Who can resist the temptation of merit?

Xiao Kuang excitedly prepared to announce his "grand plan" to the Primordial Era. He focused his mind, connected to the Heavenly Dao Authority, and gathered his energy in his dantian, ready to unleash a world-shattering "Great Dao Transmission"!

"Attention all beautiful fairy sisters of the Primordial Era! This is Xiao Kuang of the Purple Heaven Palace, about to host..."

He gathered all his strength, his face turning red, but...

His voice vanished like a stone dropped into the ocean, not even reaching the main hall of the Purple Heaven Palace. Only a faint echo lingered in the empty room, not even as loud as his yawn.

"Uh..." Xiao Kuang froze in embarrassment, scratching his head. "Damn it, I still can't master these high-level techniques!"

He tried a few more times, but either the authority activation failed, or his divine sense couldn't cover the area precisely. In the best-case scenario, his voice scattered like a mosquito's buzz after a hundred meters in the chaos.

"No, no, this won't do without an audience!" Xiao Kuang grew anxious. Such a grand event needed to be widely publicized! He set his sights on Xi He again.

Thus, he once again trotted over to Xi He, who was sulking at a laurel tree (a potted version), a fawning smile plastered on his face: "Um... Miss Xi He? Could you do me a small favor? Just this once! Really!"

Xi He didn't even bother to lift her eyelids, coldly stating, "No."

"Don't be like that!" Xiao Kuang began to pester her relentlessly. "Look, if this beauty pageant is successful, won't the Primordial Era become much more lively! Your Taiyin Star could gain more popularity, right? Maybe you'll even get the 'Most Beautiful Judge of the Primordial Era' award!"

Xi He: "..." She just wanted to smash his head with her moon wheel.

"Just help me transmit a message! It's very simple! Just like last time!" Xiao Kuang continued to nag. "I've already thought of the content, it's absolutely high-class! I guarantee it won't embarrass you!"

Xi He was annoyed by his nagging, and still recovering from the impact of the Heavenly Dao Merit, she just wanted to get rid of this plague god quickly. Gritting her teeth, she said hatefully, "Only this once! Next time, even if the Heavenly Dao collapses, I will never help you with such a thing again!"

"Deal!" Xiao Kuang was overjoyed. He immediately shoved that sliver of "Director of the Primordial Broadcast Station" authority back into Xi He, and simultaneously forced the transmission content he had thought of—an extremely unreliable, seductive, and flirtatious advertisement—upon her.

Xi He felt the familiar authority and the indecent advertisement, and trembled with anger, nearly collapsing her Dao heart on the spot.

But she endured it in the end. Taking a deep breath, she forcefully used her exquisite control to filter out Xiao Kuang's flirtatious remarks like "Misses," "generous prize money," and "waiting for you to flirt," packaging them into something slightly more presentable. Then, using the power of Heavenly Dao laws, she transmitted a thought, cold with a barely perceptible tremor, into the hearts of all female Immortals, Gods, Elves, and any beings in the Primordial Era who had taken on a female form:

[Heavenly Dao Edict: The Dao Ancestor of the Purple Heaven Palace, sensing the beauty of the Primordial Era, has specially established the 'Jade Terrace Immortal Gathering,' sincerely inviting all female Immortals of the Primordial Era to attend this grand ceremony, discuss Dao, appreciate beauty, and display the wonders of creation. All attendees will receive blessings of Heavenly Dao Merit, with additional great rewards for outstanding individuals. This is a rare opportunity, so ponder it carefully.]

After the transmission, Xi He instantly threw the authority, which felt like a hot potato, back to Xiao Kuang, as if holding it for another second would contaminate her Primordial Spirit. She then left quickly without looking back, not wanting to see that scoundrel for another moment.

Xiao Kuang smugly retrieved the authority, saying proudly, "Done! Just wait for all the beautiful ladies to sign up!"

And at this very moment, the female circles throughout the Primordial Era exploded!

In countless immortal mountains, blessed lands, hidden grotto-heavens, rivers, lakes, and seas, all the female Immortals who received this transmission had the same initial reaction: confusion, followed by endless absurdity and rage!

"Jade Terrace Immortal Gathering? Discuss Dao and appreciate beauty? This... are they treating us like performers in a mortal talent show?! How outrageous!" A fairy from an ancient immortal lineage angrily smashed her jade cup. "The Dao Ancestor of the Purple Heaven Palace? Is that the one rumored to... act absurdly? As expected! Ridiculous! Shameless!" A reclusive powerful female cultivator showed disdain. "Attend the grand ceremony? It sounds like a Hongmen Banquet! Who knows what that strange Dao Ancestor is plotting!" Many female Immortals felt wary.

Almost all female Immortals' first reaction was resistance, disdain, and even humiliation. To be judged and selected like goods? It was an utter disgrace!

However... just as this anger and disdain began to rise, the last sentence of the transmission echoed like a curse:

[All attendees will receive blessings of Heavenly Dao Merit, with additional great rewards for outstanding individuals.]

Heavenly Dao... Merit?

Blessings?!

Great Rewards?!

These four words seemed to possess a magical power, instantly piercing through all disdain, anger, and modesty!

"Wait... wait! Heavenly Dao Merit? Is that... the Heavenly Dao Merit that can increase cultivation, refine magic treasures, and grant immunity to all calamities?!" A Dragon Girl, who had been indignant moments ago, instantly changed her tone, her eyes starting to gleam. "Just... participating grants it? It's not a scam, is it?" A Demon Saint from the Demon Race's breathing grew rapid. "Outstanding individuals get great rewards... How much merit would that be?" An old ancestor of the Witch Race rapidly calculated, her heart racing. "The Dao Ancestor of the Purple Heaven Palace... although his actions are... unrestrained, he is, after all, the spokesperson of the Heavenly Dao. His words are golden. He... wouldn't lie, would he?" A female Immortal from West Kunlun murmured, her eyes flickering.

Silence. A vast, eerie silence spread in the hearts of all female Immortals.

The anger and humiliation from moments ago hadn't completely faded, but another, even stronger emotion called "desire" was growing wildly like weeds!

On one side was ethereal face and modesty. On the other was tangible Heavenly Dao Merit that could greatly advance their cultivation and even change their destiny!

This choice... didn't seem difficult?

"Actually... if you think about it carefully, perhaps the Dao Ancestor's actions have a deeper meaning? 'Discuss Dao and appreciate beauty,' perhaps it's not meant literally, but rather to allow us to display the beauty of our Dao methods and creation?" Some female Immortals began to find a way to save face. "Exactly! We cultivators, why should we be bound by worldly views? Participating in the immortal gathering, exchanging Dao methods, and by the way... receiving Heavenly Dao blessings, wouldn't that be a beautiful thing?" Self-persuasion was quickly completed. "Sister, which immortal robe do you think we should wear? Should we borrow that Neon Feather Dress that Master kept hidden?" "Quick! Go into seclusion! Practice makes perfect! We must present our best state at that 'Immortal Gathering'! That's Heavenly Dao Merit!"

The law of "true fragrance" was still invincible, even in the Primordial Era!

In a short period, the attitudes of female Immortals across the Primordial Era underwent a 180-degree turn. From initial anger and disdain, they transformed into secret competition and active preparation!

Suddenly, businesses at immortal clothing shops, jewelry shops, and cosmetic (transmuted from spiritual medicine) shops across the Primordial Era boomed! The number of female Immortals going into seclusion to adjust their state and practice their talents (trying to fit the theme of "discuss Dao and appreciate beauty") surged!

Even some well-informed male Immortals began to secretly consider how to sneak in and watch, or invest in "contestants" among their acquaintances.

The entire atmosphere of the Primordial Era was once again led by Xiao Kuang's "opening the Dao with merit" tactic, towards an even more bizarre and lively direction.

Inside the Purple Heaven Palace, Xiao Kuang, perceiving the sudden shift in the emotions of female Immortals across the Primordial Era from active and expectant through his authority, smugly crossed his legs.

"Heh heh, done! I told you, which girl can resist the temptation of shiny gifts and becoming a champion? Xi He said I was reckless, but it's clearly got potential!"

He could already envision the beautiful scene of countless lovely ladies vying for attention in the Purple Heaven Palace.

And the Heavenly Dao... The Heavenly Dao was too tired to even despair. It silently, deep within its core, quietly set an extremely complex, ten-thousand-digit dynamic password for Xiao Kuang's access to the "Heavenly Dao Merit" database (though it knew it might be useless).

This prodigal son had to be guarded against! Even if it was only for a second!