Merit Bestows Upon Me, Breaking the Formation to Obtain a Supreme Treasure

"Crack!"

A crisp sound of shattering echoed through the void.

As the bell's toll cleansed the air, the seemingly deep and winding forest path ahead shattered in response!

Like a reflection in water or a flower in a mirror, the scene before him peeled away inch by inch, revealing the truth it had concealed.

At the end of the path, a distinct Clear Radiance caught his eye, its aura utterly different from this place.

Without any hesitation, he extended his Divine Sense. The next moment, Donghua's gaze suddenly sharpened.

This place appeared to be a hidden Grotto-Heaven, yet Donghua keenly detected a subtle spatial fluctuation within—it was not a gateway to a new realm, but rather another intricately crafted space loop.

Only, compared to the previous space, this one was more complex and realistic.

A ring-within-ring layout turned this region into a maze, trapping one forever in circles.

Just as Donghua was studying this space, his heart stirred, and he looked up at the sky.

He saw the great array's light curtain rippling above, and a dazzling golden light descended from the nine heavens—at first as thin as a silk thread, then in an instant like the Heavenly River pouring down.

Boundless merit broke through the array's obstruction, golden radiance surging and flowing, dyeing the entire sky a solemn gold.

Auspicious energy spread across the land, and heaven and earth seemed to play a silent hymn of praise. The golden light of merit, bearing the approval of the Heavenly Dao, flowed quietly among the clouds, casting a warm luster on the cloud patterns of Donghua's robe.

Just as the vast merit flew toward Donghua and the auspicious energy filled the air, a sudden change occurred!

Deep within the great array, an indescribably dazzling light blazed to life.

Its color was not ordinary gold; it was Xuanhuang, its substance Primordial. The moment it appeared, it carried a majesty that made all laws bow in submission.

The merit and auspicious energy that had filled heaven and earth paled before this light, like a spark before the Bright Moon.

When the dazzling Xuanhuang light faded, Donghua lightly flicked his sleeve, and the golden clouds of merit falling from the sky converged like a hundred rivers returning to the sea, all absorbed into his sleeve without being refined in the slightest.

At the same time, Donghua's gaze swept across the western continent, and a faint, barely perceptible smile touched his lips.

The cause he had casually planted back then had unexpectedly borne fruit now.

In the past, Donghua had merely acted on impulse, throwing a little obstacle in Di Jun and Taiyi's way. He never expected that the Witch Clan would actually pour their entire clan's strength into repairing the western earth veins.

Heaven and Earth felt it and sent down merit. And as the originator of this karmic chain, every time the Witch Clan repaired the earth veins, a portion of the merit bestowed by the Heavenly Dao would fall to Donghua.

Though Heavenly Dao merit was inferior to Great Dao merit, in this Primordial World Heaven and Earth ruled by the Heavenly Dao, it was the most precious protective charm.

This substance could dissolve karmic sin. Even a Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal treasured it. Now that the Great Tribulation was about to rise, the more merit one accumulated, the more room for maneuvering one would have later.

Compared to this unexpected gain of Heavenly Dao merit, the fleeting phenomenon he had just witnessed concerned him more. Something that could overshadow Heavenly Dao merit was no ordinary object.

His gaze was like lightning as he stared into the depths of the array's core. That Heavy Treasure had briefly awakened due to the falling merit, and though it quickly concealed its aura again, its position had been exposed the moment it manifested.

This saved Donghua the trouble of slowly dismantling the array. The corner of Donghua's mouth lifted slightly, and his Pure Yang Daoist Robe fluttered lightly as he transformed into a streak of light, heading straight for the source of his perception.

In the Primordial World, years were unrecorded; a hundred years passed in the blink of an eye.

Layer upon layer of spatial barriers shattered into crystalline fragments under the unceasing hum of the Jingyang Bell. Donghua took a step forward, and the Clear Radiance swirling around him broke yet another twisted space.

Before him, the view opened up.

Completely different from the interlocking, treacherous spatial maze outside, this place was remarkably simple and serene.

There were no splendid sights, no soaring phenomena—only the purest emptiness and stillness, as if all Principles of Heaven and Earth had returned to their essence here.

Only an ancient stone altar stood silently.

The altar's surface was mottled, covered in primitive Dao patterns hard to decipher, exuding the breath of time.

Above the altar, a ruler floated.

Its body was ancient, suffused with a Xuanhuang luster, densely covered with intricate and profound Great Dao Patterns, as if silently expounding the Principles of Heaven and Earth.

Wispy strands of Primordial Qi veiled the ruler like gossamer, and deep within the golden light, a noble purple aura faintly circulated, proclaiming its extraordinary origin.

The ruler, about a foot long, glowed with a warm luster, carrying the aura of the Great Dao. Its body was engraved with endless runes of sun, moon, mountains, and rivers.

At its center, two Great Dao inscriptions—"Measuring Heaven"—shone brilliantly, each stroke seeming to bear the Principles of Heaven and Earth.

Donghua's gaze sharpened. With a slight movement, he appeared silently atop the altar.

He slowly reached out his hand. The moment his fingertip touched the ruler's body—

The Primordial Sky Measuring Ruler seemed to sense him and trembled slightly.

A gentle yet supremely majestic aura, like ripples, spread from the ruler's body. It was not violent, but carried a vast pressure that silenced the heart and spirit, brushing softly yet firmly against Donghua's fingertip and Divine Soul, making a final confirmation and test.

Donghua did not pause. His Divine Sense flowed into the ruler, and he grasped it in his palm.

The moment Donghua truly held the handle, a vast, star-sea-like insight surged into his Spiritual Platform along his Divine Sense.

Donghua immediately sat cross-legged on the altar, his hands forming seals. His Magic Power and Divine Sense surged like a tide toward the Primordial Sky Measuring Ruler floating before him.

Whether it was the merit he had just collected playing an invisible role, or because this treasure was fated to be his, the refining process proceeded smoothly.

The sun, moon, mountain, and river runes on the ruler's body lit up in sequence, resonating mysteriously with Donghua's Magic Power. In this undisturbed Innate Great Array, three thousand three hundred years passed in the blink of an eye.

When the final restriction was completely refined, Donghua's eyes snapped open.

Three thousand years of painstaking effort—this acquired merit Heavy Treasure had finally acknowledged him as its master.

"No wonder it's one of the two supreme acquired merit treasures. Donghua felt that if he faced that Daoist outside now, even without using his Spiritual Powers and Techniques, within three feet he could send him into reincarnation."

Donghua's fingertips brushed the Primordial aura flowing along the ruler's body, sensing the vast, majestic power contained within.

This object was formed from a sliver of Creation Merit fused with Primordial aura, standing alongside Taiqing Laozi's Heaven and Earth Mysterious Yellow Exquisite Pagoda, which, when suspended above the head, rendered all techniques invulnerable.

Both were acquired merit treasures capable of suppressing fate, yet one was for offense, the other for defense.

The Heaven and Earth Mysterious Yellow Pagola specialized in defense—once deployed, it placed its wielder in an invincible position. Meanwhile, the Primordial Sky Measuring Ruler in Donghua's hand was focused on offense, and most precious of all, its killing bore no karmic consequences.

The ruler shifted slightly, and ripples spread through the void.

A glimmer of understanding passed through Donghua's eyes. From now on, with a means of attack at hand, he could walk the Primordial Wilderness with far more composure.

Even if he encountered those Innate Divine Beings with deep foundations, he could readily measure whether their fate could bear the weight of this ruler.

The Primordial aura flowing across the ruler's surface mingled with the Creation Merit, reflecting Donghua's calm, still countenance.

"I truly ought to properly thank that guide."