Lin Changqing looked up at the sky, his entire body already radiating endless golden light.
Countless bolts of lightning rained down. With a thunderous crash, they seemed poised to engulf and tear apart even the sacred grounds of a Saint!
But just as the lightning was about to strike Lin Changqing, golden light surged from his body into the heavens, and countless golden lotuses bloomed out of thin air.
Rivers of light descended from the Nine Heavens, while petals drifted everywhere, filling the Nine Heavens.
"This is... the Merit Golden Body!!"
Somewhere on Kunlun Mountain, a voice rang out in amazement, followed immediately by a chorus of astonished cries.
"Damn it! He's merely a Mystic Immortal. What right does he have to possess such a divine treasure?!"
"...With that boundless merit of his, it's only natural he could form a Merit Golden Body."
"Didn't the Heavenly Dao make a mistake when it bestowed those billions upon billions of merit? Otherwise, why would there be a Lightning Tribulation like this..."
Amid the cries of astonishment, curses could also be heard.
Yet countless people still hoped that the Merit Golden Body would fail to withstand the lightning filling the sky.
At that moment, however, Tongtian slowly withdrew his hand.
He hadn't expected Changqing's merit to forge a Merit Golden Body.
Protected by this golden body, Changqing would be unharmed even beneath the Purple Firmament Divine Lightning.
The Heavenly Dao's Lightning Tribulation existed to destroy those who threatened the Primordial World.
Merit, on the other hand, was bestowed by the Heavenly Dao upon those it deemed to have rendered immeasurable service to the stability of the Primordial World.
With a hundred billion merit, Lin Changqing had received the Heavenly Dao's highest recognition.
Even a calamity of the Measureless Tribulation would struggle to destroy him, let alone the Purple Firmament Divine Lightning.
Lin Changqing stood with his hands behind his back, the corners of his mouth lifting as he watched the boundless lightning in the sky.
The lightning was now less than half an inch from him, almost right above his head!
Tens of thousands of bolts converged in one place. Their vast, overwhelming might would have left even a Grand Unity Golden Immortal pale-faced, with his very soul shaken from his body!
But Lin Changqing stood firm, even smiling faintly.
Behind him, a fully golden figure, its Merit-forged body almost solid, slowly stood in midair.
This was the Merit Golden Body!
Before the Merit Golden Body, the Heavenly Dao's Lightning Tribulation no longer dared descend, as if it wouldn't dare cross the line.
In fact, the lightning was slowly dissipating.
Within moments, the dark clouds overhead faded like smoke and vanished without a trace.
And Lin Changqing, on Kunlun Mountain, was completely unharmed!
"Ha ha ha ha! Excellent, my good disciple!"
"Changqing is the eldest disciple of the Interception Sect! He joined a million years ago and is revered by all three sects as their Senior Disciple Brother!"
"Changqing! Come here and let your master have a look. I can hardly hide my envy of that Merit Golden Body!"
In the distance, Tongtian burst into laughter and beckoned Lin Changqing over.
Tongtian's feelings were plain to see; he even looked a little excited.
This was his eldest disciple, the Senior Disciple Brother of the Interception Sect!
Hmph! Whatever the Sect of Elucidation might say, this Merit Golden Body said it all!
The Merit Golden Body did more than just grant immunity to tribulations. It could even fend off enemies, blocking an attack that would otherwise be fatal.
In the Primordial World, it was an invincible get-out-of-death-free card!
Of course, Tongtian's claim that he was terribly envious was an exaggeration.
The Merit Golden Body was indeed powerful and rare, but it could only block one otherwise fatal attack.
Saints embodied the Great Dao and entrusted themselves to the Heavenly Dao. As long as the Heavenly Dao endured, so would the Saints!
That was true immortality.
Still, the Merit Golden Body could be called the greatest life-saving method beneath sainthood.
It was simply far too expensive to create. Not everyone could possess merit as vast as Lin Changqing's.
"This disciple pays his respects to Master!"
Lin Changqing saw Tongtian too. From afar, he bowed with cupped hands, his expression solemn.
But he didn't go over to Tongtian.
"Master, I am the Senior Disciple Brother of the Interception Sect, and the Senior Disciple Brother of all three sects!"
"We are all of the Mystic Gate, and we have countless disciples, both good and bad. Some disciples show no respect for the Mystic Gate or their elders. Their behavior is truly detestable."
"I humbly ask permission to mete out a small punishment in my capacity as Senior Disciple Brother of the three sects!"
Lin Changqing spoke with unwavering resolve.
He had joined the sect a million years ago, while the three sects had been established a hundred thousand years ago.
Time and again, his cultivation had brought shame upon his sect and made his master a target of contempt and disrespect.
Lin Changqing had long been seething inside.
Before, he'd been too weak to let that anger out. He couldn't afford to.
Now he had the strength to win back some face for his sect. He would let that anger out without holding anything back!
Lin Changqing turned toward the place where the Sect of Elucidation and the Interception Sect met.
Several disciples from each sect were locked in a fierce fight.
These were the very Sect of Elucidation disciples who had insulted Lin Changqing earlier, even calling him a useless nobody.
The Interception Sect disciples, unable to stand the sight of them, had angrily attacked.
All these disciples seemed to be at the peak of the Mystic Immortal realm. Everyone had been focused on Lin Changqing until now; only at this moment did they turn their attention here.
"Damn it! You dare insult our Senior Disciple Brother and our Interception Sect!"
"I'll tear those mouths right off your faces!"
The Interception Sect disciples shouted. Their spirit treasures blazed with light as they transformed into streaks of light and charged forward.
"Hmph! He was a useless nobody before he came out of seclusion. What difference does it make now? He's still just a Mystic Immortal!"
"A mere mortal ant will always be a mere mortal ant. All that boundless merit might as well have gone to feed a dog!"
Under the furious scolding of the Interception Sect disciples, the Sect of Elucidation disciples not only refused to apologize but doubled down on their insults.
"You're asking for death!!"
Most Interception Sect disciples valued loyalty and brotherhood. How could they tolerate outsiders insulting their Senior Disciple Brother?
They immediately charged forward again, unleashing one dazzling burst of divine light after another.
Lin Changqing watched the scene.
As his gaze shifted, countless eyes on Kunlun Mountain turned toward the fight.
Let's see how this so-called Senior Disciple Brother of the three sects would handle it.
The Interception Sect disciples looked at Lin Changqing anxiously.
The Sect of Elucidation disciples, especially the Twelve Golden Immortals, looked at him with contempt.
A mere peak Mystic Immortal, making such bold claims!
There were plenty of peak Mystic Immortals fighting here. Let's see how he would put an end to it!
Hopefully, he wouldn't get beaten up in the chaos!
Ha ha ha!
Among the Twelve Golden Immortals, Cihang Daoren sneered. He had given those disciples their instructions long ago.
If anyone in the Sect of Elucidation hated Lin Changqing most, it was undoubtedly the Twelve Golden Immortals.
A mere mortal Mystic Immortal ant, and he was supposed to call him Senior Disciple Brother?
Hmph! Today, he'd show Lin Changqing who the Senior Disciple Brother really was!
Tongtian narrowed his eyes as he watched Lin Changqing, then burst out laughing.
"Ha ha ha! Changqing, do as you see fit."
As he spoke, Tongtian glanced toward the Sect of Elucidation's Immortal Palace.
His eldest disciple must have known what he was doing.
He hoped his second senior brother wouldn't take it too hard.
"Yes!"
With Tongtian's permission, Lin Changqing turned and flew toward the fight.
The Sect of Elucidation immortals fighting in the distance exchanged glances, their mouths curling into cold smiles.
"You don't know what's good for you!"
"A mortal Mystic Immortal—just wait until I become a Golden Immortal. Let's see if you're still so arrogant then!"
"Today, we'll teach him a lesson. We'll all attack together when the time comes!"
The Sect of Elucidation immortals transmitted their voices to one another.
The Interception Sect immortals had already gathered by then, watching the fight and looking especially worried as they watched their Senior Disciple Brother.
Senior Disciple Brother, you're being too reckless!
Lin Changqing had already reached the place where the two sects were fighting.
His aura slowly began to emanate from his body.
Though his cultivation was still at the Mystic Immortal level, his presence was already utterly different from before.
The Sect of Elucidation immortals exchanged glances, frowning.
Something was wrong!
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