Work's Done, Time to Go Home

Zhang Qiling worked with Yu Zhi to sweep through hell one level at a time, practically steamrolling their way to the tenth level.

Sure enough, just as Yu Zhi had expected, his cultivation had barely grown at all. But there was good news: he had accumulated quite a bit of golden light of merit, enough to cover about one finger.

It might not look like much, but it was hard to come by. For an outsider like him, in particular, it was practically a divine protective artifact, granting him the Heavenly Dao's protection.

Most, most, most importantly, it could also withstand the heart demon tribulation when one underwent tribulation. It was something everyone in the cultivation world scrambled to obtain. That was also why cultivators pursuing the Great Dao were reluctant to kill mortals: harming their merit would bring heart demons when they underwent tribulation.

"Zhang Qiling, at this rate, I think we can finish in two or three days. Maybe the Blind Man will still be there when we get out." Yu Zhi had been anxious these past two days. He wanted to leave as soon as possible.

Ever since Foundation Establishment, his sense of danger had grown stronger and stronger. He felt as though someone was scheming against him, but he couldn't find a clue. It was better to leave as soon as possible.

"Mm, the Blind Man should still be there." Something occurred to Zhang Qiling, and he answered in a relaxed tone. Once they got out, he would cultivate diligently and then marry A Li. He had to put his mark on him as soon as possible. That Qi Yu had previously kept approaching Yu Zhi for no apparent reason, and although he was dead, that didn't mean there wouldn't be others.

Things went as expected. Two days later, they killed all the monsters on the sixteenth level. After a brief rest to regulate their breathing, the two prepared to press on and finish the seventeenth level in one go.

Yu Zhi suddenly remembered that a great show was waiting for them outside. He said eagerly, "Big brother, how do you think Zhang Qishan is doing? It's been six or seven days. He should have taken it by now, right?"

"He has." From what he knew of Zhang Qishan, the man would definitely have taken it immediately. Zhang Qishan had relied on "it" and its power to establish the Nine Gates, then handed him over to be studied in pursuit of immortality. All along, he had acted as though he'd had no choice, but in truth, his own health had been deteriorating. With power in his hands, he couldn't bear to die.

Yu Zhi thought of that too, but neither of them said it aloud. There was no need to say anything; those people were insatiably greedy.

"Then let's hurry up and get to work. Once we're done, we can go out and watch the show." Yu Zhi was full of energy. He had to be there to watch his enemy's show.

"There's no rush. I reckon it'll take close to half a month, at least, for that Longevity Pill to start taking effect. Only then will he slowly begin to mutate," Zhang Qiling said, drawing on what the book had said.

"Okay. Either way, we should hurry and finish so we can get out. It's dark as night in here. Even though we can both see clearly, I... I want to bask in the sun!" Yu Zhi wrapped his arms around Zhang Qiling's waist with a touch of coquettishness, buried his head against his neck, and stole a kiss.

"Okay, I want to get out sooner too." He stroked Yu Zhi's hair and let him do as he pleased.

"Let's go. We'll make the most of our time and finish this quickly."

"Congratulations, Fo Ye! Congratulations!"

"Congratulations, Fo Ye! Congratulations!"

"Congratulations, Fo Ye! Congratulations!"

The Zhang Family's banquet hall was filled with flattery. Everyone of note among the Nine Gates had come, and even Wu Yiqiong had brought his wife.

"Thank you all for coming. I, Zhang Qishan, am deeply grateful. Being able to stand here again is all thanks to my nephews from the Wu Family, the Huo Family, the Xie Family, and the Qi Family. It was only nephew Qi Yu's death that I never expected. All I can do is hold a memorial service for him and hope his spirit in heaven can rest in peace."

"Fo Ye, it was only right for us juniors to help."

"That's right. Compared to what you've done and borne for the Nine Gates, this is hardly worth mentioning."

"Thank you as well, Fo Ye, for the nourishing gifts you sent for my unborn child," Wu Yiqiong said. That day, the Wu Family had received two generous gifts, one for his third brother and the other for the Wu Family's legitimate grandson who would soon be born. After some thought, Wu Yiqiong had decided to bring his wife to the banquet. Her due date was next month, after all, so going out for a meal wouldn't hurt.

For a time, cups were passed and goblets crossed.

"Ah, Yiqiong, I think the baby's coming. Quick..." While eating, Madam Wu had suddenly felt unbearable pain in her belly. Then she felt something trickle down her thigh. It seemed her water had broken, and the baby was coming.

Everyone fell into a panic. Wu Yiqiong scooped up his wife, rushed to the car Zhang Rishan had brought over, and headed straight for the hospital.

Looking around the somewhat chaotic banquet hall, Wu Sansheng said, "Fo Ye, I'm sorry. My sister-in-law was fine before, and her due date was supposed to be next month. I didn't expect this. Sigh, what a mess."

"This is a happy occasion, the birth of a new life. We've more or less finished eating, so we might as well go and see." After Zhang Qishan spoke magnanimously, everyone went to the hospital, ready to witness the birth of the Wu Family's first grandchild.

Yu Zhi led Zhang Qiling in a swift sweep through the seventeenth level. At the Foundation Establishment Stage, dealing with these monsters posed no difficulty at all. There were simply too many of them, and even crushing them by the pile took time.

"Zhang Qiling, look, it seems to have mutated. There's a tiny golden thread inside." Yu Zhi held out one of the Nine-Headed Serpent Cypress's vines for Zhang Qiling to see.

"It seems so." Zhang Qiling examined it closely. It really was very fine, a thousandth the width of a strand of hair. If a cultivator's eyesight weren't so extraordinary, there was no way he could have seen it.

"Could it be golden light of merit? Well, look at you, going places." Yu Zhi happily hugged the vine, which was as thick as the mouth of a bowl. "So, do you think we should go take a look at the next level? Pah! Pah!" As soon as he finished speaking, Yu Zhi gave himself two hard slaps. He'd have to be out of his mind to be curious about that. How had he just had such a dangerous thought?

He hurriedly said to Zhang Qiling, "I'm exhausted. It's finally over. Let's hurry home. Let's go."

Zhang Qiling looked at the face Yu Zhi had slapped, his heart aching a little. He touched it. "Don't hit yourself. Hit me next time."

"No, absolutely not. Let's get going. Home!"

"Okay, home!"