Sixty-Five Million Merit, If Only I Knew

Sixty-five million Merit!

I knew Fellow Daoist Changqing was generous, but I never expected him to go this far?!

After ten thousand years of arduous cultivation, when have I ever accumulated such a massive amount of Merit?

No wonder the Six Saints were rushing to exchange for spiritual treasures and create heaven and earth.

This ** is truly irresistible!

As the merit golden clouds filling the sky were all gathered into his sleeve, Hongjun, the Dao Ancestor, felt a myriad of emotions.

In the end... I still couldn't guard my Dao heart.

But who can he blame? If anyone is to blame, it's that Merit is simply too tempting.

Facing such vast Merit, it's hard for anyone to remain calm.

With this help, breaking through the shackles will be just around the corner.

You two have done well."

This one million Merit shall serve as your cultivation resources."

Upon suddenly obtaining such a colossal amount of Merit, Hongjun even felt a sense of **.

With a slight wave of his sleeve, he bestowed one million Merit each upon Hao Tian and Yao Chi.

His brows were filled with a relaxed smile.

A master this generous is probably impossible to find a second one in the Primordial World.

Hao Tian and Yao Chi were both surprised and delighted. They were merely sent to deliver a message, yet they received such a generous reward.

They quickly bowed and saluted: "Thank you, Master, for your grace!"

** We will definitely cultivate diligently and live up to Master's high expectations!

Hongjun nodded slightly, signaling for them to withdraw.

He felt incredibly refreshed.

So, being generously bestowing is this joyful. Only now did he finally understand Lu Changqing's pleasure.

If that fellow were here, he would probably laugh at me for being stingy: Why not reward each of them with ten million Merit?

Inside Wuji Heaven.

Lu Changqing was playing with the Sword of Destruction in his hand, feeling that the color of the sword body was not to his satisfaction.

The color is a bit off, it needs to be refined again."

He muttered to himself.

Kong Xuan, who was standing by, secretly clicked his tongue.

Master, this item is already a Chaos Spiritual Treasure. Why bother with its appearance?

Isn't its unparalleled might enough?

He then watched with wide eyes as Lu Changqing took out a vast amount of Merit—the scale was practically boundless.

Buzz!

Golden Light of Merit surged towards the Sword of Destruction like a tide, beginning to reshape the sword body.

As Lu Changqing refined it, he said leisurely: "I have always favored treasures of slaughter... they must also be pleasing to the eye when hung up."

Kong Xuan was completely speechless.

Master, re-refining a spiritual treasure with Merit... is it perhaps too extravagant?

You could slowly nurture it with magic power, so why must you squander Merit?

This is practically casting a Chaos Spiritual Treasure from head to toe with Merit.

This isn't artifact refining, it's clearly a terrible waste of resources!

It made his heart tremble.

Lu Changqing, however, said calmly: "Your experience is still shallow, you wouldn't understand."

If something can be solved with Merit, why do it yourself?

Kong Xuan was rendered speechless.

Master's words... leave one with no room for rebuttal!

Magnificent, truly exceedingly magnificent!

Oh well, it's your Merit, do as you please.

After being tempered by Merit, streaks of dark golden patterns appeared on the Sword of Destruction, all manifestations of Merit.

Judging by its appearance alone, one could tell it contained immeasurable power of Merit.

Lu Changqing then took out the Innate Spiritual Root, the Five-Needle Pine, and examined it carefully.

Refining spiritual roots into magic treasures involves many considerations.

The choice of materials and the inscription of restrictions all relate to the artifact's power after its completion.

"My Lord wants to refine a magic treasure?"

Kong Xuan asked curiously.

He didn't know Lu Changqing's skill in artifact refining, but he himself was completely ignorant in this field.

He might be able to attempt refining a Postnatal Spiritual Treasure, but this was a top-grade Innate Spiritual Root—he couldn't even imagine it.

Lu Changqing, however, said, "I know a little, but why should I do it myself?"

With that, he directly transmitted his voice:

"Fellow Daoist Yuanshi, the situation is urgent, come to Wuji Heaven quickly!"

In the Primordial World, Yuanshi is renowned as the foremost in artifact refining.

For such an important matter, he was naturally the most suitable person.

Yuanshi was in the process of creating heaven and earth when he heard of the urgent summons and immediately set aside his current affairs.

BOOM!

A void passage suddenly appeared, and in the blink of an eye, he arrived at Wuji Heaven.

"Fellow Daoist Changqing, what has happened?"

Yuanshi asked hurriedly.

If Lu Changqing called it an urgent matter, it must be no small thing!

Lu Changqing tossed the Five-Needle Pine to Yuanshi, "I trouble Fellow Daoist to refine this into a magic treasure."

"What?!"

Yuanshi was stunned for a moment, then his anger surged.

"Absurd!

This is what you call urgent?

Are you deliberately toying with me?"

"Fellow Daoist Changqing! Why is such a trivial matter so urgent? Are you making fun of this humble Daoist?"

Yuanshi was enraged, his Saintly Might spreading out.

Seeing this, Lu Changqing slowly extended five fingers.

"Five million Merit as compensation."

BOOM--

Yuanshi's full rage instantly subsided.

He silently took the Five-Needle Pine and said solemnly, "Since Fellow Daoist has entrusted me, I will naturally do my best."

"Fellow Daoist has a discerning eye.

In the path of artifact refining in the Primordial World, if I claim second, no one would dare claim first!

Tell me, what form do you wish to refine it into, and I shall comply!"

Yuanshi said with absolute certainty.

Kong Xuan, who was watching, was completely stunned by this sudden change of demeanor.

Truly worthy of being a Saint!

This speed of emotional transition is truly unparalleled.

If I were to judge, I would give Yuanshi full marks—his acting is natural, his emotions are precisely controlled, and his micro-expressions are handled with utmost skill.

Impressive!

Truly worthy of being a Saint!

Lu Changqing pondered for a moment, unable to think of what to refine it into. He simply waved his large sleeve, and instantly a thousand rare treasures appeared in the void.

Chaos Immortal Gold, Hunyuan Spirit Jade, Tiangang Divine Thunder Stone...

All were top-tier refining materials rarely seen in the Primordial World.

Yuanshi was mesmerized.

Even he, a Saint known for artifact refining, had never seen so many peerless precious materials at once.

It would be rare for an ordinary Saint to gather even ten percent of these, yet Lu Changqing produced them with such ease.

Just how rich is this guy?

Damn nouveau riche! Humph!

As Yuanshi was inwardly complaining, he saw Lu Changqing wave his sleeve again, and tens of millions of Merit Golden Clouds shone upon the world, so brilliant it was difficult to look directly at them.

"The materials and the Merit are all here, Fellow Daoist, please use them as you see fit."

"Don't hold back."

Lu Changqing said it with a light and breezy tone.

Mere artifacts were but a drop in the bucket to him.

Yuanshi sighed inwardly, My apologies, my perspective was too narrow.

He meticulously selected rare materials and began forging the magic treasure.

Using the power of a Hunyuan Saint, he melted down all things, perfectly integrating countless Dao rhymes into the artifact.

The entire process was extremely detailed.

Kong Xuan watched, mesmerized—the Saint's control over the Great Dao was so exquisite!

It seemed only by achieving Hunyuan could one truly comprehend the profound mysteries of the Heavenly Dao.

He himself must also cultivate diligently, striving to become the fifth Saint of Wuji Heaven.

With the blessing of Dao rhymes, Yuanshi refined the Five-Needle Pine into an artifact in just a hundred years.

Lu Changqing took the magic treasure and casually waved it—

The laws of the void shattered in response, the might astonishing.

"Very good!"

"The power is extraordinary."

Lu Changqing nodded in approval.

Because the power of Merit had been integrated, the magic treasure already possessed forty-eight layers of restrictions, just one step away from being a Primordial Supreme Treasure.

Yuanshi's artifact refining skills were truly at the peak of perfection.

"Fellow Daoist, you truly are the foremost artifact refining Grandmaster in the Primordial World."

"The power of this treasure deeply pleases me."

Yuanshi couldn't hide his pride.

Does this even need saying? If he ranks second, who dares claim first?

This is a true connoisseur.

Saint-level professional standard!

Hmph!

Look at him get smug!

After composing himself, Yuanshi said seriously, "Fellow Daoist Changqing, I have one more matter to inquire about!"

Lu Changqing said calmly, "Please, speak freely."

Yuanshi smiled broadly, "Fellow Daoist, do you have any other spiritual roots that need refining?"

"It's purely out of enthusiastic assistance!"

"If you need anything, just ask!"

Kong Xuan was dumbfounded beside him.

That wasn't what he said earlier!

This change of face...

Truly a Saint, acting without a single flaw!

Impressive!

I still have so much to learn!

Within Wuji Heaven.

Kong Xuan sighed inwardly.

Lu Changqing couldn't help but praise him.

"Truly a Saint!"

"So warm-hearted!"

To refuse again would be to waste this kindness.

He then said, "Little Kong, go fetch the spiritual roots."

Kong Xuan took the order and hurried out.

He returned moments later, his storage space opening to reveal two thousand spiritual roots!

Among them were one hundred Innate Spiritual Roots and three Top-grade Innate Spiritual Roots.

The various spiritual roots had different effects, some aiding enlightenment, some increasing cultivation, and some strengthening the physique.

Moreover, Lu Changqing's spiritual garden contained countless spiritual roots suitable for artifact refining.

These before him could all be refined into magic treasures!

Yuanshi was stunned on the spot upon seeing so many artifact refining materials.

What a guy!

There are so many spiritual roots!

And they're all top-grade! If you count the ones that can't be refined, aren't there even more?

Now that's true opulence!

Compared to this, he was practically a beggar seeing **.

No comparison!

There's really no comparison!

Among the Saints, he, Yuanshi, was already considered well-off.

After all, he achieved enlightenment through artifacts, so he naturally had many magic treasures.

Sigh, let's not even talk about it.

Who told him he didn't have enough Merit!

But to be able to produce so many spiritual roots, just how many treasures has Lu Changqing collected?

Fellow Daoist's wealth is truly admirable!

Yuanshi sighed with genuine emotion.

Then he started to worry again.

Two thousand spiritual roots. It's fine if they're post-celestial spiritual roots.

But compared to the time it would take, he cared more about the reward.

Everyone knows Lu Changqing is generous with his rewards!

The reward for two thousand spiritual roots must be astonishing!

Lu Changqing was also considering it, and he said, "Refine them all into magic treasures, and the reward will be fifty million Merit."

Before Yuanshi could react, he waved his hand and produced another item—

It was actually a treasure mountain piled high with heavenly materials and earthly treasures!

Yuanshi stared at the treasure mountain, completely dumbfounded.

Heavens!

Just how many rare and precious treasures are there?!

He had never seen treasures piled up into a mountain before!

How much do you have in your collection, enough to build a mountain!

Even the distribution of treasures on the Treasure Distribution Rock back then didn't have this kind of spectacle!

Compared to this, that fifty million Merit.

It actually seemed rather ordinary.

After all, he had witnessed Lu Changqing's usual dealings of hundreds of millions.

But this treasure mountain truly struck a chord with him.

Kong Xuan stood by quietly observing. Seeing the Saint so flustered.

He felt a secret sense of pride.

Look!

This is my master's foundation!

Even a Saint is stunned, right!

He loved seeing Saints act like this the most!

He remembered when he first saw the treasure mountain, he was a hundred times more shocked than Yuanshi.

But this was merely a drop in the ocean of his master's wealth.

There were probably several more similar treasure mountains!

Lu Changqing estimated that the resources in this mountain should be sufficient.

After all, he only needed to support two thousand spiritual roots.

Next was the distribution of Merit.

With so many magic treasures, how much Merit should be invested?

After a brief thought, he directly took out fifty million Merit.

Buzz—

Golden light shone brilliantly, illuminating the hall.

Yuanshi narrowed his eyes, inwardly shocked: What a grand gesture!

Fifty million Merit right off the bat?!

"Fifty million Merit will serve as the cost for artifact refining."

Lu Changqing said sincerely, "Although I can only use about one hundred and eighty million Merit, it's barely enough."

"Fellow Daoist Yuanshi, I'll be counting on you for this matter."

His words were earnest and his feelings genuine.

Upon hearing this, Yuanshi's palm trembled slightly—

Not from emotion, but from anger.

What kind of talk is that?!

It's outrageously arrogant!

Yuanshi gritted his teeth, "Fellow Daoist!

Has no one ever told you that your words are too ostentatious?!"

Lu Changqing sighed helplessly, "Alas, the troubles of having too much Merit are hard for ordinary people to understand."

"I am merely speaking the truth."

Speaking the truth?

Precisely because it's the truth, it's even more infuriating!

Comparing oneself to others can be infuriating!

No, the more I think about it, the more indignant I become...

I am a Hunyuan Saint, how can I lose my composure? I absolutely cannot let this brat get away with it.

Otherwise, I fear I might be angered to death.

Suppressing his rage, Yuanshi said no more, Focusing and activating the artifact refining incantation.

With Golden Light of Merit in his left hand and Innate Spiritual Roots in his right, After the melting was complete, he began forging the magic treasures.

Two thousand spiritual roots piled up like a mountain, the task as vast as the ocean.

It took Yuanshi a full two hundred years of toil to barely complete half of it.

Lu Changqing watched with his hands behind his back, when a sudden inspiration struck him:

If spiritual roots can be used for artifact refining, why not for alchemy?

Moreover, Wuji Heaven still lacks a proper grand formation for protection,

I always feel it's not secure enough.

He sighed faintly, "I still have quite a few spiritual roots for alchemy in my inventory."