Merit Supreme Treasure; Top-grade Innate Spiritual Roots

Bei Ming transformed into an escape light, slicing across the sky above the islands wreathed in spiritual mist. His figure flashed through the void several times, leaving behind remnant shadows.

Before long, he had reached the Core Region of Fangzhang Island.

Compared to the Divine Pool where the Pure World White Lotus rested in Penglai's Core Region—a scene of spiritual mist, colorful clouds, and auspicious qi lingering all around—

this place appeared especially plain and secluded. There were no magnificent sights, nor any strange phenomena soaring into the heavens. Instead, it resembled a place where the Great Dao returned to simplicity and all things became one.

The entire Core Region contained only an ancient stone Altar, standing silently.

Above the Altar floated a ruler.

The ruler was wholly golden, covered in densely packed Daoist patterns. Hongmeng qi lingered around it, while a faint violet glow seeped forth.

Bei Ming's gaze sharpened. With a flicker, he appeared atop the Altar.

He reached out, and just as his fingertips were about to touch it—

the Hongmeng Measuring Ruler sensed him and trembled.

Strands of gentle yet immensely oppressive aura spilled from the ruler's body, making one final probe.

Bei Ming did not pause. His Spiritual Sense flowed into the ruler as he grasped it in his hand.

In an instant, an indescribable pressure entered his body.

Even with Bei Ming's current State of Mind, he could not help but be slightly moved, an unusual ripple rising in the depths of his eyes.

Looking across the entire Primordial Wilderness, apart from that wealthy Hongjun, no Cultivator could likely remain calm in the face of such a treasure.

If one could obtain it, even after cultivating for countless Yuanhui, joy would inevitably arise in one's heart.

Cultivators were not emotionless. So-called "ancient simplicity, undisturbed as water" was often merely because one's emotions had never truly been moved.

The ruler in Bei Ming's hand was precisely one of the two great Post-natal Merit Supreme Treasures of the Primordial Wilderness: the Hongmeng Measuring Ruler.

This treasure had formed from one percent of the Merit of Opening Heaven fused with Hongmeng qi.

It was as famous as the Heaven and Earth Xuanhuang Exquisite Pagoda that accompanied Taiqing Laozi.

As Merit Supreme Treasures, both possessed the ability to suppress Luck.

The difference was that the Heaven and Earth Xuanhuang Exquisite Pagoda specialized in defense. Once invoked, no technique could invade it, and it was said to stand innately undefeated.

The Hongmeng Measuring Ruler, meanwhile, specialized in offense, possessing the trait of killing without accruing karmic cause and effect.

With the Hongmeng Measuring Ruler, Bei Ming had made up for his deficiency in offensive power. From then on, as he traveled the Primordial Wilderness, he would no longer have anything to fear.

Time was of the essence. Bei Ming immediately began refining the Hongmeng Measuring Ruler.

Although the Hongmeng Measuring Ruler was a Post-natal Merit Supreme Treasure, with power sufficient to rival an Innate Supreme Treasure, it was ultimately still a post-natal object. Its essence contained no laws, nor did it possess Innate Undying Spirit Light.

There were not many restrictions on refining it.

As long as one invested sufficient time and focus, polishing it meticulously through water-grinding effort, it could be completely refined.

Fifty-four thousand years later, Bei Ming finally completed the refinement of the Hongmeng Measuring Ruler.

Refining a spiritual treasure merely established ownership over it.

As for one's understanding of it, and how much of its power one could wield, that still depended on the Cultivator's own Daoxing. Every additional measure of comprehension made its might another layer stronger.

Bei Ming held the Hongmeng Measuring Ruler in his right hand, while the fingertips of his left hand gently traced its surface. His gaze darkened slightly as he sighed in a low voice:

"This really took quite a lot of time... As expected of a supreme treasure."

Bei Ming reckoned that if his current self faced the Ice Soul Daoist, he would not even need to activate the Returning Ruins Realm Phase. One strike of the ruler would be enough to beat him half to death.

After making a few adjustments, Bei Ming stored the Hongmeng Measuring Ruler within the Returning Ruins Realm.

Then, he strolled down from the Altar and began wandering Fangzhang Island, using his Spiritual Sense to search one by one for the spiritual treasures scattered throughout.

After making a full circuit, Bei Ming had obtained twelve Innate Spiritual Treasures.

Though the harvest was slightly inferior to that of Penglai Immortal Island, their quality was still quite respectable.

Unfortunately, no Top-grade Spirit Treasure had appeared.

With the gains from Penglai Island and Fangzhang Island successively secured, Bei Ming's reserves had become deeply substantial. Treasures below the grade of Top-grade Spirit Treasure could no longer stir his interest.

This made him increasingly eager for the opportunities awaiting on the still-unexplored Yingzhou Island.

Once he had finished exploring the Three Immortal Islands, it would be time to meet the existence suppressing the center of the Three Islands.

With that thought, Bei Ming no longer hesitated. He used the Free and Unfettered Journey, his figure turning into a streaming light as he descended upon Yingzhou Island.

Yingzhou Island was no different from the first two islands, and Bei Ming was no longer surprised.

His figure flashed as he found the island's Boundary Tablet. With Magic power and Spiritual Sense working in concert, he refined it in one smooth, flowing motion.

As the refinement of Yingzhou Island's Boundary Tablet was completed, Bei Ming had completely taken control of the Three Immortal Islands.

With a single thought, he could mobilize the Innate Three Talents Array constructed upon the foundation of the Three Islands.

The grand array moved with his will, and the Three Islands resonated together.

However, the opportunities on Yingzhou Island held less appeal for Bei Ming than those on the other two islands.

After making a round of the island, he obtained ten Innate Spiritual Treasures, further enriching his stockpile.

At last, Bei Ming arrived at Yingzhou Island's Core Zone.

Here, the Qi of the Five Elements was exceptionally dense, circulating naturally and blending together, forming a balanced and complete Qi situation.

At first glance, Bei Ming saw the Towering Ancient Pine at the center.

Its form twisted and coiled, its trunk and branches vigorous. Five-colored spiritual radiance flowed alternately across its pine needles, while the origins of the Five Elements evolved naturally within.

Bei Ming walked forward and watched the ancient pine's branches and leaves sway in the wind.

According to the memories of his inheritance, he could confirm that this was the Five-Needle Pine, one of the Top-grade Innate Spiritual Roots.

"Ah, what a pity."

Bei Ming extended his right hand and slowly stroked the trunk. A faint ripple passed into his palm as he sensed the Five Elements Law contained within.

"This trip has already yielded plenty. I mustn't be greedy."

In cultivation, the Way, methods, and techniques were all regarded as equally important.

The "Way" referred to one's understanding and cultivation of laws. It was the source of the Great Dao and the root of all methods.

"Methods" encompassed countless cultivation systems, such as Cutting off the Three Corpses and the Nine Revolutions Mysterious Technique.

"Techniques" referred to the various divine abilities used in battle. Their transformations were endless and their might unfathomable; they were the means and skills by which Cultivators bargained against one another.

In his cultivation of the "Way," Bei Ming mainly cultivated the Wind Law and Water Law.

This was determined by his innate foundation—one Kun and one Peng, corresponding respectively to water and wind, the two maintaining a subtle yet stable balance.

If he neglected either one, it would not only affect the display of his combat strength, but might also throw his system of laws into disorder and shake the foundations of his cultivation.

Standing beneath the Five-Needle Pine, Bei Ming quietly raised his head and watched the towering ancient pine sway in the wind, a profound look in his eyes.

Given his innate foundation and comprehension, Bei Ming could still manage cultivating two laws at once, and had yet to encounter any obvious bottleneck.

More importantly, the increase in strength brought by cultivating both laws was extremely significant.

Although Kun Peng had originally been at a slight disadvantage in terms of spiritual treasures, he still possessed astonishing combat strength.

Apart from his Physical Body and divine abilities, this was also closely related to his cultivation on the level of laws.

The Cutting off the Three Corpses method passed down by Hongjun was merely a means of breaking through and advancing. Those Innate Great Powers still continued cultivating the laws they needed to cultivate.

However, Bei Ming felt that while "treading two paths at once" was indeed powerful, hidden dangers might arise over time.

Generally speaking, one should mainly cultivate a single law. As for supplementary cultivation of other laws, that depended on one's own comprehension.

If one could comprehend them, studying other laws for reference would do no harm.

If one could not, then one should act within one's limits and devote oneself wholeheartedly to one's own Way.