long as they invested time and effort, anyone with sufficient cultivation could continuously create new heavens and earths.

Such a good thing had never been seen or heard of before.

Yet opening heaven and earth so recklessly would consume an immeasurable amount of merit.

"Has he gone mad? How much merit would it take to open heaven like this?"

However, just as some beings were still doubting whether Lu Changqing could produce such an oceanic amount of merit, the Six Saints could no longer sit still.

Under Lu Changqing's proclamation, they discovered that not only could they personally create worlds and earn merit, but they could also lead all the disciples of their sects to open heaven and earth together, gaining opportunities for merit.

Naturally, they could not let such a good thing pass them by.

As Lu Changqing's words fell, the entire Primordial Wilderness instantly boiled over.

Whether they believed it or not, every living being was dumbfounded by such a heaven-shaking display—just how much merit did this require?

Yet the person involved did not care in the slightest. He turned to the Witch Clan and Demon Clan. "Are you still going to fight?"

The leaders of both clans shook their heads like rattles. "No, no more fighting!"

With such a good opportunity to earn merit before them, who would still be willing to risk their lives? Opening worlds and accumulating merit was the proper business.

Once their strength improved, it would not be too late to deal with the other side.

The leaders of the two clans exchanged a smile, a knowing glint flashing through their eyes.

Lu Changqing could not be bothered with their little schemes.

Even if the Primordial Wilderness were shattered, he would not feel the slightest heartache. He had only intervened because these two clans had blocked his path to squandering wealth.

As the saying went, blocking someone from squandering wealth was like cutting off their source of income. How could he tolerate that?

"Now that's more like it."

"If everyone gets along peacefully, I can squander wealth without worry." Lu Changqing nodded in satisfaction.

The leaders of both clans secretly grumbled, As expected of the Number One Prodigal of the Primordial Wilderness!

Although the name of Wuji Heaven's Longevity Immortal Venerable resounded throughout the Primordial Wilderness, the title Number One Prodigal of the Primordial Wilderness was equally famous—though no one dared to call him that to his face.

If anyone mentioned it, Lu Changqing would most likely beam with delight. It was the greatest affirmation he could receive.

Just as Lu Changqing was questioning the two clans, Hongjun saw that he truly intended to do this and stared in shock. "You're spending so much merit just to create a pile of useless worlds? What for?"

Lu Changqing glanced at him as though looking at **. "Who said they were useless?"

"What use do they have?"

"Of course they're for squandering wealth!" Lu Changqing replied righteously.

Hongjun was speechless for a moment—when had squandering wealth become proper business? Were young people these days all so inventive?

Seeing Hongjun **, Lu Changqing's eyes suddenly lit up. "Fellow Daoist Hongjun, with your abilities, wouldn't opening a hundred or so worlds be as easy as playing around? Do you want to earn some merit too?"

Hongjun was indeed tempted for an instant, but as the Dao Ancestor, he had to preserve his dignity. He immediately flicked his sleeve. "Do not speak nonsense! I must still comprehend the Great Dao. I have no time to fool around with you!"

With that, he tore open space-time and departed through the air.

Lu Changqing shrugged regretfully. "What a pity. With his help, I could squander wealth even faster."

King Father of the East and the others twitched at the corners of their mouths—asking the Dao Ancestor to help open heaven and earth was something only this great master would dare imagine.

If it were anyone else, Hongjun would have reduced them to ashes with a single glare long ago.

"As expected of the Great Master!" Kunpeng and the other two sighed repeatedly.

In the past, they had planned to rely on the Great Master's merit to attain the Dao and become Sages, but now their thoughts had completely changed.

Become Sages? Was becoming a Sage really so impressive? Wouldn't they still have to work for the Great Master? Since they were all beasts of burden anyway, they might as well be comfortable ones.

At this moment.

Deep within the Blood Sea, Ming He was trembling with excitement.

His obsession with becoming a Sage ran deep.

The last time he exchanged for merit, he had nearly emptied his entire fortune for only a tiny amount.

Now, he could earn merit simply by opening heaven. How could he miss such a good opportunity?

"It's here! My opportunity has arrived! I may not be able to open a Great Thousand World, but aren't Middle Thousand Worlds and Minor Worlds easy enough for me?" Ming He wept with joy.

The entire Primordial Wilderness sprang into action.

Eastern Sea Sky Shark Clan: "Gather all Golden Immortals and prepare to open heaven!"

Nine-Heavens Fox Clan of Buzhou Mountain: "My children, follow me and cleave open the chaos!"

Similar scenes unfolded throughout the Primordial Wilderness.

Lu Changqing was extremely satisfied by the sight.

How much could exchanging treasures possibly cost? Infrastructure was the true path to burning merit!

Just as he was rejoicing, he suddenly remembered something and added another proclamation: "All beings below the Quasi-Saint realm may enter my nine Great Thousand Worlds to create new heavens and earths!"

Countless living beings immediately flooded into the nine great worlds.

Creating worlds within worlds was far easier—the laws of the Primordial Wilderness were complete and its space was sturdy, so ordinary cultivators simply could not split it open.

But within an already existing Great Thousand World, the difficulty plummeted.

As for space, one Great Thousand World could contain three thousand Middle Thousand Worlds, and one Middle Thousand World could contain three thousand Minor Worlds. Minor Worlds could hold countless heavens and stellar rivers, so there was no need to worry at all.

Seeing the first batch of beings enter the Great Thousand Worlds, Lu Changqing returned to Wuji Heaven in satisfaction.

Within the Purple Heaven Palace of Chaos, Hongjun watched the drastic changes in the Primordial Wilderness and felt a splitting headache.

What exactly was Lu Changqing planning?

Though Lu Changqing constantly claimed he wanted to squander wealth, who in the Primordial Wilderness was not shrewd? Hongjun absolutely did not believe he was truly fooling around and was certain there was some earth-shaking scheme behind it.

"This feeling of losing control..." Hongjun muttered irritably.

Yet the Heavenly Dao was standing with Lu Changqing. No matter how dissatisfied he was, he did not dare act rashly and could only simmer with anger while remaining vigilant.

The Demon Clan had only just finished regrouping after the ceasefire when they saw that the various clans had already rushed into the Great Thousand Worlds and were enthusiastically opening heaven and earth...

Deep within the Demon Court.

Demon Emperor Di Jun raised his arm and shouted. The banners of the countless demon army blotted out the sky. "My warriors! Today, our entire clan shall march forth to create new worlds and prove the Great Dao! We swear to slaughter every last remnant of the Witch Clan!"

The roaring cries swept through the nine heavens, and the demons erupted. "Open heaven and earth! Prove the Dao and destroy the witches!"

At the foot of Buzhou Mountain, in the ancestral land of the Witch Clan.

Di Jiang stood upon the earth, his voice ringing like a great bell. "Warriors of the Witch Clan, heed my command! Follow me in cleaving open chaos and seizing Heavenly Dao Merit! We shall flatten the nest of those feathered beasts!"

Countless members of the Witch Clan pounded their chests and stomped their feet, their battle intent soaring skyward. "Cleave chaos! Seize merit! Destroy the Demon Court!"

Just as the two clans were sharpening their weapons and preparing their forces—

The blue waves of Golden Ao Island rippled as Sect Master Tongtian drifted out.

Daoist Duobao led the others in ** greeting him. "Master, what that Immortal Venerable said..."

Tongtian nodded. "Every word is true."

The faces of the gathered ** lit up with joy.

In the Primordial Wilderness, merit was exceedingly precious. This opportunity could be called unprecedented.

Duobao could not contain himself. "That Immortal Venerable, exactly..."

Tongtian gazed into the distance, recalling that existence whom even the Dao Ancestor treated as unfathomable—

After a long while, he sighed. "Unfathomable... Even Sages must treat him with three parts reverence."

The hearts of the gathered ** trembled violently.

They knew the Immortal Venerable was extraordinary, but they had not expected even Sages to give him a wide berth.

Suddenly, Tongtian's decree spread across the entire island: "From this day forth, I shall open heaven and earth.

"Disciples of the Interception Sect, follow me in creating a Great Thousand World!"

The myriad immortals on the island bowed. "We obey your decree!"

For the countless living beings, the path of cultivation was fraught with hardship.

Yet this tide of creation allowed even ants to glimpse hope of proving the Dao.

At Kunlun Mountain Peak, within the Jade Void Palace.

The Twelve Golden Immortals stood solemnly beneath Primordial Heavenly Venerate.

Unlike the Interception Sect, which accepted disciples broadly, the Chan Sect valued innate talent and aptitude.

Even so, the temptation of merit was equally difficult to resist.

Yuanshi solemnly proclaimed, "From this day forth, I shall create a Great Thousand World.

"Disciples of the Chan Sect, follow me in proving the Great Dao!"

The eyes of the immortals burned brightly. "We obey your decree!"

In the Western Pure Land, Jieyin and Zhunti exchanged smiles.

"Heaven blesses the West!"

Back during the Dao-Demon Conflict, Luohu ** the spiritual veins, causing the West to wither away.

Now, this act of creation was the perfect opportunity for revival.

The two Sages did not limit themselves to their own sect. Instead, they proclaimed to all living beings of the West:

"Our sect shall lead countless trillions of living beings to open new heavens together! Let this barren land regain its former glory!"

As the Immortal Venerable's decree spread throughout the Primordial Wilderness, the Sages rose together, and all races responded.

A vast movement of creation thus began.

When countless living beings poured into the new worlds, the once-noisy Primordial Wilderness suddenly fell quiet.

Only those with shallow cultivation remained in their homeland, multiplying and living on.

Time flew by, and a hundred years passed in the blink of an eye.

During this period, three thousand middle worlds, one hundred thousand minor worlds, and one million micro worlds were born in succession.

Across the Primordial Land, vegetation flourished, and life thrived.

Those beings unable to open heaven lived and worked in peace during these tranquil years.

The scars left behind by the great Witch-Demon war were slowly being healed by time.

As creation continued, the spiritual energy between heaven and earth grew increasingly abundant.

New generations continued to emerge, and the ancient Primordial Wilderness was being reborn!

Within Longevity Hall, Lu Changqing reclined against a cloud couch.

Several fairy maidens stood at his sides, offering divine nectar and spiritual fruits.

Looking at the long line outside the hall receiving merit, the Immortal Venerable smiled.

"Wonderful. In only a hundred years, several hundred billion merits have been distributed."

"It's much faster than handing out magical treasures."

The guards before the hall secretly clicked their tongues upon hearing this.

They had long heard that this master was generous, but someone who could distribute a hundred billion merits in a century and remain so composed was truly unheard of.

Outside the hall, people were packed together, and the line wound like a long serpent.

King Father of the East, Kunpeng, and Ran Deng were so busy that they could barely keep up.

"Ah, the master's merit truly seems inexhaustible." King Father of the East wiped away his sweat and sighed.

Ran Deng smiled bitterly. "This merit is like clods of dirt on the ground now. There's as much as anyone could want."

Kunpeng urged, "Enough idle chatter! Can't you see the line has already reached the Southern Heavenly Gate?"

For a hundred years, the three had distributed merit day and night without rest.

Now, merely seeing merit made them want to vomit. They had long since gone numb.

Just as they continued their work—

"One hundred thousand merits! I can finally break through to the Quasi-Saint realm!"

The Arid Rhinoceros Clan Leader clutched his merit and howled at the sky.

This old demon, who had been stuck at the peak of the Grand Unity Golden Immortal realm for a million years, was now overcome with tears.

Within Wuji Heaven, the cultivators waiting to exchange merit watched the Arid Rhinoceros Clan Leader's ecstatic expression with envy in their eyes.

The gazes everyone cast toward Wuji Heaven grew ever more fervent.

Since the wave of world creation had begun, a thousand years had passed in the blink of an eye.

With all living beings occupied with creating worlds, the Primordial Wilderness had taken on an unprecedented air of tranquility.

There were few conflicts in the world. Even the occasional minor clash sparked by opening up worlds was nothing more than an insignificant interlude.

The Witch Clan and Demon Clan had both laid down their weapons, and the other living beings had even less desire to fight.

The joy of obtaining merit far outweighed meaningless slaughter.

Yet although the two clans had called a truce on the surface, their secret rivalry had never ceased. It had merely shifted from fighting over territory to competing over the number of worlds they created.

Whenever the Witch Clan learned that the Demon Clan had opened one more world, the Twelve Ancestral Witches would inevitably rise as one to catch up.

And once the Witch Clan took the lead, Di Jun and Tai Yi would immediately strive to catch up.

Amid this constant rivalry, the progress of world creation advanced by leaps and bounds.

Upon learning of this, Lu Changqing was deeply gratified by the two clans' actions.

He personally brought merit to the Great Thousand World where the two clans resided and announced to the living beings of the Primordial Wilderness the amount of merit earned by the Witch and Demon Clans.

This encouragement greatly stirred the living beings' enthusiasm for world creation. The pace accelerated once more, and the competition grew increasingly fierce.