The sky over the eight states of the Wild Domain was suddenly covered by boundless golden light!
The golden light was not harshly dazzling. Instead, it was as gentle as jade, pouring down from the heavens, piercing through the clouds and bathing the mountains, rivers, towns, and villages!
Wherever the golden light touched, withered spirit herbs regained their vitality, sick mortals recovered instantly, and even the demonic beasts in the mountains grew docile, no longer roaring and fighting.
In all eight directions of heaven and earth, auspicious signs appeared one after another!
In the eastern sky, seven-colored auspicious clouds gathered into the shape of a luan bird. As it spread its wings, it scattered radiant light across the heavens!
In the western mountains, countless golden lotuses burst from the ground. Their petals unfurled, releasing a clear, refreshing fragrance!
In the southern seas, the waves grew calm. Countless spirit fish leaped from the water, spitting out crystalline spirit pearls!
In the northern ice fields, the ice and snow melted, revealing fertile earth as tender green sprouts broke through the soil!
At the same time.
Nine resounding bell chimes, like the tolling of great bronze bells, came from the depths of the void and echoed throughout heaven and earth!
The bells were sonorous and distant, carrying the majesty and blessing of the Heavenly Path. Every chime left the cultivators' souls feeling clear and refreshed, while the Spiritual Energy within their bodies circulated ever more smoothly!
"Is this... the Heavenly Path manifesting?"
Within Azure State, a reclusive Tribulation Transcendence Cultivator flew out of his Cave Mansion. Gazing at the boundless golden light and auspicious signs, his eyes were filled with shock. "How long has it been since the Wild Domain witnessed a sight like this?!"
The mortals fell to their knees, kowtowing reverently toward the sky and muttering prayers beneath their breath!
Though they did not understand the path of cultivation, they could feel the holiness of this power and knew that blessings had descended from heaven.
Just then, a Golden Scroll that blotted out the sky slowly emerged from within the golden light.
The Golden Scroll was not tangible. It was a concrete manifestation of the rules of the Heavenly Path.
No matter where they were in the Wild Domain, whether they were profound cultivators or illiterate mortals, everyone could clearly see its existence!
The Golden Scroll was golden from top to bottom, its edges carved with intricate cloud patterns. In its center, a blurry figure gradually appeared!
It was the outline of a young man dressed in blue-gray robes, faint spiritual light swirling around him. Though his features could not be seen clearly, he exuded the steady bearing of one who looked down upon all living beings!
In an instant, an ethereal voice rang out in the minds of every cultivator in the Wild Domain. It seemed to be the guidance of the Heavenly Path, allowing them to understand at once: the owner of this figure was the great meritorious one who had sealed the Main Fissure of the Abyss and ended the apocalyptic crisis that had threatened the Wild Domain!
"It's him! That senior who slew the True God Demon God with a single sword!"
From the direction of Demon Extermination Holy City, a cultivator recognized the outline of the figure and shouted excitedly.
"With such heaven-shaking merit, no wonder he was able to trigger the Heavenly Path Manifestation!"
The disciples of Wasteland Heaven Divine Sect bowed respectfully toward the Golden Scroll, their faces filled with awe.
The Golden Scroll hovered high in the sky for a full quarter of an hour.
It then transformed into divine light filling the heavens, surging toward Demon Extermination Holy City like a tidal wave. In the end, it gathered around Bai Ye and completely enveloped him.
It was pure Power of Merit from the Heavenly Path, warm and vast!
It poured into Bai Ye's body through his pores, nourishing his divine body and soul!
He could clearly feel his True God Dharma Form growing increasingly solid. The circulation speed of his Divine Origin Aperture increased severalfold, and even the operation of the Chaos Sword Canon became several times clearer!
What delighted him even more was that a special power condensed on the surface of his body, forming a faint Gilded Luster!
The luster merged into his divine body and intertwined with his Innate Chaos Dao Body, radiating a sacred and imposing aura!
He had successfully condensed a Merit Golden Body!
"It's a Merit Golden Body! It really is a Merit Golden Body!"
Xuan Ji Zi and the other Supreme Elders of Wasteland Heaven Divine Sect trembled with excitement, their eyes full of disbelief. "A hundred thousand years! For a full hundred thousand years, no cultivator in our Wild Domain has been able to condense a Merit Golden Body!"
"And judging by this aura, it's at least an Earth-grade Merit Golden Body!"
Another elder spoke in a trembling voice. "According to legend, Merit Golden Bodies are divided into Human Grade, Earth Grade, Heaven Grade, and Supreme Grade. An Earth-grade Golden Body is enough to double a cultivator's foundation and can even draw down the protection of the Heavenly Path!"
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Bai Ye slowly closed his eyes, sensing the changes brought by the Merit Golden Body.
With the Merit Golden Body's enhancement, his bone structure had been tempered, and the toughness of his divine body had increased by more than double!
His fortune had grown increasingly abundant. The spiritual energy of heaven and earth around him actually surged toward him of its own accord, and even the power of heaven and earth in the air became incomparably congenial!
More importantly, he could clearly sense that he had established a special connection with the Heavenly Path.
If anyone attacked him, they would surely incur the Heavenly Path's hatred. Their cultivation would be suppressed, and the heavenly tribulation they faced when breaking through would become even more terrifying!
This was what it meant to have merit upon one's body!
He was absolutely the chosen one of heaven!
"This Earth-grade Merit Golden Body has at least doubled my foundation!"
Bai Ye opened his eyes, a hint of delight flashing through them.
He had sealed the Abyssal Fissure only because he happened to obtain the Thirty-Six Demon Sealing Formations and had done it along the way.
He had never expected to receive such an abundant blessing from the Heavenly Path. It was truly an unexpected delight.
The divine light filling the heavens gradually dispersed, and the auspicious sights between heaven and earth vanished with it.
The sky returned to its usual appearance.
But the Gilded Luster on Bai Ye's body did not fade. Instead, it became increasingly warm and lustrous.
From a distance, he looked like a supreme deity who had descended to the mortal world, faint Sacred Dao Rhythm swirling around him and making it impossible for anyone to look directly at him!
Xuan Ji Zi and the other Supreme Elders approached Bai Ye reverently and cautiously, then bowed in greeting:
"Senior, congratulations on successfully condensing the Merit Golden Body. This is truly the fortune of the Wild Domain!"
"Your junior humbly dares to ask Senior to become a Supreme Elder of our Wasteland Heaven Divine Sect and preside over the sect's affairs!"
Bai Ye shook his head lightly. "There's no need. I already have a sect."
He had long regarded Azure Cloud Sect as his roots, so he naturally would not join another faction.
Xuan Ji Zi had been prepared for this and hurriedly added, "Senior, you misunderstand! This junior wishes to ask Senior to become a Guest Supreme Elder of our sect. You need not formally join us or handle any sect affairs. You only need to lend us your name!"
Before Bai Ye could refuse, he took two treasures radiating a True God-grade aura from his Storage Ring.
One was a pitch-black shield, while the other was a pale-blue jade pendant.
Both treasures radiated dense Divine Origin Force.
"These two are True God-grade Treasures left behind by our sect's ancestor. Consider them the offering for our hiring Senior as a guest elder."
Xuan Ji Zi presented the treasures before Bai Ye with a respectful tone. "Furthermore, every year from now on, our sect will offer one hundred thousand Top-grade Spirit Stones, ten Saint-grade Top-tier Pills, and True God-grade Spirit Crystals as your annual offering!"
"Senior may cancel your guest elder status at any time. You will absolutely not be bound in any way!"
Bai Ye looked at the two treasures, a trace of surprise flashing through his eyes, then asked, "What are you seeking in return for such an investment?"
Xuan Ji Zi answered frankly, "This junior does not dare conceal the truth. First, we wish to borrow Senior's reputation to deter petty villains!"
"Second, we wish to use Senior's Merit Golden Body to suppress the sect's fortune!"
"Senior may not know this, but having someone with a Merit Golden Body preside over a sect can stabilize its fortune and allow its disciples to cultivate with twice the results for half the effort. If Senior formally joined our sect, our sect's fortune could even surge and double!"
Bai Ye pondered for a moment, then nodded.
A guest elder did not have to submit to the sect's restrictions and could still receive a generous offering. Moreover, as the number-one force in the Wild Domain, Wasteland Heaven Divine Sect might be able to provide considerable assistance in the future. This deal had no drawbacks for him.
He calmly accepted the two True God-grade Treasures and said, "Very well."
"Thank you, Senior!"
Xuan Ji Zi and the others were overjoyed. Excited smiles spread across their faces as they hurriedly bowed again.
"Senior, rest assured. Our sect will deliver your offerings on time and will never dare slight you in the slightest!"
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