Four-Digit Merit

[You successfully dismantled Flying Cloud Stronghold. Merit +1835.]

A stream of information abruptly appeared before his eyes.

Zhao Zhi's step into the room halted at once.

This was the first time he had obtained such a quantity of Merit. Even killing humanoid creatures had been nowhere near comparable.

With a thought from Zhao Zhi, the Merit Panel surfaced.

[Martial Arts: Incomplete Little Netherworld Sword (Minor Mastery), Innate Unity Qi Technique (Perfected), Iron Horse Grounding Stance (Perfected), Giant Gate Palm (Perfected), Wild Wind Saber Technique (Perfected), Diamond Force (Perfected)...]

[Merit: 2374]

More than two thousand Merit—a staggering figure.

It was enough to let Zhao Zhi raise several Innate martial arts, even improve the Little Netherworld Sword.

Zhao Zhi pondered in secret.

He had witnessed the Little Netherworld Sword's power firsthand.

A figure like Xianyu Tu had been unable to evade even a single strand of Sword Qi from a sword finger.

Yet the Little Netherworld Sword's flaws were equally obvious.

Its power was too immense; Zhao Zhi's physique simply could not withstand it. Only by releasing it through a sword finger, through the contact of flesh, could he ease the pressure on his body—but that was merely an easing.

Every use of the Little Netherworld Sword consumed an enormous amount of inner qi.

Zhao Zhi had mastered two perfected Innate martial arts for cultivating inner qi, yet he still found the Little Netherworld Sword's consumption terrifying. At most, his inner qi could probably drive five Little Netherworld Swords. Any more would inflict unimaginable harm upon his body.

The Little Netherworld Sword at Minor Mastery was already like this.

A Major Mastery or Perfected Little Netherworld Sword would likely possess even more terrifying might.

By then, forget about Zhao Zhi calmly firing Little Netherworld Sword Qi from his body—even activating a single Little Netherworld Sword would be enough to drain all his inner qi dry.

He needed to build up his foundation.

He possessed two methods of cultivating inner qi: the Innate Unity Qi Technique and the Iron Horse Grounding Stance.

He needed to obtain more methods for cultivating inner qi.

The yamen had one. The Su Family, the Tao Family, and the Evergreen Gang all possessed Innate-level inner qi cultivation methods. The other forces in Qingfeng County presumably possessed another two or three such methods as well.

If he could obtain all those inner qi cultivation methods, it would be enough to greatly increase the inner qi within his body.

However, inner qi existed within the body. Two or three streams might be able to coexist peacefully, but he did not know whether seven or eight streams of inner qi would clash.

Sure enough.

He still needed cultivation methods of a higher level.

Meridian Opening Realm martial arts!

Zhao Zhi's thoughts surged and ebbed.

He would rest well first. He could think of a way to deal with martial arts tomorrow.

Qingfeng County, Fan Family.

"Master, Master, the eldest young master has returned."

The Fan Family's chief steward cried out, his voice carrying all the way from the main gate toward the study.

Fan Family Head Fan Youquan, Second Master Fan Youlin, Third Master Fan Youting, along with the wives of every branch, all rushed out one after another.

The Fan Family's eldest young master, Fan Zhenyu, held an exceptionally special position within the family.

He was not only the Fan Family's eldest legitimate son, but also the one with the greatest martial talent. At such a young age, he had already entered the Innate Realm and would surely step into a realm beyond Innate in the future.

More importantly, after leaving the Fan Family, Fan Zhenyu had attached himself to an important figure from the Profound Nether Platform.

To Qingfeng County, the Profound Nether Platform was an utterly colossal existence, a transcendent force.

Therefore.

Fan Zhenyu's status in the Fan Family was unparalleled. Even his second uncle, the strongest among them, did not dare show Fan Zhenyu the slightest disrespect.

When everyone emerged and saw Fan Zhenyu, they all froze where they stood, staring blankly as though unable to believe the scene before them.

Fan Youlin was the first to react. He stepped forward to the recliner and carefully examined Fan Zhenyu's pale face and bandage-wrapped body from top to bottom. He asked anxiously, "Yu'er, what happened? Why are your injuries so severe?"

Fan Zhenyu forced a smile. "It's nothing, Second Uncle. Just a minor injury. With one or two months of recuperation, I'll recover."

"One or two months, and you call that a minor injury?!" Fan Youlin's eyes bulged as he turned to Fan Xinglou, who had returned with Fan Zhenyu. Confusion appeared on his face. "Xinglou, why are you with Yu'er? Weren't you campaigning against Flying Cloud Stronghold?"

Fan Xinglou glanced at Fan Zhenyu, then recounted the events at Flying Cloud Stronghold in detail.

As the Fan Family listened, every one of them looked horrified. Especially when they heard how Zhao Zhi had slaughtered in all directions and saved a Profound Nether Guard from the Profound Nether Platform, their hearts trembled and fear showed on their faces.

"Th-that-that... Zhao Zhi... really, really..."

Fan Youquan stammered, unable even to speak properly.

He had always wanted revenge on Zhao Zhi. He had hoped that once Fan Zhenyu returned, he could have Zhao Zhi's limbs broken and restore the Fan Family's prestige.

He wanted everyone in Qingfeng County to know that the Fan Family was not to be provoked.

But in the end.

It was not the Fan Family that was unprovokable. Zhao Zhi was.

The martial genius and eldest young master in whom the Fan Family took such pride, Fan Zhenyu, had been gravely wounded in a single move. Yet the martial artist who had grievously injured Fan Zhenyu had died at Zhao Zhi's hands. This showed just how terrifying Zhao Zhi's strength was.

If Zhao Zhi wanted to wipe out the Fan Family, it would be as easy as turning over his hand.

"Yu'er." Fear filled Fan Youquan's face, and his entire body trembled faintly beyond his control. "What should we do? We've offended Zhao Zhi."

Fan Zhenyu struggled to raise a hand and tugged at Fan Youquan's sleeve. In a soft voice, he said, "Father, don't worry about this. From what I've seen, Zhao Zhi is not someone who repays every slight with a vengeance. Besides, it was our Fan Family that lost face before Zhao Zhi, not the other way around."

"R-really?"

Fan Youquan was still worried.

"Really." Fan Zhenyu shifted his gaze to Fan Youlin. "This matter was all thanks to Second Uncle. Otherwise, the Fan Family truly would have brought about a great disaster. Father, listen to Second Uncle more in the future. You absolutely must not act recklessly."

Fan Youquan nodded hard. "I know, I know. I'll definitely listen carefully to your Second Uncle. Yu'er, you're still injured, so speak less. Go rest first."

"I still have matters to instruct Second Uncle to handle." Fan Zhenyu glanced at Fan Xinglou.

Fan Xinglou immediately took out a black booklet and handed it to Fan Youlin.

Fan Youlin looked at the booklet in his hand in puzzlement.

Fan Zhenyu explained, "This is an introductory booklet for the Profound Nether Platform. It records some basic information about the Profound Nether Platform. Lord Yan intends to recruit Zhao Zhi into the Profound Nether Platform, but because he needs to personally deal with Xianyu Tu's matter, he had me return to Qingfeng County to give this booklet to Zhao Zhi and inform him of the situation. Also, Second Uncle, tell me first whatever information you have obtained about Zhao Zhi."

"All right."

Fan Youlin did not delay and told Fan Zhenyu everything the Fan Family had learned about Zhao Zhi.

Fan Zhenyu considered it carefully. His face grew increasingly pale, and after coughing sharply several times, he said, "Second Uncle, send the Fang Family's treasured hundred-year-old red ginseng to Zhao Zhi as well. As for the rest, leave it to Second Uncle to arrange. But the sooner, the better."

"Understood." Fan Youlin nodded. "Yu'er, rest well."

"Mm."

Fan Zhenyu nodded and lay back completely.