The Red Robe Daoist

There were elders of the Dragon Clan, protectors of the Phoenix Clan, and several Ink Jade Qilins the size of mountains.

Judging by the residual pressure emanating from them, they had all been powerful beings at the late stage of True Immortal or even the early stage of Primordial Unity Golden Immortal during their lifetimes!

Clearly, a brutal battle of mutual destruction had just taken place here over the struggle for the spirit spring.

"A fine place, truly a magnificent place to strike it rich."

A golden light flashed in Lu Changsheng's eyes. He directly dispelled his Breath Concealment Talisman and strode inside, swaggering with his Mysterious Yellow Shield held high.

"Fellow Daoists, the Tribulation of Measure is merciless; your bodies have perished and your paths have dissipated. This Daoist has come to perform rites for you and cleanse the filth from this land."

Lu Changsheng walked with practiced ease to the side of a late-stage Golden Immortal Qilin corpse.

This Qilin had been pierced through the heart by the Southern Bright Separation Fire of the Phoenix Clan. Though dead, the karma and fire poison within its body were still continuously eroding the surrounding land.

Lu Changsheng sat cross-legged and forced a wisp of Great Dao Merit golden light from his fingertips.

"Disperse!"

As the golden light merged into the Qilin corpse, the violent karma instantly melted away like snow. The massive carcass transformed into pure earth-attribute spirit energy, feeding back into the dilapidated valley.

And the moment the corpse dissipated:

Swish.

A Storage Jade Ring dropped to the ground.

Lu Changsheng didn't even blink. With a wave of his sleeve, he tucked the ring directly into his pocket.

"One rite performed, service fee collected. Next."

His movements were skillful, like a seasoned worker on an assembly line.

He walked to the Dragon Clan elder, performed the rites, and collected the Storage Dragon Pearl.

He walked to the Phoenix Clan protector, performed the rites, and collected the Storage Feather Plume.

In less than half an hour, the dozen or so corpses of powerful beings in this valley had been cleaned out entirely.

The dense Sha Qi was purified, and the contaminated Ethereal Wood Spirit Spring gradually regained a hint of clarity.

"Hum!"

The Heavenly Dao sensed his actions, and a generous portion of Mysterious Yellow Merit descended once more, merging into Lu Changsheng's body.

"Comforting."

Lu Changsheng felt his mana growing increasingly full, and the smile on his face was brighter than a blooming chrysanthemum.

Days like this—where he didn't have to risk his life, only move his fingers to rake in wealth and earn vast amounts of merit—were exactly the immortal life he had dreamed of.

Just as he prepared to leave the valley to search for the next location:

The Cowardly Immortal Vine suddenly transmitted a slight tremor.

Lu Changsheng stopped in his tracks immediately and turned to look toward the depths of the valley.

Behind the spirit spring, in a patch of broken bamboo, came the faint sound of ragged breathing and the fluctuations of mana being desperately suppressed.

Hm? A survivor?

Lu Changsheng raised an eyebrow, his heart growing wary.

He did not rush to approach, instead shrinking the light screen of his Mysterious Yellow Shield until it clung tightly to his skin. This allowed him to maintain absolute defense without appearing too conspicuous.

Stepping on dry branches, he walked step by step into the ruined bamboo forest.

Deep in the bamboo forest, behind a massive Azure Stone, sat a Daoist in red robes. His face was aged, yet it carried an air of compassion.

The Daoist was in dire straits.

A terrifying wound, deep enough to reveal bone, marred his chest. It was wreathed in thick, indelible black Tribulation Sha Qi that was continuously devouring his vitality.

Though his cultivation was unfathomable—even possessing the faint pressure of an early-stage Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal—he was currently gasping for breath, tortured by the Sha Qi of the Tribulation of Measure.

Before the Daoist lay a spirit fruit the size of a fist, emitting a faint red glow.

The fruit appeared to have been contaminated by some horrific poison, its surface covered in black spots.

The Daoist was attempting to use his own mana to purify the toxins on the fruit, but every time he circulated his energy, the Sha Qi in his chest worsened, forcing a painful groan from his throat.

Hearing footsteps approach, the Red Robe Daoist snapped his eyes open. Despite his grave injuries, a trace of the majesty of a powerful being still flashed in his gaze.

"Who?!"

When he saw that the person walking in was merely a Fire Crow cultivator at the peak of the True Immortal stage, the wariness in his eyes eased slightly, though his brow remained furrowed.

"This place is a baleful land where the Sha Qi of the Tribulation of Measure gathers. Junior, your cultivation is still shallow. Leave quickly, lest you become entangled in karma and lose your life."

Though the Red Robe Daoist's voice was weak, his tone carried a sense of kindness.

Hearing this, Lu Changsheng stopped and looked at the old Daoist with some surprise.

In the current Primordial Land where everyone's eyes were bloodshot with killing intent, the first reaction upon meeting any random cultivator was usually to kill them and seize their treasures.

This old Daoist was on the verge of death himself, yet he actually had the leisure to warn a stranger at the True Immortal stage to flee for his life?

This old man is a decent fellow, Lu Changsheng evaluated inwardly.

He did not leave, but instead examined the mass of Sha Qi on the Red Robe Daoist's chest with great interest.

"Senior," Lu Changsheng said, cupping his hands with a casual tone.

"The mass of Sha Qi on your chest is the Tribulation Resentment Poison that condensed after the fall of the powerhouses from the Dragon and Phoenix Clans."

"The more you use your magic power to suppress it, the faster it devours you. If it is not eradicated in time, I fear your Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal Dao foundation will be ruined within a hundred years."

The Red Robe Daoist heard this and gave a bitter smile.

"How could this poor Daoist not know? It is just that while wandering here, I intended to save a few Innate Spiritual Roots affected by the flames of war, but I was inadvertently caught in the self-detonation of two clan powerhouses and this resentment poison entered my body."

"This Tribulation Resentment Poison is formed from the tribulation energy of heaven and earth. It cannot be resolved without items of great merit or great fortune. My magic power is now exhausted, so I can only resign myself to fate."

Speaking of this, the Red Robe Daoist glanced at the red Spirit Fruit on the ground, a trace of regret flashing in his eyes.

"It is a pity for this Fire Date Spiritual Root. I risked my life to protect this one fruit, yet in the end, I could not purify it..."

Great merit? Great fortune?

When Lu Changsheng heard these two terms, his eyes lit up instantly.

Wasn't this just bumping into his area of expertise!

To others, this Tribulation Resentment Poison was a death warrant. But to him, a walking ATM of merit, this was simply a big business opportunity delivered to his doorstep!

"If Senior trusts me," Lu Changsheng smiled slightly and took two steps forward.

"This poor Daoist has some minor methods that might be able to resolve your urgent crisis."

The Red Robe Daoist was stunned for a moment, then shook his head.

"Junior, stop fooling around. You are only at the True Immortal stage; once this resentment poison touches you, it will cause your true spirit to dissipate in an instant..."

However, the Daoist's words were cut off abruptly before he could finish.

Because Lu Changsheng had already walked up to him and, without any defensive maneuvers, directly extended a finger to touch the thickest part of the black Sha Qi on his chest.

"You're mad!"

The Red Robe Daoist was shocked and wanted to push Lu Changsheng away, but it was already too late.

He watched helplessly as that terrifying Sha Qi, as if having found an outlet, frantically burrowed into Lu Changsheng's body along his finger.

It's over... I've caused the death of an innocent life... the old Daoist lamented in his heart.

But.

In the next instant, the Red Robe Daoist's experienced eyes were filled with unconcealable shock and disbelief.

He saw that the Tribulation Resentment Poison, which was enough to corrode the Dao foundation of a Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal, did not turn Lu Changsheng into pus as expected after entering his body.

Instead...

"Hiss!"