The Great Desolation World

Lu Changsheng snapped back to reality from his conversation with the System. Hearing Houtu's self-introduction, a flicker of surprise flashed in his eyes.

He hadn't expected that a casual stroll would lead him to meet Houtu, the Ancestor Witch who would later embody reincarnation.

He sized her up slightly and replied with a smile, "I am Lu Changsheng, a cultivator from Wuji Peak."

Then he continued, "To thank Fellow Daoist Houtu for your assistance just now, I wish to offer a small gift to express my gratitude."

With that, Lu Changsheng casually conjured a Golden Cloud of Merit containing one hundred thousand Merit.

The moment the Golden Cloud of Merit appeared, Houtu froze on the spot.

Xing Tian was also dumbfounded, wondering if this cultivator had lost his mind.

In the Great Desolation World, Merit was extremely precious.

Among the current Saints, only Nuwa had received a large gift from the Heavenly Dao due to the Merit gained from creating humans.

The Three Pure Ones, as the orthodox successors of Pangu, inherited some of the Merit from the creation of the world.

As for the Two Sages of the West, their Merit was insufficient when they established their teachings, forcing them to make forty-eight grand vows to borrow from the Heavenly Dao, and they remain constrained by it to this day.

Merit was this precious even to Saints, let alone to all beings in the Great Desolation.

As the saying goes, Magic Treasures are easy to obtain, but Merit is hard to seek.

Lu Changsheng's act of gifting one hundred thousand Merit upon their first meeting was as unbelievable as a dream.

Even the Ancestor Witch Houtu found it hard to believe. After standing stunned for a moment, she hastily refused, "Fellow Daoist Changsheng, absolutely not! This gift of thanks is too valuable; Houtu is unworthy to accept it!"

Seeing Houtu's refusal, Lu Changsheng immediately handed the Golden Cloud of Merit back to her and said, "Fellow Daoist Houtu, there's no need to be so polite. This Merit is rightfully yours for your assistance, so please accept it. Moreover, with it, perhaps it can help you condense your Primordial Spirit."

Lu Changsheng knew well that Witch Clan beings were born without a Primordial Spirit. However, in later legends, Houtu embodied reincarnation and established the Underworld, receiving immeasurable Merit from the Heavenly Dao, which allowed her to develop a Primordial Spirit and ultimately attain Sainthood. Merit in the Great Desolation was truly a universal panacea—it could enhance cultivation, strengthen Magic Treasures, or bolster fortune; it was beneficial in all aspects.

Houtu still wanted to decline, but upon hearing Lu Changsheng's words, her heart trembled. She asked in surprise, "Fellow Daoist, are you speaking the truth?"

Lu Changsheng wasn't entirely certain himself, but seeing Houtu finally hesitate and accept the Golden Cloud of Merit, he replied with a smile, "Whether it's true or not, you'll know if you try."

Only then did Houtu cease her insistence and accept the Golden Cloud of Merit. However, thinking that she had received such a generous gift for no reason, she still felt uneasy. Thus, she proactively invited him, "Fellow Daoist Changsheng is so generous; Houtu has no way to repay you. Why don't you come back to the Witch Clan with me as a guest? Our clan will surely welcome you with the grandest hospitality."

Lu Changsheng, however, flatly waved his hand and refused, "There's no need for a visit. I have important matters to attend to." Although he had a good impression of Houtu, it was not a time for leisurely visits. He still had over ninety-nine trillion Merit that he urgently needed to "spend."

Seeing Lu Changsheng's firm stance, Houtu did not insist further. After thanking him repeatedly, she watched him depart in his Divine Boat before turning back towards the Witch Clan.

Lu Changsheng, embarking on his journey once more, gazed at the massive Merit value in the System—over ninety-nine trillion, with so many decimal places he couldn't be bothered to count them—and felt a headache coming on. He shook his head helplessly and sighed, "Spending only one hundred thousand at a time like this, when will I ever finish? Alas, the path of a spendthrift is long; Comrade Little Lu still needs to work hard!"

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At this moment, Houtu, who was returning to the Witch Clan with Xing Tian, still had a look of daze on her face.

"Xing Tian, was everything that just happened really not a dream?"

She asked somewhat blankly.

That was a hundred thousand Merit.

She had merely done what was expected of the Witch Clan—repelling a Demon Clan at the peak of Grand Unity Golden Immortal.

Could such a trivial matter actually earn Merit that all cultivators in the Great Desolation World dreamed of?

No one would believe it if she said it.

She wouldn't even dare to dream of such a thing.

Upon hearing Houtu's words, Xing Tian raised his hand and slapped himself.

"Pa—"

It hurt, it was real.

He spoke in disbelief, "It's not a dream, it's real!"

Just as Houtu and Xing Tian were dazedly returning to the Witch Clan's tribe, Che Qi, whose physical body had been destroyed by Xing Tian earlier, leaving only his Primordial Spirit to escape, had not gone far.

He had been secretly observing them from a distance.

Seeing how generous Lu Changsheng was, he also harbored wicked thoughts.

However, he only had his Primordial Spirit now, without a physical body, He couldn't deal with Lu Changsheng for the time being.

"It seems I need to return to the Demon Clan first."

Che Qi muttered, then swiftly flew back to the Demon Clan, Planning to invite a powerful expert from the Demon Clan for assistance.

And while Che Qi was returning to the Demon Clan, Houtu had already returned to the Witch Clan's territory.

Because Lu Changsheng had mentioned that refining Merit might offer a chance to form a Primordial Spirit, Houtu didn't go to her elder brother first. Instead, she returned directly to her palace, preparing to give it a try.

As the Merit was gradually refined, Houtu soon sensed an anomaly within her body.

A cool and comfortable sensation flowed throughout her entire body, Following that, wisps of Great Dao textures slowly appeared around her.

After completely refining the Merit, the Great Dao textures gradually merged into Houtu's body.

At the same time, a faint and incomplete Primordial Spirit began to slowly condense and take shape.

Although the Primordial Spirit was tiny, almost imperceptible without careful investigation, and its impact on her current strength was negligible, Houtu was still overjoyed when she noticed this change.

This proved that the path of Merit was indeed feasible.

"It's real, Fellow Daoist Changsheng's words are not false!

I must quickly deliver this news to my elder brothers."

She murmured to herself, then set off for the Pangu Temple.

That was the sacred land of the Witch Clan, the birthplace of the Ancestor Witches, and the most important place for the Witch Clan.

And as Houtu headed towards the Pangu Temple, Lu Changsheng, who was traveling in the Great Desolation World, once again encountered a gust of demonic wind blocking his path.

This time, the demonic wind was even more violent than before.

"Here again? Did I stumble into the Demon Clan's nest?"

Lu Changsheng couldn't help but show a helpless expression upon seeing this.

Just as he was sighing inwardly, Within the surging demonic wind, a Kunpeng that blotted out the sky slowly took shape.

With a gentle flap of its giant wings, the demonic wind instantly dispersed.

Then, the enormous Kunpeng transformed into human form, He turned his head and asked Che Qi beside him:

"Is it this person?"

"That's right, Ancestor. It's him. He carries many Merit Supreme Treasures."

Che Qi grinned sinisterly as he looked at Lu Changsheng and replied.

Upon hearing this, Kunpeng's face showed a sinister smile.

His gaze was like a knife as he scrutinized Lu Changsheng, as if looking at fish on a cutting board.

As a late-stage Quasi-Saint expert, Kunpeng did not take Lu Changsheng, who only had late-stage Grand Unity Golden Immortal cultivation, seriously.

Even if the opponent possessed Merit Supreme Treasures that could enhance some of his strength, the gap in major realms could never be bridged by magic treasures.

The reason Kunpeng personally came here, was precisely because he was almost penniless among Quasi-Saints, not even possessing a single decent magic treasure.

Upon hearing that a cultivator possessed multiple Merit Supreme Treasures, he came personally, disregarding his status.

A satisfied smile appeared on Kunpeng's face.

Lu Changsheng not only possessed the Merit Supreme Treasure, the Wuji Divine Boat, but even the Daoist Robe he wore was also a Merit Supreme Treasure.

After appraising him for a moment, Kunpeng smiled and spoke:

"You are merely a Grand Unity realm cultivator, how can you deserve so many Postnatal Merit Supreme Treasures? Why don't you let this venerable one keep them for you!"

Lu Changsheng listened to his shameless words and coldly retorted:

"Are all you Demon Clan members this shameless?"

Kunpeng did not care about his sarcasm and said with a sinister smile:

"It's not easy to cultivate to Grand Unity Golden Immortal. Why would you lose your cultivation for a few magic treasures?"

Although Kunpeng was confident he could easily defeat Lu Changsheng, since the latter possessed Merit Supreme Treasures, he might also possess Merit.

If he were to rashly kill him, he feared it would bring about karma.

Therefore, Kunpeng did not attack immediately.

Lu Changsheng, however, was not afraid of this threat at all.

Although Kunpeng was a late-stage Quasi-Saint, Lu Changsheng bore hundreds of trillions of Merit.

With such Merit protecting him, even a Saint would not dare to easily lay a hand on him.

He said contemptuously:

"No. If you have the ability, then make a move!"

Lu Changsheng's arrogant attitude stunned both Che Qi and Kunpeng.

After a moment of stunned silence, Kunpeng laughed in anger:

"Hahaha—In all my years, I have never met anyone as arrogant as you! Die!"

With a furious roar, Kunpeng raised his hand, intending to use his divine abilities to suppress and kill Lu Changsheng.

Lu Changsheng, however, showed no fear.

His divine sense moved slightly.

Instantly, nine thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine Golden Wheels of Merit appeared behind him.

Brilliant golden light erupted like the scorching sun, illuminating the nine heavens and ten earths.

In that instant, Kunpeng felt as if countless suns were shining before his eyes.

The intense light instantly blinded Kunpeng and Che Qi, making them unable to open their eyes.

The two exclaimed in shock:

"What is that? It's so dazzling!"

Kunpeng and Che Qi stared at the nine thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine Golden Wheels of Merit behind Lu Changsheng, their light shining throughout the nine heavens. They were so stunned they could hardly believe their eyes.

Kunpeng was shocked. He had never seen so many Golden Wheels of Merit in his life!

This was too exaggerated, wasn't it?

"These... are these all Golden Wheels of Merit?"

Kunpeng, dazed by the dazzling golden light of merit, spoke in disbelief.

One should know that Golden Wheels of Merit are all refined from pure Merit. They can neither aid in battle nor increase cultivation.

Its greatest use is to condense a golden wheel behind oneself, drawing upon Merit to empower the body, increasing fortune and destiny.

In comparison, using Merit to improve cultivation or refine Magic Treasures is clearly more practical.

What's most incomprehensible is—that someone would squander it like this, condensing ninety-nine thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine Golden Wheels of Merit with a massive amount of Merit?

How incredibly wasteful!

Kunpeng's heart trembled, filled with bewilderment.

If it were him, he would refine all this Merit into Magic Treasures or convert it into his own cultivation.

"Demon Master... are we seeing this correctly? Behind that person, there are truly ninety-nine thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine Golden Wheels of Merit!"

Che Qi swallowed with difficulty, his tone filled with disbelief.