Chapter 48

People truly were worlds apart!

"Heh heh, definitely next time."

"Definitely next time!"

The Six Sages gave perfunctory replies before hurriedly leaving.

They really could not take it anymore.

How many times had they been urged already? Even an ox plowing the fields needed to rest!

Did Saints not need to cultivate?

They had only enjoyed a few years of leisure, and they were unwilling to become busy again so soon.

Lu Changsheng watched the Six Sages enter the spatial passageway. He paid them no mind, simply walking into the passage with his hands behind his back.

He returned to Wuji Heaven with the Phoenix Clan.

His vast divine sense spread outward as he gazed at the flourishing scene of world creation outside.

The smile on his face deepened.

Wonderful!

The entire Primordial World was helping him consume his merit. At this rate, it should not take long to exhaust it all, right?

A thousand years passed as swiftly as a white colt flashing past a crack.

Kong Xuan remained stationed in Wuji Heaven, managing the Phoenix Clan and the many affairs of Wuji Heaven.

From time to time, he also had to go out and create new realms, accumulating merit to advance his cultivation.

These years of cultivation made him feel more carefree than ever before.

For the first time, he realized that cultivation could actually be so easy and pleasant.

On this day, a mighty aura suddenly erupted from a mountain peak in Wuji Heaven, and the pressure of a Quasi-Saint shot straight into the ninth heaven.

Countless patterns of the Dao swirled around like fireflies. Golden lotuses of law bloomed one after another, stretching for tens of thousands of miles without end.

Brilliant golden radiance illuminated the myriad heavens and worlds. The phantom of the River of Time appeared and vanished upon the surface, while countless profound Dao rhythms drifted amid the shimmering waves.

Kong Xuan abruptly opened his eyes. Divine light flashed within them, and the Dao rhythm around his body surged turbulently.

Unable to conceal his delight, he calculated with his fingers. From the time he had entered Wuji Heaven until now, he had reached the mid-stage Quasi-Saint realm after only three thousand years.

At this rate of progress, he was probably about to catch up with the Great Master, right?

With this thought, he instantly arrived at the palace of Wuji Heaven.

The moment he stepped through the palace gates, he excitedly reported, "Great Master! This disciple broke through after only three thousand years—"

His voice abruptly stopped.

Lu Changsheng was leisurely savoring a spirit fruit. Even half of the bitten Primordial Spirit Fruit still shone with precious light.

Three thousand laws naturally interwove around him. The grand Dao's music stirred the renewal of all things, while magnificent clouds of radiance drifted with its melody.

Kong Xuan stood there in a daze.

As a Saint, how could the Great Master's cultivation progress be even faster than a Quasi-Saint's?

"Hm? You broke through to the first heaven of Saint Realm in just over a thousand years?"

Lu Changsheng casually wiped the fruit juice from the corner of his lips. "I haven't even cultivated seriously yet."

Kong Xuan lowered his head and fell silent.

After three thousand years of bitter cultivation, he had only reached the mid-stage Quasi-Saint realm. At this moment, he actually felt ripples stirring in his thousand-year-old Dao heart.

Just as the Great Master took one step into the second heaven of Primordial Grand Unity Golden Immortal—

Lu Changsheng raised his head and looked at Kong Xuan. "What were you about to say?"

Kong Xuan waved his hands repeatedly. "N-no, nothing. I didn't say anything!"

"Congratulations on breaking through, Great Master! Your divine abilities are unparalleled, and your majesty is peerless!"

Lu Changsheng pondered briefly and did not pursue the matter. He merely said, "Call Ancestor Shenmu. It's time to go out."

"A thousand years have passed. It's time to distribute the rewards."

Kong Xuan acknowledged him and left, immediately notifying Ancestor Shenmu, who would be traveling with them.

When Ancestor Shenmu heard that rewards were being distributed, he hurried over excitedly.

The two of them then respectfully followed behind Lu Changsheng.

Within the Primordial World, Lu Changsheng took one step forward, and a spatial passageway suddenly appeared between heaven and earth.

Vast and wondrous power spread across the nine heavens.

When he appeared, the Three Thousand Laws interwove and revolved around him. The sound of the grand Dao rang out without end, and everyone who heard it saw myriad phenomena arise in the void, while billions of colorful clouds descended from the horizon.

Most eye-catching of all was the nine-hundred-and-ninety-nine-layer Golden Wheel of Merit behind him, along with boundless golden merit light illuminating the myriad heavens and worlds!

Nine Golden Dragons of Merit coiled and leaped beneath him as mounts. Layer upon layer of golden wheels bloomed behind him, and a golden sea of clouds spread for billions of miles.

The entire Primordial World was filled with wondrous phenomena, and heaven and earth shone with splendor.

All living beings were drawn to the golden radiance filling the sky, each one staring in stunned disbelief.

He was actually using Golden Dragons of Merit as his carriage, while golden clouds nearly covered the Primordial World's sky. Such a grand display could only belong to Immortal Venerable Changsheng!

Golden light filled Lu Changsheng's eyes. Majestic and imposing, his voice spread throughout the universe:

"The thousand-year period has arrived. The rankings will now be announced—"

"First place in the creation of Great Thousand Worlds: Sect Master Tongtian!"

His voice shook the Primordial World and echoed without end.

In Biyou Palace, Sect Master Tongtian revealed a smile.

Just as expected, first place was his in the end.

For this first place, he had led all the disciples of the Interception Sect and even employed the Myriad Immortals Formation. No one knew how much effort he had put in.

The moment of harvest had finally arrived!

Ten million merit!

The reward for first place was actually ten million merit!

Primordial and Laozi, along with the other Saints, shook their heads one after another.

There was absolutely no hope left!

It really was impossible!

Tongtian was being far too excessive. Was he not merely relying on having more disciples under his command?

He had even brought out the Myriad Immortals Formation. For the sake of ten million merit, he had actually gone this far.

He had completely disregarded the dignity of a Saint.

Yet, for some reason, watching this scene made them feel a little envious.

That was ten million merit!

It was enough to advance their cultivation another step.

"It's a pity we failed to take first place."

Jieyin and Zhunti were practically about to cry out loud.

They had also mobilized the entire Western Region to create worlds, but they lacked a massive formation like the Myriad Immortals Formation.

They could not gather the strength of so many people.

They simply could not compete with the Interception Sect!

Lu Changsheng continued, "The Saints who did not obtain first place need not be too upset. I have also prepared consolation prizes."

Hearing that there were consolation prizes, the Saints felt slightly better.

But this consolation prize probably only went to the top three, right?

At that thought, Laozi's face immediately turned livid.

Nuwa's expression also became rather unpleasant.

Good heavens!

Among the Saints, the two of them had the fewest disciples under their command.

Compared like this, they were at a tremendous disadvantage!

"Second place, Taiqing Laozi: eight million merit!"

"Third place, Primordial Heavenly Lord: seven million merit!"

"Fourth through ninth place: five million merit each!"

With a sweep of his hand, Lu Changsheng distributed another ten million-plus merit directly.

All the Saints were stunned by such lavish generosity.

What?!

There were only nine Saints in heaven and earth!

Now every Saint had received a merit reward. What meaning did the rankings even have?

Was he not simply giving them merit for free?!

The Saints could not understand this operation at all.

Kong Xuan and the other two, however, wore expressions of unsurprising certainty.

They had known long ago that the Great Master would certainly not let them work for nothing.

See? Had the merit not arrived right at their doorstep?

The Great Master truly treated them too well!

Waaah! They were so moved!

Lu Changsheng had no intention of explaining. He continued distributing merit.

"First place in the creation of Middle Thousand Worlds: Eastern Emperor Taiyi!"

Thirty-three Heavens.

Heavenly Court.

Eastern Emperor Taiyi burst into laughter.

"Hahahaha!"

"After working so hard for so many years, first place is finally mine!"

His heart was filled with incomparable joy. Over the years, he had hardly ever stopped.

He had worked diligently in the Middle Thousand Worlds the entire time.

The moment of harvest had finally arrived!

This glory belonged to their demon race.

Those reckless fools of the Witch Clan could never compete.

Hmph, a bunch of good-for-nothings!

"Eastern Emperor Taiyi: five million merit!"

"Houtu ranks second: three million merit!"

"Ancestor Minghe ranks third: two million merit!"

"Fourth through three-thousandth place: one million merit each!"

"Three-thousand-and-first through fifth-thousandth place: five hundred thousand merit each!"

Boom!

The entire world seemed to ignite.

Everyone wore expressions of utter astonishment.

Immortal Venerable Changsheng's arrangements were simply shocking!

There were no more than five thousand Quasi-Saints in the Primordial World, and many of them had only advanced after the changes in heaven and earth.

Yet every single one was receiving a merit reward?

Was this meant to motivate everyone?

He was practically giving merit away by changing the method of delivery!

The Saints were also somewhat dazed. So it was not only they who received such treatment.

Was he planning to scatter merit across every living being in the Primordial World?

Could there still be more to come?

Lu Changsheng continued announcing the rewards for the Minor World.

As with the Great Thousand Worlds and Middle Thousand Worlds, the one hundred thousand Grand Unity Golden Immortals would each receive five hundred thousand merit.

Below the Grand Unity Golden Immortal realm, more than ten million cultivators would each receive one hundred thousand merit!

When Lu Changsheng finished speaking, the entire Primordial World fell into dead silence.

There was only one thought in the minds of all living beings: their mental states had completely collapsed!

Was this really a competition?

Stop pretending!

They had seen through it. Immortal Venerable Changsheng clearly just wanted to give away merit!

How much merit would this consume?!

The Six Sages were left reeling in the wind. After making a brief calculation, their bodies swayed even more violently.

Above the nine heavens of the Primordial World—

Seeing Lu Changsheng give away such an enormous amount of merit with a wave of his hand, the Six Sages felt their hearts ache so badly that they could hardly breathe.

If this was meant as encouragement, encouraging people up to the Quasi-Saint level should have been enough.

Why did even Grand Unity Golden Immortals each have to be given five hundred thousand?

This was far too extravagant!

They had never seen anyone squander wealth like this.

Not to mention those cultivators below the Grand Unity Golden Immortal realm. Although each of them received little merit, their numbers were simply enormous!

"With that one wave of his hand, he spent one trillion and one hundred billion merit!"

Laozi muttered under his breath.

Tongtian looked dazed. "With that much merit, it should be enough for me to break through to the Primordial Limitless Grand Unity Golden Immortal realm, right?"

The other Saints had heard every word loud and clear. Their expressions shifted one after another, and their faces twitched.

That was right!

That much merit!

A full 1.01 trillion!

With such an enormous amount of merit, if it were given to them, the Saints, they might even be able to attempt breaking through to a higher realm!

Yet Lu Changsheng had simply waved his hand and given it all away!

What was even harder to accept was that after giving away so much merit, he still looked completely calm and unruffled.

How much merit did you actually have?!

What a wastrel!

The greatest wastrel in the Primordial World!

When it came to squandering things, no one could beat you, Lu Changsheng!

This was simply madness—utterly deranged!

After Lu Changsheng finished making his announcement, he asked with a smile, "Everyone, wasn't I generous?"

"Although many people didn't make the top ranks, at least everyone received a prize. Consider it a consolation prize!"

Upon hearing this, all living beings under Heaven and Earth were filled with admiration, and they gave him a thumbs-up one after another.

They had seen people who could squander wealth, but someone who squandered it to this extent was truly the first since the creation of Heaven and Earth!

If Lu Changsheng dared call himself the second-greatest wastrel in the Primordial World, no one would dare claim to be the first!

Lu Changsheng calculated inwardly, almost unable to stop himself from laughing aloud.

After giving away so much merit in one go, he had taken another huge step toward his ultimate goal!

"Ding!"

"Protest! Protest! Host, you're being far too crafty! How can you do this?!"

The system voiced its displeasure.

Lu Changsheng explained with an innocent look,

"This doesn't violate the rules. I asked you about it beforehand.

Besides, I said I would award prizes according to the rankings, but I never specified how far down the rankings the prizes would go."