Issuing the Myriad Worlds Pursuit Order was essential. Fang Yang couldn't let anyone think the Interception Sect was exploiting the myriad races to earn merit while using that merit to wash away the Karmic Debt incurred by harming them.
The Interception Sect under Daoist Duobao's control was exactly like that. His methods were much the same as when he had been Buddha Tathagata.
Fang Yang, however, wouldn't allow it. The Interception Sect could either become a Demonic Sect, evil in the open, or a righteous sect that truly intercepted a glimmer of life.
Fang Yang naturally chose to intercept a glimmer of life for all living beings. Old Ancestor Hongjun's Purple Cloud Divine Thunder was everywhere; following the Devil Dao meant certain death.
Issuing a Myriad Worlds Pursuit Order would immediately make the Interception Sect's position clear: the sect would never shelter Demonic Evils.
"Fellow Daoist, your willingness to punish your sect's disciples is a great merit to our Human Clan. If there's anything you need this emperor's help with, just ask."
"This matter won't be difficult for Your Majesty. I'm planning to refine a treasure, much like the Monster Summoning Banner, that can seize immortals' True Spirits. I'll call it the Human Emperor Banner. I hope Your Majesty can grant me a strand of Human Emperor merit to use as a material for refining it."
Merit and fortune both belonged to the category of Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures. These two, however, were rather special and required extremely profound Daoist arts to refine.
Fang Yang didn't know such arts, nor did he have the cultivation to learn them.
But simply infusing a treasure with a strand of Merit Qi wasn't particularly profound.
"The Human Emperor Banner?"
Emperor Shennong wore a strange expression. It was clearly a treasure for enslaving immortals, yet it had been given such a grand and righteous-sounding name.
Even more outrageous, Fang Yang wanted to borrow a strand of Human Emperor merit from him to legitimize the treasure.
A treasure containing Human Emperor merit could certainly be called the Human Emperor Banner.
Still, it wasn't anything he couldn't accept.
It was only a strand of Merit Qi. As long as it could resolve the Interception Sect's troubles, he'd gladly give a thousand strands, even ten thousand.
"Very well. I can give you the Human Emperor merit right now."
As a Saint's personal disciple, Fang Yang wouldn't go back on his word. Saints never spoke in jest, and neither did their personal disciples.
With that, Emperor Shennong raised his hand and sent out a ray of pure Golden Light of Merit. It flew to Fang Yang.
Fang Yang put away the Golden Light of Merit and bowed in thanks to Emperor Shennong.
"Junior brothers and sisters, don't worry. Your senior brother will help you turn back to the right path. Once the Human Emperor Banner is refined, you'll have a perfect chance to return to the Righteous Path!"
As he bowed, Fang Yang said to his junior brothers and sisters in his heart.
Knowing that the Interception Sect disciples' problem could be resolved, the huge weight in Emperor Shennong's heart finally lifted.
He was at ease!
Next, Fang Yang spoke with Emperor Shennong about promoting Divine Grain.
That was the main reason Fang Yang had come to pay him a visit.
For himself, he wanted to earn merit, increase his possibilities, multiply his Other Selves, and find the path to Great Luo perfection.
For the public good, he wanted to restore the Interception Sect's reputation and create an opportunity for the myriad races.
Emperor Shennong was no ordinary expert in plants and herbs. The moment he saw the Divine Grain Fang Yang brought out, he noticed many of its secrets.
After Fang Yang explained how he'd entered East Pole Heaven and worked with its many immortals to cultivate an Immortal Seed suitable for widespread planting, Emperor Shennong was overjoyed.
Food was the foundation of life, and for the Human Clan in the Primordial Wilderness, cultivation resources were the foundation of life.
A treasure like Divine Grain, which could grow using only sunlight and soil and produce grains rich in spiritual energy and vital essence, was something every race could only hope for.
"On my teacher's orders, I spent a thousand years cultivating this. I hope Your Majesty will spread it throughout the Human Clan, so that immortals and mortals alike can enjoy its benefits."
Fang Yang bundled up the cultivated seeds with the planting methods compiled by the Azure Dragon Clan and sent them to Emperor Shennong.
With Emperor Shennong's abilities, even a single seed would be enough for him to spread Divine Grain throughout the Human Clan.
Emperor Shennong received the seeds as if they were priceless treasures.
"Your deed brings blessings to the present and benefits for generations to come!"
Emperor Shennong spoke with heartfelt gratitude. "Since the Human Clan first came into being, we've endured Ferocious Beasts, natural disasters, and human calamities. Our ancestors exhausted themselves trying to survive. With this Divine Grain, you've laid the strongest possible foundation for countless millions of our people. Your merit is worthy of the people's reverence!"
Fang Yang smiled faintly. "I cultivated this to earn merit. I'm not as compassionate and noble as Your Majesty says."
Fang Yang didn't want the reverence of all living beings. He wasn't pursuing the Power of Faith.
Besides, when people worshipped a certain being, what they ultimately wanted was to beg that being for benefits.
If their chosen object of worship couldn't bring them those benefits, they'd blame that being for every misfortune and disaster.
During the Witch-Demon Tribulation, a tiny number of humans had cursed Primordial Heavenly Venerate and Sect Master Tongtian, accusing the two Saints of standing by while they died.
The Sect of Enlightenment and the Interception Sect owed the Human Clan nothing! Neither sect had been founded on the Human Clan.
Those people had often burned incense for Primordial Heavenly Venerate and Sect Master Tongtian, so they thought the two had to protect the Human Clan.
But what did Saints need the Power of Faith for? Primordial Heavenly Venerate and Sect Master Tongtian didn't cultivate the Power of Faith, nor did they demand anything of their followers.
The cause of such behavior was human greed.
They'd burned a single stick of incense and expected the gods and Buddhas to protect them for their whole lives. That was far too profitable a deal.
As it turned out, they'd cursed the wrong people. At the time, All Saints were helping the Four Spirits of Heaven-Opening fight the Outer Realm Demon God.
But Fang Yang didn't want to bear the burden of faith, and he especially didn't want to become a turtle in a wishing well.
Emperor Shennong paused, then understood Fang Yang's reasoning.
As Human Emperor, he had to tread carefully, afraid of taking even one wrong step. If someone was put on a pedestal, trouble would inevitably follow.
Emperor Shennong promised Fang Yang that he wouldn't turn him into an object of worship.
Fang Yang stayed among the Human Clan and guided Emperor Shennong in cultivating the next generation of seeds.
The Human Clan had to grow the next generation themselves. Fang Yang wasn't going to become a seed merchant.
A hundred years passed in the blink of an eye. Thanks to Emperor Shennong's efforts, Divine Grain spread throughout the Human Clan.
Rumble!
That day, endless Heavenly Sound echoed over Lie Shan City. A vast Merit Golden Cloud, spanning hundreds of millions of li, gathered in the sky.
The sight drew the attention of countless beings.
Fang Yang felt a sudden insight and knew his merit was about to descend.
The Merit Golden Cloud divided into many portions. Eight tenths fell into Fang Yang's hands, one tenth went to the Azure Dragon Clan, and the remaining tenth went to Emperor Shennong and the Human Clan members who had helped spread Divine Grain.
With the merit distributed, Fang Yang was overjoyed.
From that moment on, he too was someone with merit.
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