Calculating the Western Two

This opportunity to debate the Dao came at just the right moment. The three of them had their Dao cultivation recognized by the Heavenly Dao, and the principles of Yin-Yang, Karma, and Light they expounded happened to align with what the Primordial Wilderness needed at this time, hence the arrival of this majestic thousand-li merit.

Such pure merit should be stored and used to burn in the comprehension of the Great Dao, benefiting the Dao Foundation and blessing the path of cultivation.

If one were impatient for quick gains and forcibly absorbed it to boost cultivation level, it might seem like a shortcut, but it would in truth be akin to severing one's own future path.

Qing Huan did not hesitate for a moment, instantly deciding on how to use it.

"Daoist Friend Qing Huan!"

Jieyin withdrew his smile, his expression solemn, and faced Qing Huan with a respectful bow.

"Although this Heavenly Dao merit descended from the heavens and was obtained by the three of us together, tracing its origin, it all began with Daoist Friend's proposal to debate the Dao.

If not for Daoist Friend, how would I and my Junior Brother have had this opportunity? In this matter, Daoist Friend planted the good cause, and my brothers and I reaped the fruit.

This time, indeed, we of the West owe Daoist Friend a great Karma!

If Daoist Friend has any need, my Senior and Junior Brothers will do our utmost to repay it."

Jieyin saw clearly that this Karma was clearly linked and had to be acknowledged by him proactively.

Though the benefits were good, bearing Karma was more fundamental for a cultivator.

Zhunti also nodded solemnly.

Three hundred li of Heavenly Dao merit was worth far more than an ordinary Innate Spiritual Treasure. This opportunity with the Great Dao, acknowledging this Karma, also meant a deeper connection with Qing Huan, whom even Dao Ancestor Hongjun held in high regard.

(Here I'm setting up merit calculation privately—I don't know how to quantify it, so I'll just use hundreds, thousands, or tens of thousands of li of merit. Becoming a sage requires a hundred million li of merit, and merit in the Primordial Wilderness is not easy to obtain. I beg the esteemed readers for understanding, thank you for your support.)

"Heh."

Qing Huan's lips curled slightly, revealing a meaningful smile as he accepted the bow without hesitation.

"Since Daoist Friend Jieyin is so clear-headed and speaks frankly, then I will not refuse."

At this moment, Qing Huan had already made up his mind. With his current Dao cultivation, there were few in the Primordial Wilderness who could truly threaten his life—only the Heavenly Dao and the Dao Ancestor Hongjun, who resided high in the Purple Firmament Palace.

The two from the West valued Karma, and though they sometimes turned a blind eye, as long as he didn't actively court death, they couldn't weasel out of this Karma. Otherwise, the Seven Symbols Treasure Umbrella in his hand would not show mercy.

"The Twelve-grade Golden Lotus of Merit!"

Qing Huan's thoughts raced, his goal crystal clear.

This treasure was a top-tier defensive treasure of the Primordial Wilderness. Standing on the lotus platform, one was Invulnerable to All Laws—absolute defense. It could also absorb and store merit, suppress a great fortune, and had endless wondrous uses.

It perfectly filled the gap of lacking a top-grade Innate Spiritual Treasure in his hands...

As for whether the two from the West were willing, that was not for them to decide.

He would simply take out a high-grade Innate Spiritual Treasure as compensation for them.

He had to settle this Karma cleanly and decisively.

For now, however, the Twelve-grade Golden Lotus of Merit and the Eight Treasures Merit Pool were still in the hands of Dao Ancestor Hongjun. They would only be bestowed upon Zhunti and Jieyin after the third lecture at the Purple Firmament Palace.

Qing Huan calculated in his heart that as soon as the third lecture ended, he would immediately demand repayment of this Karma from these two.

As for the Heavenly Dao merit?

At the dawn of the Primordial Wilderness, most of the first batch of Innate Deities born were still unclear about its true uses.

After all, the merit that the first batch of Innate Deities could obtain was limited... even the Three Pure Ones had never obtained any...

It would probably take until Nuwa created humans and became a sage, when boundless merit descended from the heavens, for the Heavenly Dao merit to be truly valued by the beings of the Primordial Wilderness.

"Daoist Friend Qing Huan."

Zhunti's voice pulled Qing Huan back from his thoughts. He looked down at the dense crowd of beings below, their eyes full of longing, and a gleam flashed in his eyes.

"The three of us have debated the Dao here, and we have also formed a bond with all living beings in this place.

Why not take this opportunity to take in a few disciples and pass down our teachings?"

Zhunti was secretly pleased. The number of Innate Lifeforms here far surpassed the barren West; they were truly fine jade and excellent timber.

At these words, the beings below erupted into clamor, then fell into instant silence, their hearts tense to the extreme.

"We beg the seniors for mercy! We are willing to serve the seniors, to attend to their every need!"

The crowd spoke in unison, their eyes blazing like fire, all focused on the three great figures on the clouds, hoping for that faint chance at immortal destiny.

Among them was the Six-Eared Macaque...

Qing Huan's gaze swept coldly over the crowd below. There were indeed many Innate Lifeforms, but he had no intention of taking on many disciples.

Even if he did take disciples, they would have to be those who could bring benefits. If not, he would rather have none.

As for playing the role of a nanny Bodhisattva, helping the weak? That was not the path of Qing Huan's Dao. Pursuing the Great Dao, how could he let these things disturb his Dao heart? Only by transcending could one become immortal and indestructible.

"No need."

Qing Huan's tone was indifferent as he directly refused.

"There is no fate between you and me."

Zhunti and Jieyin exchanged a glance, both seeing a hint of relief and joy in each other's eyes.

A compassionate smile appeared on Jieyin's face.

"Very well, since Daoist Friend Qing Huan has spoken thus, we brothers shall not stand on ceremony. There are indeed many beings here with affinity to our Western Sect."

He looked down below, satisfaction practically overflowing from his eyes.

"In that case, feel free to do as you wish, fellow Daoists. I still need to travel the Primordial Wilderness for a time, so I shall take my leave first."

Before the words had even faded, Qing Huan's figure had already transformed into a wisp of gentle breeze, silently dissolving into the mountain peak's misty clouds.

"Senior Brother! At last, our Western Sect is about to usher in an era of prosperity!"

Zhunti gazed at the Innate Lifeforms below, their extraordinary bone structures and spiritual endowments clear to see. The smile at the corners of his mouth could no longer be restrained, as if he could already envision the Western Sect's future flourishing.

Having engaged in this discourse on the Dao with Zhunti and Jieyin, Qing Huan had also reaped no small gains.

Not only had his own comprehension of the Yin-Yang Great Dao advanced further, but he had also gained new insights into the entanglement of Karma and the laws of light. Truly, the path of the Great Dao was long, and any fellow traveler could serve as a teacher.

Those two from the West did have their merits—as the saying went, one should take others' strengths to compensate for one's own weaknesses...

Qing Huan traveled southward, his heart stirred by a certain feeling. As he drifted leisurely over the clouds above the South Sea, his gaze was suddenly drawn to a massive black reef below.

Upon that reef, a colossal spiritual turtle lay prostrate!

The turtle's entire body was shrouded in dense spiritual energy, slowly and steadily inhaling and exhaling the essence of heaven and earth. Mysterious patterns swirled across its shell, as if it were silently contemplating the laws of heaven and earth.

"Hm?"

Qing Huan's heart stirred, and he instantly grew interested.

In the Primordial Wilderness, spiritual turtles were auspicious beasts born from heaven and earth, already rare to begin with. And this one before him was a genuine Innate Lifeform!

A thought flashed through his mind in an instant—using the shell and essence of this Innate Spiritual Turtle to refine an Innate Spiritual Treasure for defense or divination would surely yield formidable power!

With a flicker of his form, Qing Huan landed silently upon the reef, standing before the giant turtle.

The spiritual turtle had been immersed in contemplating heaven and earth when it suddenly felt an overwhelming pressure—vast and boundless, making even its soul tremble in terror. It shuddered violently, its massive frame quaking uncontrollably.

It was over!

Its heart turned ice-cold. After enduring countless ages to finally birth a True Spirit and Primordial Spirit, was it to perish here today, becoming mere material for some great power to refine a treasure?

"L-little... little turtle... kowtows to the senior!"

The spiritual turtle's voice carried fear and sorrow it could scarcely suppress. It lifted its head with difficulty, its eyes already moist, its four limbs pressed deeply against the cold reef, its head flat against the ground.

"I... I beg the senior to show mercy and spare little turtle's life!

In the future... in the future, little turtle will surely repay you generously—even if it means serving as the senior's mount, I will bear no complaint!"

Every word from the spiritual turtle was filled with desperate will to survive.