Merit Descends from the Heavens

Su Miao's plan was proceeding in full swing on Mount Fangzhang.

After the initial excitement faded,

she faced a vast field of "test subjects" with wildly varying growth, crooked and misshapen forms, and some that were even half-dead.

She could not help but feel discouraged.

Many grafted branches had not survived at all, withering and blackening;

the randomly crossbred flowers bore no fruit whatsoever, or else produced fruit that was small and bitter;

the melon and fruit injected with strange juices had simply rotted in the ground, giving off a peculiar stench.

"Ugh... innovation is so hard."

She squatted before a drooping test specimen whose fate, dead or alive, was unclear. Poking at the ground with a little twig, her tiny face was full of defeat.

"Am I really only suited to growing ordinary flowers and grass?"

Just as she began doubting her "research" abilities, her gaze casually swept across a corner of the Experimental Field.

Several unremarkable spirit plants grew there.

One was Cleansing Jade Grass she had collected earlier. Its entire body was pale Golden, its leaf edges lined with tiny serrations, and it faintly emitted a weak purifying aura;

the other was the most common plant on the island: Iron Wire Fern Root, incredibly resilient and spreading everywhere like weeds.

At the time, she had merely thought the color of the Cleansing Jade Grass was rather special, while there was so much Iron Wire Fern Root that she had nowhere to use it.

So, on a whim, she drilled a small hole into the thick rhizome of an Iron Wire Fern Root and carefully tucked in a Sprout of Cleansing Jade Grass, without holding much hope.

Later, busy tinkering with other, more "cool" combinations,

she had practically forgotten about the two plants, only watering them out of routine.

Yet now, the combination had not only failed to wither—it had actually grown exceptionally... lively?

The Iron Wire Fern Root's originally dull gray, tough rhizome

seemed to have become somewhat glossy, taking on a jade-like grayish-white texture.

As for the grafted Cleansing Jade Grass Sprout, not only had it completely taken root,

its color had become a lush, dripping green, as though it had been carved from the finest jade.

Its leaves had unfurled, and its faint purifying aura seemed to have strengthened slightly, making anyone who approached feel their mind grow calm.

"This actually survived? And it looks pretty good too!"

Su Miao's dejection was instantly replaced by curiosity.

She scampered over, stuck out her little bottom, and carefully examined this unexpected "successful creation."

She reached out with her chubby little hand and lightly touched the jade-like leaves.

The instant her Fingertips made contact, a piece of information naturally surfaced from her Sea of Consciousness.

It was the Prehistoric World's recognition and naming of a newly born spirit plant, as well as the manifestation of her talent.

[Dust Purification Fern]: Formed by using Iron Wire Fern Root as a base and grafting a Cleansing Jade Grass Sprout onto it.

It possesses the strengths of both. Its vitality is tenacious, and its roots can penetrate deep into Spiritual Soil, faintly drawing in and purifying residual foul powers such as Calamity Fiend and Malevolent Qi within the land. It returns Spiritual Qi and clears the Earth Veins.

Its leaves are like emerald jade. Looking upon it can calm the mind and soothe the spirit.

"Dust Purification Fern?"

Su Miao blinked her large eyes as she processed the information.

"It can purify the land? That sounds... really amazing?"

Though she did not quite understand what "Calamity Fiend Malevolent Qi" specifically was, she understood the word "purify."

Her true body was made for doing exactly that!

And "pretty" and "calms the mind"—those two advantages suited her perfectly!

"Wow! I succeeded! I grew a pretty little grass that can purify the land!"

Her face immediately blossomed into a smile. All traces of frustration vanished as she happily spun around the Dust Purification Fern in circles, immensely pleased with herself.

"I knew I could do it!"

The more she looked at the Dust Purification Fern, the more she liked it. She felt it was simply the prettiest little one in the entire Experimental Field!

Its lush green color glittered in the sunlight, looking far more pleasing than all those crooked, misshapen things beside it!

Just as she stuck out her little bottom and happily admired her masterpiece, considering whether to graft a few more,

—high above in the Nine Heavens, the Primordial Heavenly Dao turned its gaze upon her once more.

This time, that vast will no longer carried helplessness or speechlessness, but a distinct trace of surprise.

[It actually... succeeded?]

And it was not some nonsensical creation, either.

Though this newly born Dust Purification Fern was low-grade and possessed only weak Purification Power,

to the vast Prehistoric World, it was no more than a drop in the ocean.

Yet its very birth had indeed provided heaven and earth with a new, beneficial possibility, however small.

Though the Dragon-Han Primordial Tribulation had ended long ago,

much of the Calamity Fiend aura left behind by the great war, along with the resentment and Malevolent Qi of the fallen All Spirits,

still lay deposited deep within the Spiritual Veins of the Prehistoric World, slowly corroding them as a hidden source of instability.

Though Great Experts had sorted through the Earth Veins, there were always minute places beyond their attention.

The appearance of this [Dust Purification Fern]

was like a "cleaner" specifically meant for these tiny hidden dangers. Though its power was slight, its significance was extraordinary.

Its birth conformed to the workings of the Heavenly Dao and benefited the purification of heaven and earth.

Since it conformed to the Heavenly Dao, it naturally deserved a reward.

Without the slightest hesitation, a Golden point of light, incomparably pure and containing heaven and earth's recognition along with the mysteries of creation,

pierced through the void, ignored Mount Fangzhang's innate Formation,

and silently descended from the sky. It precisely landed atop Su Miao's head as she stood there foolishly grinning with her bottom stuck out, instantly sinking into her body!

"Mm!"

Su Miao froze abruptly.

An indescribable warmth and comfort, a sense of security like returning to a mother's womb, instantly flowed through every limb and bone in her body!

The faint pain deep within her soul seemed to be gently soothed a little. Her spirit instantly became full and vigorous,

and even the bottleneck of her early Mystic Immortal cultivation seemed to loosen slightly!

At the same time, Inherited Memories concerning "Merit" automatically surfaced, allowing her to instantly understand the origin of that Golden light.

"Golden Light of Merit?"

She widened her eyes in surprise and instinctively looked up at the sky, but all she saw were blue skies and white clouds. There was nothing at all.

"Because I grew this grass?"

She scratched her head, her little face full of confusion.

In her simple understanding, should Merit not only be gained by doing something very, very great,

such as Mending the Heavens, creating humanity, enlightening All Spirits, and the like?

She had only grown a somewhat prettier little grass.

That earned Merit too?

"Even though I don't understand why..."

Feeling the warm comfort in her body and her more abundant spiritual strength, she happily narrowed her eyes.

"It feels so nice!"

It felt like receiving an unexpected bonus and praise after working hard.

Though she did not know the criteria for the award, the benefits in her hands were undeniably real!

The Heavenly Dao Will silently observed her reaction.

Seeing that this little one was surprised but not overjoyed,

and instead focused more on her own feelings, an exceedingly faint emotion called "satisfaction" seemed to flash through that vast will.

[Mm. Though ignorant, she knows to keep her feet on the ground. Her temperament is acceptable.]

More importantly, from this unexpected event,

the Heavenly Dao seemed to have found a new idea for raising—or rather, guiding—this Variable.

She now carried the Pure World White Lotus Origin and was innately close to the paths of purification and Vitality.

Rather than letting her recklessly tinker with those flavor innovations that had little lethality but immense insult,

it would be better to guide her toward directions that could better utilize the advantages of her Origin and benefit heaven and earth.

For example, purification.

Though the [Dust Purification Fern] she had produced so far was weak in effect, it was a beginning.

If she could cultivate more and stronger purifying spirit plants,

perhaps even ones capable of purifying deeper and greater impurities of heaven and earth...

would that not be a great good for the Prehistoric World?

As for Merit...

it was merely a small "encouragement" and "reward" for her beneficial actions.

Give and take according to need; the Heavenly Dao was utterly impartial.

With that thought, the strand of the Heavenly Dao's will watching this place slowly withdrew.

At this moment, Su Miao was immersed in the joy of receiving a reward and the novelty of discovering that farming could earn extra benefits.

She looked at the lush green Dust Purification Fern, then at the other half-dead test specimens. A blazing fire ignited once more in her big eyes!

"So growing useful new grass can earn Merit! It feels warm and so nice!"

She clenched her little fists, and her motivation instantly soared!

"Then if I grow more and even better New Varieties, will I get more Golden light?"

Though her original intentions were still "fun" and "pretty,"

the unexpected bonus of "earning Merit" undoubtedly gave her a powerful boost!

She felt her way of thinking might not have been wrong—her previous direction had merely been somewhat off!

It was not enough to pursue tastiness and beauty alone. It had to be useful too!

And what counted as useful?

Hmm... purifying the land seemed very useful?

Then what about purifying the air?

Purifying water?

Or perhaps... growing grass that could make someone run faster after eating it?

Fruit that could make someone jump higher?

Her thoughts scattered once more,

but this time, they seemed to be unconsciously leaning toward "functionality."

"Continue experimenting!"

She jumped up, full of vigor.

Her bright gaze swept across the surviving plants in the Experimental Field,

as well as other spirit plants on the island that appeared to possess "special functions."