Little Dragon Girl Ao Xin! Merit Ingredient Sweet Potatoes!

"Wuwuwu..."

It was as if she were engaged in an intense mental struggle.

Ao Xin's little face showed a trace of conflict. She clearly did not need to eat to survive, yet upon seeing that golden flesh, she instinctively wanted to eat it, as though it would bring her immense benefits.

She wavered between her pride and her instincts.

"Um..."

Ao Xin hesitantly raised one small hand, staring pitifully at the sweet potato as she spoke in a tiny voice.

"If you want to eat it, just say so. There's no need to put on a brave front."

Qin Xi smiled and said.

He was not some creepy old man with bizarre tastes. As long as someone came with goodwill, he was happy to welcome them. After all, he had lived in seclusion for several yuanhui, only occasionally seeing a few living creatures. It was truly rather lonely and dull.

Yet even "mortal food" was filled with temptation.

Even the proud Dragon Clan could only obey the law of "it smells so good" in the face of a sweet potato's fragrance.

"Ahm—"

Ao Xin opened her little mouth, revealing her adorable canine teeth.

She copied what he had done, peeling away the charred skin before taking a bite. A faint sweetness instantly spread across her tongue, accompanied by a tide of magical power!

Her body, which had been malnourished due to her "premature birth," was instantly flooded with pure magical power.

The next moment, Little Dragon Girl Ao Xin, who was still at the Early Human Immortal realm, was forcefully pushed by that tide of magical power into the Middle Human Immortal realm, breaking through without the slightest obstacle.

This was not merely because Ao Xin possessed exceptional talent, but also because of the energy contained within the sweet potato.

"Wait... this is?!"

Before Ao Xin could even be shocked, she discovered that a considerable amount of golden Merit had appeared around her.

In the Primordial World, Merit was broadly divided into two types. One was Merit bestowed by the Heavenly Dao, while the other was Merit generated through aspiration!

Heavenly Dao Merit was not something just anyone could obtain. One had to play a sufficiently significant role in optimizing the Heavenly Dao's evolution to earn it—for example, Nuwa creating humanity, Houtu establishing Reincarnation, or Sages founding sects to enlighten all living beings.

Or inventing some special item, or killing creatures burdened by Karmic Debt.

A large amount of Merit could improve one's luck, grant more inspiration, or reduce the obstacles encountered during cultivation.

The second type, Merit generated through aspiration, was similar to the power of faith and was basically unrelated to the Heavenly Dao.

Even if you killed a Bodhisattva with boundless Merit, the Heavenly Dao would not care. Buddhism, however, would come knocking under the banner of upholding justice for Heaven, then chop you to pieces.

However, during the Dragon-Han Initial Tribulation, "Merit generated through aspiration" was not widespread.

The overwhelming majority of Merit was Heavenly Dao Merit, and it was often forcibly offset by excessive slaughter.

The Dragon Clan, Phoenix Clan, and Qilin Clan were precisely like this. Because their sins of slaughter were too severe, their descendants were born carrying vast amounts of Karmic Debt. Under normal circumstances, being burdened by Karmic Debt merely made Heavenly Dao lightning tribulations more powerful during breakthroughs.

But during calamities such as the Dragon-Han Initial Tribulation and the Calamity of Wu and Yao, the fate of those burdened by Karmic Debt would be utterly miserable.

"Merit Ingredients?!" Ao Xin said excitedly.

"?"

Qin Xi slowly put a question mark over his head.

Had this little dragon girl fried her brain? Wasn't it just an ordinary sweet potato? What was there to make such a fuss about? He ate them every day, and they were also the basic rations of the Jade Rabbit Clan stationed in The Valley.

"Ahm—"

Upon learning that the sweet potato in her hand was a legendary "Merit Ingredient,"

Ao Xin immediately sped up. She polished off the remaining roasted sweet potato in just a few bites.

Late Human Immortal!

Human Immortal Completion!

Early Earth Immortal!

In merely a few breaths, Ao Xin soared from the Early Human Immortal realm as though riding a rocket, breaking through all the way to the Early Earth Immortal realm. Such speed was enough to leave countless beings gasping!

After all, this was a height many creatures of the Primordial World could never reach in their entire lives.

A creature's innate foundation basically determined its future accomplishments. Lowly Shrimp Soldiers, for instance, had virtually no hope of becoming Human Immortals in their lives.

Even Crab Generals with somewhat better talent, if they wished to break from Human Immortal to Earth Immortal,

would likely need hundreds of thousands, even millions, of years to accomplish it.

"Phew—"

"I'm so full."

Rubbing her little belly, Ao Xin spoke contentedly.

The exceptional taste, the pure magical power it contained, and the Heavenly Dao Merit it carried—any one of these benefits would be enough to make creatures outside fight until their heads were bloody.

After all, a single sweet potato had directly allowed a Human Immortal to break through a minor realm.

Other than supreme mighty experts, who would not be envious?

Even if they did not use it themselves, feeding it to the younger generation of their family would be an excellent choice, accelerating the growth of their lineage.

If not for the excessive magical power contained in the sweet potatoes, Ao Xin could have eaten thousands without issue. But such Merit Ingredients were so precious. The Valley Master was already being very generous by taking out four to entertain her, so she could not ask for too much.