Really? Could this work?

Merit could be owed now? Then could karmic debt be delayed too?

Even the landlord had run out of grain – were they trying to work their farmhand to death?

In the secret chamber of Little Jade Peak, Ling’e lay sprawled across her wooden desk, watching her Senior Brother pace back and forth. She wanted to ask what was troubling him but dared not interrupt his train of thought.

‘Where will Senior Brother hide his true body next time?’

This thought inexplicably surfaced in Ling’e’s mind, followed by a dejected sigh.

Had all those medicinal soups she had painstakingly brewed gone to nourish a paper body?

And what was the point of having a paper body smell test for poison…

Senior Brother’s personality was truly too troublesome.

Finally, Li Changshou stopped pacing and turned to the writing desk. He picked up a brush and drew a series of symbols that Ling’e couldn’t understand, silently contemplating them.

“Senior Brother, is there trouble with the Anti-Western Alliance?” Ling’e gathered her courage to ask.

Li Changshou opened his mouth but felt the situation was too absurd to even explain.

He could hardly say that the Heavenly Dao now owed him a massive amount of merit, directly delaying the manifestation of his Merit Golden Body.

“Don’t worry, it’s just some minor matters,” Li Changshou smiled gently, continuing to write with his head lowered, a faint light flickering in his eyes.

How could this be minor?

Following his usual approach, he first considered the worst possibilities.

It was very likely that he was destined to face a great tribulation, and the Heavenly Dao was withholding his Merit Golden Body to let that tribulation temper him.

Li Changshou truly wanted to write the character for “danger” on his forehead.

Sighing inwardly, Li Changshou activated the advanced version of his Clear Mind Dao Heart – Sage Mode, preventing the Heavenly Dao from interfering with his thoughts as he analyzed the situation point by point.

Though there seemed to be countless possibilities before him, in reality, only a few had complete causal chains.

The best possibility was that the Heavenly Dao, having just established the Five Sacred Mountains Temple, was temporarily short on merit to distribute…

But this possibility was extremely remote!

Merit wasn’t the Heavenly Dao’s currency. Even if it were, couldn’t the Heavenly Dao simply print as much as it wanted and make all beings acknowledge the value of that paper and those images?

—Just like that certain Reserve in his previous life that could control Blue Star’s economy.

Li Changshou understood in his heart that this matter was clearly because Lord Dao’s Ancestor didn’t want him to form his Merit Golden Body at this time!

All things must maintain balance, and the Heavenly Dao was impartial.

From this perspective, if he obtained the Merit Golden Body now, it would affect some kind of balance…

This was the most likely explanation.

He would soon visit Master White and ask him to sense his fortune and misfortune;

After the matter of his master’s reincarnation, Li Changshou had come to believe eighty percent in Master White’s divine abilities… even more than his trust in Master White himself!

Regarding merit itself, Li Changshou still had two stable sources of worship – the Sea God Religion and his Heavenly Court position.

The Sea God Religion provided an endless stream of worship merit. Though he had restricted its expansion long ago, this merit was still considerable, albeit mixed with the consciousness of living beings and thus not entirely pure.

The Heavenly Court merit was like a fixed salary, gradually increasing at all times. Though not as much as worship merit, it was still a significant source of merit income.

—He wasn’t far from his goal now.

In another six or seven hundred years, he could form the Merit Golden Body with just these two sources of merit income;

How could the Heavenly Dao suppress it then?

Would it suddenly cause “packet loss” and “disconnection” at ninety-nine point nine percent?

Ugh, those awful experiences from his previous life – surely he wouldn’t have to endure them again in this life?

Really…

“Ling’e, come with me.”

Li Changshou stood up, and the startled Ling’e quickly responded, following behind her Senior Brother.

They passed through several rooms filled with bookshelves, arriving at a chamber with a bed. Ling’e’s face instantly turned bright red, with faint white smoke rising from her forehead…

Li Changshou calmly pushed open a hidden panel, entering a shrine housing Supreme Pure’s portrait.

They lit tall incense sticks and both bowed three times.

A strand of Dao essence descended, and Li Changshou’s heart inexplicably became much more peaceful. Two characters appeared in his mind again, though this time the message was transmitted through Supreme Pure’s Dao essence.

[Be at ease]

In an instant, Li Changshou’s back straightened, his spirit returned, and half the weight lifted from his heart.

But to be safe, he should still visit Master White later.

…

In the Jade Imperial Palace.

When Li Changshou’s consciousness returned, the Jade Emperor had already rewarded the ten Lords of Hell with positions as proper deities and the Heavenly Court had gained another second-rank proper deity today – Great Virtue Empress Earth.

Li Changshou quietly watched from the side, observing the splendor in the hall and the golden merit light flickering on the bodies of those Lords of Hell.

He truly wanted to return to the Water God Palace and order a special dish – vinegar-dressed lemon.

The Jade Emperor said: “Wood Duke, go inform the Jade Pool that I will host a banquet there later for all the Kings of Hell.”

Just as Wood Duke was about to bow in acknowledgment, King Qinguang glanced at Li Changshou.

Understanding the meaning, Li Changshou stepped forward two paces and smiled: “Your Majesty, the cycle of reincarnation in the underworld cannot stop for a moment. The ten Lords of Hell must return to their posts, or chaos might ensue. Perhaps Your Majesty could send more rewards along with the banquet feast to the underworld instead.”

The Jade Emperor smiled: “Then we shall follow Long Prime Minister’s suggestion. Wood Duke, still proceed with the notification. Today I am in high spirits and will host a banquet at the Jade Pool for all beloved officials, celebrating together with our Netherworld brethren. The great undertaking of stabilizing the Three Realms and bringing peace to all beings has taken another major step forward. Long Prime Minister, have someone carve Great Virtue Empress Earth’s words of advice into a monument and place it before the Jade Imperial Palace.”

Wood Duke and Li Changshou bowed together, each accepting their orders.

When Li Changshou had brought the ten Lords of Hell to the Heavenly Court, it was just on a white cloud;

When sending the ten Lords of Hell back, he employed the full ceremonial procession of the Heavenly Court – thirty thousand celestial soldiers and generals accompanied four magnificent carriages heading straight from the Heavenly Court to the Netherworld.

Li Changshou shared a carriage with two Lords of Hell, enjoying pleasant conversation along the way, though King Chujiang kept muttering:

“What use is all this merit to us? In ancient times, weren’t we all surrounded by little black flames from eating rare spiritual beasts? Now that was glory!”

“Can this merit be used to forge magical treasures? Make an ear pick and sit in the hall every day, using merit to clean our ears?”

“Water God, can we give this merit to you? We have no use for this stuff… What? We can’t give it away? Ah, what a shame.”

Li Changshou: …

If I weren’t certain you were simply being foolish, and if no one knew about my merit being credited by the Heavenly Dao, this whisk would have already struck you!

After entering the Netherworld, King Qinguang smiled and asked:

“Water God seems to have accumulated quite a lot of merit. Counting from the Dragon Clan incident until now, plus the continuous accumulation from your divine religion and Heavenly Court position, this merit must be considerable. If I may ask, have you used merit in your cultivation?”

Li Changshou smiled: “Relying on merit for cultivation, wouldn’t that make one’s power dependent on Heaven’s will? That would be taking the lower path.”

“Water God speaks truly!” King Qinguang nodded with a smile. Now wanting to repay Li Changshou, he continued with advice:

“As a disciple of a Sage, you naturally understand this principle. It was presumptuous of me to worry. However, Water God, as your connection with the Heavenly Dao, grows ever closer, there is something I still wish to tell you…”

“Oh?”

Li Changshou made a gesture pointing to Heaven, but King Qinguang smiled unconcernedly and said:

“Although we have separated from the Ancient Shamanic Tribe and are now deities of the Netherworld’s administration, it’s fine to speak of this. The Ancient Shamanic Tribe carries Pangu’s divine bloodline – even if the Heavenly Dao dislikes them, it must still show some respect for Pangu. Does Water God know how the Heavenly Dao was formed step by step?”

Li Changshou honestly shook his head. Though he wanted to decline this topic, he vaguely felt that King Qinguang’s words would be quite important for his future path.

To be safe, he would just listen casually while firmly maintaining ‘disbelief’ in his heart.

King Qinguang said:

“The Heavenly Dao was initially a will, one of Pangu’s wills.

To keep the sky from falling, the earth from sinking, and allow all spirits a place to exist.

It was this will that constantly evolved and changed, resonating with countless great Daos in the universe, that formed the embryonic Heavenly Dao.

When Pangu opened the heavens, his forty-nine axe strikes didn’t just separate heaven and earth and slay three thousand chaos gods and demons – they also ordered the many Daos, allowing Dao and true spirits to leave chaos and establish order.

Pangu’s final will resonated with the great Dao, creating the initial Heavenly Dao that protects this world… This is the meaning behind Lord Dao’s Ancestor’s words about fifty Daos, with heaven developing forty-nine.

“For this reason, the twelve ancestors of the Ancient Shamanic Tribe, born from Pangu’s divine bloodline, originally possessed the ability to control the great Daos of heaven and earth.

The First Ancestor controlled Heaven and Earth, the Second Ancestor controlled all living beings, while the other ancestors mastered the Five Elements of metal, wood, water, fire, and earth, the Four Powers of wind, poison, rain, and lightning, and the Great Dao of Time which could not be reversed, only accelerated or slowed.

If not for Ancestor Dragon and First Phoenix who once guarded the Thirty-six Grade Azure Lotus and possessed power approaching that of Dao Saints;

And if the Ancestors hadn’t yet discovered how to create their tribespeople from their essence blood, the Ancient Shamanic Tribe would have risen to prominence in ancient times.

I’ve said too much…

What caused the first transformation of the Heavenly Dao was the ten thousand years of the most intense Dragon-Phoenix War, when heaven and earth shattered.

After that, perhaps overcompensating, the formed Heavenly Dao began gradually weakening the power of all spirits. The twelve ancestors’ direct connection to the Dao was severed, and their power diminished by a small portion.

When all spirit races gathered at the peak of Mount Buzhou to establish the Ancient Demon Court, the shadows of both the Heavenly Dao and Lord Dao Ancestor were behind it.”

Li Changshou said: “From a certain perspective, this makes sense, yet something seems wrong. If the goal was to gradually weaken all spirits, why are there six Saint Lords?”

“The Second Ancestor said that all six Saints achieved their status through merit, which was a measure born of necessity,”

King Qinguang said solemnly: “Except for that one Saint Lord who is often criticized, the other Saint Lords were all mighty beings who survived the ancient wars. They all had the potential to achieve sainthood instantly, especially Lord Supreme Pure who was just a tiny step away.

In ancient times, I heard the Second Ancestor say that the Primordial Purple Qi was a form of shackles.

To become a Saint, one must accept these shackles, becoming a foundation of the Heavenly Dao – unable to oppose it or destroy the primordial world.

Therefore, when the six Saints took their positions, the Heavenly Dao completed its third transformation, becoming today’s almost omnipotent force that oversees all living beings.

In ancient times, did the realm have Golden Immortal tribulations for longevity?

Primordial spirits were born alongside the Dao, without any concept of death – their extinction meant returning to the Dao, their true spirit returning to the void.

In ancient times, besides those with too much karmic burden, where were the tribulations for immortality?”

Li Changshou closed his eyes in deep thought, continuously pondering.

The second transformation of the Heavenly Dao that King Qinguang deliberately omitted referred to Lord Dao Ancestor’s three lectures at Purple Mystic Palace, spreading the flames of the Dao School throughout heaven and earth before merging with the Dao himself.

The Dragon-Phoenix Catastrophe formed the Heavenly Dao;

Lord Dao Ancestor’s merger developed it;

The six Saints’ positions perfected it.

King Qinguang smiled: “After telling Water God so much, I should return to my point.

If Water God seeks true freedom, it’s best not to let your personal Dao become tainted with merit. These merits would be better used to forge treasures, or simply saved up to form an Immortality Golden Body.”

“Wise words,” Li Changshou smiled and nodded, “Many thanks for the Judge’s enlightenment.”

These experts who had survived from ancient times truly concealed their depths – the world had far more than just one clever person.

“Water God is different from the Ancient Shamanic Tribe,” King Qinguang’s eyes showed a hint of resignation, “Though the Ancient Shamanic Tribe was born with divine power, their limits were written in their bloodline.

The further removed from the Ancestors, the more diluted the bloodline, making advancement increasingly difficult.

The Human Race is closer to perfection – those who don’t wish to cultivate can live in the mortal world, while those who do can walk a path seeking the Dao.

Ah…

The Ancient Shamanic and Demon Races cannot complain about their defeat.”

Li Changshou smiled, gazing at the dim netherworld sky outside the carriage. While maintaining his Clear Mind Dao Heart, his thoughts gradually drifted away.

King Qinguang’s words were subtle, but Li Changshou understood what he meant to express.

[It’s best to maintain a proper balance in one’s connection with the Heavenly Dao. One can be its chess piece, but should not strive to become its puppet.]

This principle, Li Changshou had known since he was three or four years old in this life.

In his previous life, before starting his business, he had spent time in the corporate world and gained rich life experience. It was seeing those middle-aged workers in crisis, squeezed dry of value, losing both their spirit and hair, then ruthlessly discarded by their companies, that made him decide to take control of his own life’s path.

At the time, he thought it was fine to suffer a bit, and later when he made it through and was about to achieve financial ‘transcendence,’ his body broke down…

Ah…

Life is unpredictable – one must look to the future while cherishing the present.

Well, when there’s free time later, he should reward his junior sister.

This time, he’ll punish her by making her copy the details of Little Jade Peak’s Compound Formation ten times – copying just the Stability Scripture gets monotonous.

Ling’e had helped a lot these past six months.

The [Anti-Western Heaven Immortal Alliance] was progressing vigorously. After Ling’e became familiar with her duties, Li Changshou indeed had much less to worry about.

Currently, dozens of major powers had clearly expressed their intention to unite, with the first alliance meeting planned for ten years later.

He wondered how things were going at the Heaven-Reaching Palace. Whenever Li Changshou used his paper avatar to sense the situation, he found everyone quite busy and didn’t want to disturb them.

He could get a detailed update when he visited Master White later.

Putting aside his concerns, Li Changshou continued chatting casually with the two Judges of Hell.

Passing the eastern fortress, Li Changshou saw Spirit Zhenzhu Child drinking and eating meat with Ox-Head and Horse-Face at the peak and felt somewhat…

Worried.

Speaking of overcompensation, could he be raising a rebellious youth?

Probably not – the Ancient Shamanic Tribe didn’t have thoughts like [My fate is in my hands, not Heaven’s]; they were more [My fate is in my mouth, not my stomach].

Looking at the ‘Netherworld Houses’ being newly built outside Fengdu City, Li Changshou smiled slightly.

After the underworld banquet and reporting back to the Heavenly Court, he could spend a day or two properly developing this place.

…

Half a day later, in the starry night.

Li Changshou’s consciousness arrived in a distant great world, where his paper avatar stretched lazily in Baize’s sleeve.

The reason he didn’t activate the paper avatar with Jiu Jiu was mainly because he kept that one as a backup, for use in case of emergency.

Not because of any strange thoughts!

At this time, this paper avatar – or rather Baize – was in a fairly large stone hall. As Li Changshou’s divine sense swept through, his forehead became covered in black lines.

The stone hall was built with magical power, somewhat crude but sturdy.

On the high platform of the stone hall, Master Forgetting Emotions sat coolly in the main seat wearing a black cloak, saying nothing.

Baize sat in a stone chair to the side, his form hidden in mist, watching the scene below with squinted eyes, occasionally nodding in satisfaction.

Below the hall, hundreds of figures in black cloaks were chanting some kind of incantation; their cultivation levels were increasing extremely slowly, but noticeably…

Beside Baize were three black figures hidden in cloaks. Li Changshou could recognize them as Jiu Jiu, Wine Yiyi, and Wine Shi.

While Jiang Lin’er and others mixed among the crowd below, serving as guides.

The chanting soon stopped, and these hundreds of people who had completed their group cultivation stood up. Someone lit a huge bonfire, and they began to slowly circle it, forming nine large circles from inside to outside.

Before long, they began jumping sideways rhythmically, and the chanting resumed.

Baize announced loudly: “Heaven-Reaching Palace, determines heaven’s reach!”

The group of black figures below shouted in unison: “Heaven-Reaching Palace, determines heaven’s reach!”

Li Changshou: …

This was starting to have a corporate culture feel to it.

However, why did this format seem a bit scary?

He seemed to have instructed Baize to build the Three Thousand Worlds’ largest power, not the Three Thousand Worlds’ darkest power…

Right?

In this scene, with each Qi practitioner below holding a torch, Li Changshou thought it looked like that famous anti-romance organization from his previous life gathering on a special day.

Li Changshou was about to speak when Baize continued:

“For Heaven-Reaching Palace to rise quickly and reach the other shore that you and I seek, the Palace Master has decided to add the position of Holy Maiden!

Currently, there are two candidates, both founding members of Heaven-Reaching Palace.

Let all palace members show their support – whoever receives more support will become our Heaven-Reaching Palace’s Holy Maiden!”

As Baize finished speaking, Wine Yiyi and Wine Shi removed their cloaks and walked to the edge of the platform, gazing down at the crowd.

The palace members below whispered among themselves, voting with their feet by dividing left and right.

Since Heaven-Reaching Palace had previously been divided into Heaven and Earth divisions, with Wine Yiyi and Wine Shi each responsible for one division and recruiting similar numbers of members, the result was barely even.

Baize smiled: “Would the elders please choose.”

At these words, Jiang Lin’er, Wine Wu, and two elderly figures stood out but again reached a tie of two to two.

Baize frowned: “Is there anyone who hasn’t voted?”

“Me!” Jiu Jiu stood on tiptoes and raised her hand from the side, removing her cloak and stepping forward. That supposedly loose black cloak was somehow stretched by certain sinful elements.

She said with difficulty: “Can I abstain? It’s hard to choose.”

Suddenly, a voice came from below:

“I support Drunken Immortal as Holy Maiden!”

With these words, excitement swept through the crowd. There was a rush of footsteps as most of the black figures below surged toward Jiu Jiu’s position on the platform.

Jiu Jiu: …

Someone started chanting “Holy Maiden,” and hundreds of black figures shouted in unison:

“Holy Maiden, Holy Maiden!”

The sound waves were so strong they almost knocked Jiu Jiu to the ground.

Wine Yiyi and Wine Shi exchanged glances, each holding back their laughter as they put their cloaks back on and retreated to the side.

Baize frowned in thought for a moment, looking toward Master Forgetting Emotions, who gave a slight nod…

And so it was decided.

Li Changshou, who had watched the whole thing, felt his mouth twitching. He didn’t know why, but suddenly he didn’t have much hope for Heaven-Reaching Palace anymore…”