Befriending Hong Yun

A soft dissolving sound echoed.

A pure, vast, and extremely sacred golden light erupted suddenly from within Lu Changsheng's body!

This light held no temperature, yet it carried a supreme will reminiscent of the world's inception, capable of repelling all laws.

Those black Sha Qi that had burrowed into Lu Changsheng's body did not even have a chance to struggle; under the illumination of this golden light, they were instantly purified into the purest spiritual energy of heaven and earth!

"This is... Great Dao Merit?!"

The red-robed Daoist gasped, his entire being stunned into silence.

He had lived for countless epochs and befriended innumerable Primordial Land powerhouses, yet he had never seen anyone wield Great Dao Merit with such ease! He had even used his physical body to intercept the venom of the Tribulation of Measure!

Where on earth did this monster come from?!

"Phew, the taste is a bit pungent."

Lu Changsheng withdrew his finger, felt the slight bit of Heavenly Dao Merit compensation added to his body, and curled his lip slightly.

This venom looked terrifying, but to an incarnation of merit like him, it didn't even qualify as a tickle.

He turned his head, looked at the still-dazed red-robed Daoist, and smiled as he reached out his hand.

"Senior, the poison has been neutralized."

"This humble Daoist runs a business, and although you are a good person, rules cannot be broken. Regarding the consultation fee for the detoxification, you see..."

Lu Changsheng rubbed his fingers together, his eyes bright.

The red-robed Daoist finally snapped out of his trance and hurriedly looked down to inspect his injuries.

Sure enough, the cluster of lethal venom that had plagued his chest for decades had vanished without a trace. The deep, bone-exposed wound was also healing at a speed visible to the naked eye.

"Fellow Daoist... no, Great Master!"

The red-robed Daoist stood up abruptly, ignoring his disheveled robes, and bowed deeply to Lu Changsheng, his tone filled with gratitude and awe.

"This humble Daoist is Red Cloud, many thanks to the Great Master for saving my life!"

Red Cloud?

Upon hearing this name, the corner of Lu Changsheng's eye twitched violently.

Ancestor Red Cloud?!

He screamed frantically in his heart.

This was the number one good guy of the Primordial Land!

The legendary unlucky fellow who, due to his overly kind nature, gave up his seat at Purple Heaven Palace and was eventually plotted against and killed by Demon Master Kunpeng and Ancestor Minghe!

No wonder he was nearly dead yet still distracted himself with purifying spiritual fruits, and even went out of his way to warn a stranger like him.

This pushover personality was practically carved into his bones!

"So it is Senior Red Cloud."

Lu Changsheng suppressed the shock in his heart, and the smile on his face became even more radiant.

Although Ancestor Red Cloud was an unlucky fellow, he was famous for his immense wealth and wide circle of friends, and he even shared a life-and-death bond with Zhenyuanzi, the Ancestor of Earth Immortals.

Having saved such a powerhouse, the consultation fee would definitely be substantial!

"With a Great Master present, how could Red Cloud dare to claim the title of Senior."

Ancestor Red Cloud was of a simple and honest nature; he naturally knew the preciousness of Great Dao Merit. The fact that the other party was willing to consume the origin of the Great Dao to save him made this favor heavier than the heavens.

Without the slightest hesitation, he picked up the red spiritual fruit from the ground that he had fought to protect with his life.

"For the grace of saving my life, Red Cloud has nothing to repay you with."

"This Fire Date was a treasure I discovered by chance from a mid-grade innate spiritual root while traveling through the Immortal Volcano in the south."

"Although it is tainted with a trace of poison, I am willing to use my life-bound true fire to purify it completely as a token of gratitude for the Great Master."

As Red Cloud spoke, he prepared to channel his magic power to purify the spiritual fruit.

"Wait!"

Lu Changsheng snatched the Fire Date away and said righteously.

"Senior has just recovered from your injuries, how can you exert your magic power again? Leave such trivial matters to this humble Daoist."

Are you kidding? This poison can be exchanged for merit! How could he let him purify it?

Lu Changsheng held the Fire Date, and a golden light of merit flashed across his palm.

The spiritual fruit, which had been covered in black spots, instantly became crystal clear, radiating a refreshing innate spiritual energy of fire.

"This..."

Ancestor Red Cloud watched this scene, once again stunned by Lu Changsheng's miraculous methods.

"I shall accept this Fire Date as the consultation fee."

Lu Changsheng unceremoniously tucked the Fire Date into his storage bag, then patted Red Cloud on the shoulder with a solemn expression.

"Senior Red Cloud, in this chaotic world of the Primordial Land, it is hard to be a good person. While your compassionate heart is rare, you must act according to your ability."

"In the future, if you encounter this kind of Tribulation of Measure Sha Qi, the right path is to stay far away. Don't go throwing your life away just to save a few blades of grass or trees."

Although Lu Changsheng's words carried a hint of worldliness, they were genuine, heartfelt advice.

He certainly didn't want someone he had gone to such lengths to save to turn around and die in some obscure corner.

Ancestor Red Cloud heard these blunt words and, far from being offended, felt a trace of long-lost warmth.

In this Primordial Land of deceit and treachery, it was truly rare to have a chance acquaintance offer such candid counsel.

"I have taken the expert's teachings to heart."

Ancestor Red Cloud sighed, then reached into his sleeve, pulled out a jade talisman radiating five-colored light, and handed it to Lu Changsheng.

"The expert's methods are heaven-defying, and Red Cloud is filled with admiration. This jade talisman contains a wisp of my divine sense."

"My Daoist temple is in Fire Cloud Cave. If the expert has time in the future, or requires any heavenly treasures, simply crush this talisman. Red Cloud will surely sweep the bed to welcome you and would not hesitate even if it meant death!"

Lu Changsheng's eyes lit up as he looked at the jade talisman.

This wasn't just a long-term meal ticket; it was a top-tier admission ticket into the social circle of the Primordial Land's great powers!

With this connection to Red Cloud, if he ever encountered trouble he couldn't handle or needed to scout for top-secret information, it would be infinitely more convenient!

"Senior Red Cloud is too kind. From now on, we are friends—let's keep in touch, definitely keep in touch!"

Lu Changsheng happily accepted the jade talisman and carefully tucked it away close to his body.

These days, scamming... no, healing the sick and saving the dying, is truly a golden path to wealth and prosperity!

Afterward, Lu Changsheng bid farewell to Ancestor Red Cloud and continued to explore the battlefield ruins in the west of the Primordial Land.

Having received the Xiantian Mid-Grade Fire Date from Ancestor Red Cloud and gained the favor of such a well-connected powerhouse, his enthusiasm for this cleanup mission soared even higher.

Time flowed on.

In the blink of an eye, two thousand years passed quietly amidst the monotonous yet surprise-filled looting and salvation.

Over these two thousand years, Lu Changsheng's footprints covered dozens of tragic battlefield ruins in the west.

The number of great power souls that died by his hand—no, that were "saved" by him—was at least eight hundred, if not a thousand.

His methods became increasingly proficient; from being cautious at the start, to later being able to use the Cowardly Immortal Vine to scavenge for treasure remains while simultaneously using Great Dao Merit to dissolve the lingering karmic energy covering the ground, his actions were smooth, flowing, and flawless.

"Boom!"

Beneath a collapsed immortal mountain.

Lu Changsheng flicked his finger, sending out a wisp of golden light of merit that turned a broken Dragon Clan skeleton into dust, while effortlessly snatching a storage scale hidden in its abdomen.

"Another Houtian Mid-Grade Dharma treasure. This Dragon Clan is truly dripping with wealth."