The Heavenly Dao Oath

East King Duke said this in his dojo in the Purple Mansion Prefecture to the cultivators who came to pledge their allegiance.

"Your words are most wise, Great Master. We are willing to follow you to Wuji Peak."

The cultivators who came to pledge their allegiance due to East King Duke's title as the Head of Male Immortals all expressed their willingness to follow him.

East King Duke's ambition had always been to unify the Primordial World.

The cultivators who followed him were mostly rogue cultivators.

If East King Duke could unify the Primordial World, it would naturally be greatly beneficial to them.

Hearing the response from the cultivators under him, East King Duke wore a smile of victory on his face.

He then led everyone through space and time, heading straight for Wuji Peak.

At this moment, countless beings on the Primordial World's land fell into a frenzy upon hearing Kunpeng's announcement.

Unlike the great powers of the Primordial World, they did not care about any schemes or traps.

After all, they had little wealth, and the great powers usually wouldn't bother with them.

For a time, hundreds of millions of beings in the Primordial World surged towards Wuji Heaven like a tide.

However, their cultivation was still shallow, and it would take them considerable time to traverse the vast Primordial World.

Meanwhile, Wuji Heaven was bustling with activity.

Although there were countless beings in the Primordial World, most were very far from Lu Changsheng.

But there were also many beings nearby who brought all their belongings and lined up in Wuji Heaven to exchange them for Merit.

It was just that the heavenly materials, earthly treasures, magic treasures, and spiritual roots brought by these beings were of average quality.

After exchanging tens of thousands of treasures, Lu Changsheng did not spend much Merit.

He couldn't help but whisper in disdain:

"What a bunch of paupers! After exchanging so many things, they've only used up ten million Merit!"

Kunpeng, who was by his side, wiping away tears as he helped Lu Changsheng refine magic treasures with Merit, felt extremely depressed.

The Great Master was too inconsiderate of us poor cultivators.

To spend ten million Merit so casually, how good would it be if it were all mine!

It was one thing to exchange for magic treasures, but he even accepted those broken spiritual roots. It's like he has too much Merit and nowhere to spend it!

Although Kunpeng craved this Merit immensely, he could only sigh silently.

However, as long as Lu Changsheng hadn't spoken, Kunpeng wouldn't dare to use any of that Merit.

After all, he had sworn a Heavenly Dao Oath. Even if he misused a tiny bit, he would be annihilated by the Heavenly Dao.

This made Kunpeng even more tormented—it was like letting a beggar who had starved for three days and three nights enter a grand banquet of a full Manchu Han Imperial Feast, only to be allowed to serve as a waiter without touching a single dish.

Just as Kunpeng was resentfully refining Merit treasures, a gentle voice sounded leisurely:

"Fellow Daoist Changsheng, Houtu, the Ancestor Witch of the Witch Clan, has come to visit."

Upon hearing Houtu's telepathic message, Lu Changsheng's displeasure vanished instantly, and a look of joy appeared on his face:

"Finally, a big shot has arrived!"

He immediately replied telepathically: "Fellow Daoist Houtu, please come in!"

With Lu Changsheng's permission, Houtu entered Wuji Heaven with Xing Tian.

Since it was someone else's dojo, they naturally couldn't fly around casually, showing respect.

"Fellow Daoist Changsheng, I trust you are well."

Houtu walked to the outside of Changsheng Palace and greeted him with a smile.

Xing Tian, standing beside her, stared intently at the Demon Master Kunpeng, his guard up—he still harbored doubts about Lu Changsheng and felt that the matter of exchanging Merit for magic treasures and spiritual roots was strange.

Lu Changsheng did not mind Xing Tian's vigilance. He merely nodded slightly and got straight to the point:

"May I ask how many treasures Fellow Daoist Houtu has brought this time and intends to exchange for Merit?"

These words made Xing Tian even more wary, as he worried that Lu Changsheng's intention was to forcibly seize treasures.

However, Houtu harbored no suspicion—after all, this person in front of her had casually gifted her a hundred thousand Merit and even guided her in the cultivation method for her Primordial Spirit. How could he possibly intend to deceive her?

She immediately took out her magic treasures and spiritual roots and said frankly: "Fellow Daoist Changsheng, please don't mind. I rushed here and didn't prepare much. I only brought these magic treasures, spiritual roots, and heavenly materials and earthly treasures."

Lu Changsheng had already received many ordinary items in the past few days, so he carefully examined the treasures presented by Houtu.

Soon, his eyes lit up:

"Top-grade Innate Spiritual Treasure?"

As expected of the Witch Clan's Ancestor Witch, even though she didn't bring much, she presented a "Primordial Violet Gold Hairpin" right away.

It was a spiritual item born from Innate, showing her great wealth.

Houtu explained with a slight smile: "This item can break formations, penetrate armor, and directly strike the opponent's Primordial Spirit origin."

During the era when the Witch and Demon clans coexisted in the Primordial World, they were the two most powerful races in the world, each possessing numerous magic treasures and spiritual items.

However, the Witch Clan was born without a Primordial Spirit, making it impossible for them to activate the power of Magic Treasures. Most of these precious items could only serve as decorations.

After listening to Houtu's explanation, Lu Changsheng happily put away the Magic Treasure.

The remaining Innate Spiritual Treasures, spirit fruits, and heavenly materials and earthly treasures of lesser quality were handed over to Kunpeng for sorting and inventory.

"Great Master, including that top-grade Innate Spiritual Treasure, the total can be exchanged for twelve million Merit."

Kunpeng reported with great reluctance after calculating.

To give away all these millions of Merit made him unable to calm down.

Lu Changsheng's expression showed satisfaction upon hearing this.

Although ten million Merit wasn't a massive amount, it was far more than what those with empty pockets could afford.

If more powerful beings came to exchange, wouldn't accumulating billions or trillions of Merit be just around the corner?

With this thought, he happily took out twelve million Merit's auspicious golden cloud and handed it to Houtu: "This is the Merit required for the exchange."

Houtu accepted the Golden Cloud of Merit, her eyes shining with joy: "Thank you, Fellow Daoist Changsheng."

This twelve million Merit was enough to make her Primordial Spirit even stronger. The most urgent matter was to inform her elder brothers of this and invite them to exchange Merit together, so they could condense their complete Primordial Spirits as soon as possible.

Xing Tian, who had been maintaining his guard, was stunned in place as he witnessed the Golden Cloud of Merit in Houtu's hand.

This person was actually willing to exchange Merit for Magic Treasures and spirit roots! What an opportunity in this world!

After standing dumbfounded for a while, Xing Tian suddenly snapped back to reality. He changed his previous wary stance and hurriedly took out all the Magic Treasures, spirit roots, heavenly materials, and earthly treasures he had collected, showing a brilliant smile: "Fellow Daoist Changsheng, I also wish to exchange for Merit!"

Kunpeng watched Xing Tian's figure drift away as if in a dream, filled with envy: "I should have saved more treasures earlier."

Then, thinking that he could earn fifty million Merit by serving the Great Master for tens of thousands more years, he cheered up again.

With another strand of Primordial Violet Qi, it wouldn't be difficult to become a Saint on the spot.

At this thought, Kunpeng's face immediately broke into a fawning smile.

He quickly approached Lu Changsheng, who was infusing Merit into a Magic Treasure, and bowed:

"Great Master, is there anything you need my help with?"

Lu Changsheng casually tossed the spiritual treasure filled with Merit behind him. The item landed lightly into a pile of halos—the entire pile of Magic Treasures were Acquired Spiritual Treasures filled with Merit.

Although most were not of high grade, such a sight made Kunpeng's heart burn.

Heaven knew how much he, a poor cultivator, longed to possess a few of the "broken items" in the Great Master's eyes.

After counting the newly refined Merit Treasures, Lu Changsheng glanced at the Merit value in the System, which had barely moved, and muttered with a frown:

"It only cost this little Merit?"

Hearing this mumble, Kunpeng was so envious he almost drooled.

It truly lived up to the saying: "Ten thousand years of hard cultivation is not as good as destiny's favor."

What others regarded as worthless trash was a treasure he couldn't obtain.

"The Great Master is truly favored by destiny!"

Since Houtu left, the powerful beings visiting had gradually become fewer, mostly ordinary cultivators from the Primordial World.

Until one day, a minor conflict erupted between the Witch and Demon clans.

Houtu actually used a Magic Treasure to heavily injure a great saint of the Demon Clan.

This incident instantly shook the Primordial World—the Witch Clan was naturally born without a Primordial Spirit, and even with thousands of Magic Treasures, they couldn't activate them.

Houtu's move meant she had broken through the shackles of her bloodline and condensed a Primordial Spirit!

As the news of Houtu condensing her Primordial Spirit spread everywhere, the news of her transformation due to Lu Changsheng's ten million Merit also spread like wildfire.

In an instant, the powerful beings of the Primordial World who had been observing began to act.

Ordinary cultivators even traveled day and night, breaking through space from all corners of the Primordial World, just to arrive at Wuji Heaven as soon as possible to exchange for Merit.

At the same time, Daoist Burning Lamp, an ancient Quasi-Saint who was a peer of the Six Sages, also heard about Houtu obtaining her Primordial Spirit.

Initially, he was skeptical about Lu Changsheng's claim of exchanging Merit. After hearing that Houtu had broken through her bloodline limitations, he was already seven-tenths convinced.

Furthermore, Saint Primordial had once helped Lu Changsheng create a Great Thousand World.

Upon his return, he immediately went into seclusion, leaving the Heavenly Origin Sect under Daoist Burning Lamp's management.

Daoist Burning Lamp couldn't help but guess that Primordial Heavenly Lord might have also received great Merit from Lu Changsheng.

For various reasons, this made Daoist Burning Lamp develop a strong interest in Lu Changsheng.

"Could this truly be a great opportunity?"

Thinking of this, Daoist Burning Lamp became even more restless.

"It seems I really should go and investigate!"

Daoist Burning Lamp then hastily instructed the Twelve Golden Immortals before leaving Kunlun Mountain and heading towards Wuji Heaven.

And as he traveled through space and time, he happened to encounter East King Duke, who was leading many guests from Purple Mansion Prefecture towards Wuji Peak.

As fellow travelers in the mortal world and ancient great powers, Daoist Burning Lamp naturally recognized East King Duke, known as the Head of Male Immortals.

However, most cultivators in the Primordial World didn't truly take East King Duke's title of "Head of Male Immortals" seriously.

"Ah—isn't this Fellow Daoist East King Duke?"

Despite not caring for the title, he habitually greeted him upon meeting.

"So it's Fellow Daoist Burning Lamp. I thought you'd be cultivating in Kunlun. Where are you headed?"

East King Duke replied with a smile upon hearing the voice.

Burning Lamp's reputation among his peers wasn't the best; his willingness to abandon face for opportunities was almost comparable to the Two Sages of the West.

It wasn't surprising he would join the Western Sect after the Investiture of the Gods.

Hearing East King Duke's question, Burning Lamp didn't answer directly. Instead, he curiously inquired about East King Duke's destination.

He probed:

"Just wandering around.

But I wonder what your thoughts are on the recent commotion in the Primordial World?"

Upon hearing this probing question, East King Duke guessed that Burning Lamp was likely heading to Wuji Heaven.

Given his shameless pursuit of opportunities, upon hearing that treasures could be exchanged for Merit, he would definitely try.

However, East King Duke still cared about his reputation.

If the treasure exchange succeeded, it would naturally be a great opportunity; if it failed, he would likely become a laughingstock of the Primordial World.

Moreover, in battles between cultivators of the same level in the Primordial World, those with more spiritual treasures often had the advantage.

Therefore, even if he were going to exchange for spiritual treasures, he would never admit it publicly.

With this thought, East King Duke unhesitatingly spoke:

"Hmph, such a joke, of course, cannot be taken seriously.

It's probably just a trick by Fellow Daoist Changsheng and the Witch Clan!

Are you really believing such nonsense, Fellow Daoist?"

Hearing East King Duke's decisive response, Burning Lamp, no matter how thick-skinned, felt embarrassed to reveal the truth.

Furthermore, fewer people participating in the Merit exchange meant fewer competitors.

It was best if East King Duke didn't go.

With this in mind, Burning Lamp immediately nodded in agreement:

"Fellow Daoist East King Duke is right!

Who in their right mind would believe such nonsense?

It's simply wishful thinking!"

Seeing Burning Lamp's swift agreement, East King Duke couldn't help but suspect he had guessed wrong.

He didn't show any change on his face, merely smiling and probing:

"Yes, who would believe such things!

By the way, where are you planning to go next, Fellow Daoist?"

Burning Lamp looked into the vast void and chuckled, "I plan to visit Buzhou Mountain. Where are you headed, Fellow Daoist East King Duke?"

East King Duke also looked into the void and replied, "We are preparing to head to the Demon Race Heavenly Court.

It seems we're not going the same way."

Upon hearing this, Burning Lamp understood and nodded: