Cultivation Begins from Infancy - Chapter 281

Volume 3 - Chapter 32: The Merit Treasury, Who is Chong Er? - Part 2

Subduing a demon king was incredibly challenging. For example, the first Sacred Palace Master of Tangong had, centuries ago, only managed to reach an agreement with Song Qiumo rather than establishing a true master-servant relationship.

In contrast, the Divine General Mansion of the Xia family was said to favor subduing demon kings. The Xia matriarch was especially skilled in taming demons. Most territories overseen by the Xia family had demon kings secretly assisting in their defense.

These demon kings were also registered in the Demon Ledger of the Great Yu Divine Dynasty and were considered “official employees.”

If this Candlefire God couple were truly subdued as demon kings, they would undoubtedly be an exceptional asset. Together, their combined strength in the Supreme Dao Realm rivaled that of the Boundless Buddhist Lord.

They would rank among the most powerful individuals of the Great Yu Divine Dynasty.

“I’ll also teach you how to use the Qiankun Belt. For now, place them inside. Their physical forms have been eroded by the River of Death, and their cultivation has suffered. Once you gain the Ji family’s recognition and become a genius, you can apply to have them sent to the Ji family’s sacred land for restoration,” Ji Yunge explained.

The Qiankun Belt he mentioned was the one the short man had tossed to Li Hao.

It contained a Dao Rhythmic Blood Fruit and claimed to house a vast spatial realm.

Unlike the space opened by someone in the Dao Heart Realm, this belt’s small world was created by transferring spatial realms onto an artifact with the help of a powerful cultivator. In the Ancient Holy Clans, such items were called "small worlds."

The small world within the Qiankun Belt was vast, comparable to the spatial realm opened by someone in the Reverse Fate Realm, making it more than capable of accommodating the injured Candlefire God couple.

“Finally, I’m home,” Ji Yunge said, his instructions to Li Hao complete. With no lingering worries, he turned his gaze toward the scenery ahead, and his obsessions began to dissipate.

As his obsessions faded, Li Hao felt a warmth in his palm. A golden light emerged from his hand, revealing the Golden Page of the River of Death.

It floated before his eyes, ancient characters carved upon its surface:

[Progress 100%. Successfully cleared Dragon City’s River of Death. Reward: 100,000 Merit Points.]

[Congratulations! You are the first person in the Great Yu Divine Dynasty to accumulate 100,000 Merit Points. The Merit Treasury is now unlocked.]

[Congratulations! For summoning the Merit Treasury, you are awarded 10,000 Merit Points.]

[The River of Death will soon close. Please leave immediately.]

A series of ancient accolades were engraved upon the page.

Li Hao then noticed his merit ranking on the Golden Page had soared to the top, surpassing the previous leader, Wang Zhendong.

The opponent’s Merit Points, last seen by Li Hao at Fengshan’s River of Death, had now climbed but still fell short of 10,000.

While Li Hao marveled at this, the Golden Page radiated a golden glow and formed words once again:

[The Merit Treasury is now open. Use your Merit Points to exchange for treasures within.]

At the same time, a miniature golden Merit Hall emerged on the Golden Page.

When Li Hao activated it with his divine sense, he felt his consciousness being drawn into it, suddenly finding himself inside a resplendent palace of gold and jade.

Surrounding him were countless treasures imbued with the aura of the Heavenly Dao, suspended in midair.

Li Hao gazed upward, stunned by the breathtaking sight.

The names of these treasures alone were enough to leave anyone speechless.

[Sword Heart: Exchangeable for Merit Points]

[Grandmaster’s Heart: Exchangeable for Merit Points]

[Nine-Forged Divine Weapon: Exchangeable for Merit Points]

[Reverse Fate Power: Exchangeable for Merit Points]

[Tongli Realm Extreme Divine Strength: Exchangeable for Merit Points]

[Sacred Heart Treasure: Exchangeable for Merit Points]

[Dao Fruit: 10,000 Merit Points]

...

Li Hao rubbed his eyes, doubting his vision. These merit treasures were outrageously extravagant!

Sword Heart? Isn’t that a state of mind? And it’s exchangeable?

Reverse Fate Power? That’s a unique ability of Reverse Fate Realm experts, practically a second life!

And here, one could obtain it for just 10,000 Merit Points!

The Tongli Realm Extreme Divine Strength was even more astonishing—this ultimate state of divine power was also available for the same price.

“This is unbelievable,” Li Hao muttered, stunned. Such untouchable powers were here reduced to “items” that could be directly exchanged in the Merit Treasury!

...

...

As Li Hao unlocked the Merit Treasury, the entire Great Yu Divine Dynasty—across all nineteen provinces—erupted in chaos!

Everyone who had ever ventured into the River of Death felt a sudden heat in their palms. Golden light burst from their Golden Pages:

[In the Great Yu Divine Dynasty, the first person to accumulate 100,000 Merit Points has appeared. The Merit Treasury is now open.]

The golden text left everyone dumbfounded.

As they cautiously accessed the Merit Treasury, they were immediately shocked by the dazzling spectacle within.

Their Merit Points determined what treasures they could see.

For instance, someone with 1,000 Merit Points could only view treasures priced at 1,000 Merit Points or less.

But with 10,000 Merit Points, they could see treasures valued at 10,000 Merit Points.

Sword Heart, Grandmaster’s Heart!

Just seeing these treasures left countless people in awe and uproar.

Beyond the Sword Heart, there were also Blade Hearts, Spear Hearts, and other weapon-related states of mind.

Achieving such mastery typically required talent and insight, making it inaccessible to all but the most gifted.

Now, however, these could be directly exchanged!

The Grandmaster’s Heart was even more coveted. Many prodigies from prestigious families, despite immense resources, remained stuck at the Heaven-and-Man Realm for decades, unable to become Grandmasters.

No amount of parental love or expenditure could force such a breakthrough.

Yet here, the Grandmaster’s Heart offered them hope.

“This is paradise!”

“Even the Grandmaster’s Heart can be exchanged? Incredible!”

“If I clear an Underworld-level River of Death, I’ll earn 1,000 Merit Points and be able to exchange for ten of them!”

“Can the Grandmaster’s Heart be stacked? Would that make someone a super Grandmaster?”

“You’re overthinking it.”

Simultaneously, fervent discussions spread across the Great Yu Divine Dynasty.

Nobles, Divine General Mansions, and officials alike were stunned by this unprecedented event.

In the Holy Capital’s imperial palace, the mighty Yu Emperor presided over morning court. His middle-aged appearance was imposing, his physique robust, and his gaze as piercing as the sun and moon. None dared to meet his eyes directly.

Below him, ministers and generals stood in two rows on the dragon-emblazoned carpet, discussing the conferral of merit for defending Liang Province.

“That Li family...”

A civil official began his report, only to be interrupted by startled exclamations.

His heart sank, fearing he had misspoken, but when he looked up, he saw golden light appearing on both sides of the court.

The River of Death, which had plagued the Great Yu Divine Dynasty for over two millennia, had grown increasingly severe over the last 800 years. What once was a manageable threat beyond the borders had expanded.

When the Wang family was tasked with guarding the River of Death, it became a test of loyalty. Many officials, to demonstrate their devotion, acquired Golden Pages of the River of Death.

After all, slaying demons could be exaggerated, but the Golden Pages were irrefutable proof of their righteousness.

“The Merit Treasury?”

“What’s going on?”

“Someone has reached 100,000 Merit Points? That’s impossible! Wasn’t Wang Zhendong barely near 10,000?”

“100,000?!”

Everyone was in an uproar.

Soon, someone checked the Merit Rankings and saw the name now dominating the list above Wang Zhendong:

Chong Er!

“Who is Chong Er?!”

“Who is this person with such a strange name? Who is Chong Er?!”

In the imperial court, all eyes widened in shock as they looked around.

Several Wang family officials were visibly shaken. They knew the horrors of the River of Death and were astounded that a non-Wang name now topped the rankings.

On the dragon throne, the Yu Emperor froze for a moment. Such a mystical phenomenon was unprecedented, even for him.

The Merit Treasury?

His sharp gaze fell upon the golden treasure hall displayed on the Golden Page. With a thought, his divine sense entered it.

Instantly, a palace rivaling the imperial palace in splendor appeared in his mind, filled with countless merit treasures.

Sword Heart?

Reverse Fate Power?!

The Yu Emperor’s eyes narrowed, his pupils slightly contracting in shock.

He immediately grasped the earth-shattering implications of the Merit Treasury’s emergence. It heralded monumental, history-changing achievements...

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