In the still and mysterious woods, a clear spring gushed out from between the peaks.

Surrounding the spring was a lush expanse of greenery.

Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the leaves, casting a mosaic of light and shadow on the ground.

Seated by the spring was a small group composed of female devotees. They were adorned in rich and splendid garments, glimmering with jewels of various colors. Gathered together, they formed a circle that bloomed like a flower, radiating a resplendent brilliance.

In the group, some quietly chanted scriptures, some caressed petals, some savored sweet fruits, all amidst an aura of mystique and solemnity.

Suddenly, a path paved with flower petals stretched forth from afar.

It was the Chiling Saintess, retreating from Qingliu County.

Guided by the petal-paved path, she hastily arrived at Canghua Hot Spring. There, she approached a massive rock from which the spring flowed.

"Is Fifth Sister there? Chiling seeks an audience."

"Chiling? Weren't you sent on an expedition? Why have you returned so soon?"

A gentle and soft voice came from within the rock. The next second, the rock slowly parted, revealing a lengthy passageway bathed in a warm glow and wafting with a strong scent of flowers.

She proceeded down the passageway.

Inside the rock was a seemingly boundless sea of golden flowers. Countless petals swirled in the air, mingling and dyeing the sky a golden hue.

And in the center of this sea of flowers sat a woman clad in translucent silk. Her visage was gentle; a faint smile graced her lips, exuding a warm power, reminiscent of a blooming flower in spring.

Sensing the arrival of the Chiling Saintess, the woman slowly opened her eyes, revealing clear and deep blue irises. She rose gracefully to her feet, moving with a lightness and elegance like a soft cloud dancing in the wind.

"What's the matter?" Taking the Chiling Saintess's hand, Saintess Mingxi spoke softly. "I see a brooding black energy between your brows and a dullness above your head. It seems your military expedition was not smooth."

"It was almost a sure success, but who knew that a mysterious Sword Cultivator would interfere and cause my plan to fall short. I find it utterly detestable."

In front of Saintess Mingxi, the Chiling Saintess shed her usual indifferent composure, revealing a bit of petulant girlishness.

"A mysterious Sword Cultivator? So you came to me to help you divine his whereabouts?" Caressing the Chiling Saintess's temples affectionately, Saintess Mingxi said, "The Sword Cultivators are powerful and lofty. I advise you not to provoke them. If you really can't swallow this grievance, ask your Second Sister to help you seek revenge."

"I will not! That Sword Cultivator hides his head but shows his tail, a typical mouse-like coward, ruining my affairs from the shadows. I must find him and personally settle the score. Otherwise, I cannot quell the hatred in my heart." The Chiling Saintess clenched her silver teeth bitterly as she spoke.

"Alright, alright, I'll help you this once. But you'd better be careful. The situation in Dianchuan Province is turbulent, with all sorts of forces stirring. The Sect Hierarch has already ordered us to temporarily rein in our power and fortify the cities we've captured."

"I understand. Thank you, Fifth Sister."

With a nod, the Chiling Saintess flipped her palm over. She produced a slender broadsword that gleamed crimson, as if forged from some ancient and indescribable blood.

"I will protect you during the ritual."

"You little rascal..." Shaking her head helplessly, Saintess Mingxi sat cross-legged, palms upturned as her middle fingers curled slightly.

"Nanming celestial patterns, truths dwelling in existence; all common knowledge, recognize my everlasting law; value lies in peace, seeking prolonged understanding…" She recited mysterious and obscure scriptures.

At the tips of Saintess Mingxi's middle fingers, two drops of blood, red and crystalline as gems, slowly emerged. Driven by an inexplicable force, the two beads of blood floated mid-air. They then merged, gradually spreading out into a shiny, flat, perfect mirror of blood.

"Reveal the truth!" Opening her eyes, Saintess Mingxi's sea-blue irises suddenly emitted a divine light, merging with the blood mirror before her.

The next moment, the blood mirror churned with tumultuous waves. Amid the swirling vortex, a shadowy figure began to emerge.

Gripping the uncanny broadsword, the Chiling Saintess fixed a sharp gaze on the blood mirror, eagerly anticipating the answer to be revealed.

The bloody waters gradually calmed.

A figure with its back turned rose slowly from the center.

But just as the figure was about to turn around, a circle of golden light suddenly blazed behind its head, majestic and radiant.

CRACK—

The blood mirror instantly shattered.

Saintess Mingxi let out a muffled groan. Blood tears streamed from her eyes, and she collapsed.

"Fifth Sister!"

The sudden turn of events took the Chiling Saintess by surprise. She quickly helped Saintess Mingxi up, channeling their shared Vast Gestation Qi into her to stabilize Mingxi's fluctuating energy.

"Protected by the Human Path Merit! Girl, you've meddled with someone you shouldn't have." With streams of blood tears, Saintess Mingxi grasped the Chiling Saintess's wrist tightly. "Listen to me, forget any thoughts of opposing that mysterious Sword Cultivator. Otherwise, a great disaster will surely befall you!"

Unwilling to accept the depth of the Sword Cultivator's power, the Chiling Saintess wiped the blood from Saintess Mingxi's face while asking resentfully, "Why does he have the protection of Human Path Merit? Our Golden Flower Maternal Sect saves the masses and creates the An'ning Holy Nation to shelter the people. No one has ever enjoyed such an honor. He is a Sword Cultivator with hands soaked in blood, what right does he have!"

"You silly girl, the fairness of the world cannot be explained by a simple 'what right does he have?'" With a helpless pat on the back of the Chiling Saintess's hand, Saintess Mingxi softly cautioned. "Just remember, never harbor the slightest intention of contending with this person again."

"Chiling understands. It's just that I feel uneasy about Fifth Sister suffering this unwarranted disaster because of me. Sister, wait here for me. I'm going to find Third Sister to come and heal you."

She rose and, riding an Escape Light of petals, plunged into the golden sea of flowers. The Chiling Saintess's aura vanished in an instant.

"Sigh, a Sword Cultivator protected by Human Path Merit... I fear another storm of bloodshed is on the horizon." Barely opening her eyelids a slit, Saintess Mingxi's azure eyes were full of cracks. This was the terror of being protected by Human Path Merit. If she hadn't timely dispelled the deduction technique, her eyes would have exploded into fragments, just like that blood mirror.

「Qingliu County.」

In a small courtyard house.

Lying on a rocking chair, Qi Xiu held a bowl of grapes, eating while casually spitting the skins out. A fabric doll beside him held a broom and dustpan. Whenever Qi Xiu spat out a skin, the doll would immediately sweep it up.

With downcast eyes, gazing into the void at a panel that only he could see, Qi Xiu's gaze was pensive.

[Human Path Merit (First Realm): 0%]

This debt of gratitude seems a bit too large.

He had saved Qingliu County and repelled the onslaught of the Golden Flower Maternal Sect Rebel Army. The great opportunity mentioned by Daoist Qingya was this so-called Human Path Merit.

Having Human Path Merit for protection, I won't be afraid of someone stabbing me in the back in the future.

Spitting out a grape skin, Qi Xiu closed his eyes. A bright, golden halo, as if forged from pure gold, majestic and imposing, floated within his Sea of Consciousness.

Human Path Merit.

A special force bestowed by the Human Dao in response to greatly benevolent deeds. This power has no offensive capabilities, nor can it be wielded at will. Its primary effect is to provide a form of protection that operates behind the scenes. Any malevolent acts against those who have Human Path Merit will be abhorred by the Human Dao, even resulting in severe backlash. Moreover, those with Human Path Merit will see an enhancement in their fortunes, turning bad luck into good and disaster into blessing.

However, by common sense, the power of merit cannot be obtained through cultivation. It is only when one's actions benefit the Human Dao that the Human Dao, sensing this, bestows merit upon them. So why does the phrase 'Human Path Merit' appear on the proficiency panel?

Massaging his temples, Qi Xiu's thoughts whirled.

If it appears on the proficiency panel, it means this ability can be cultivated and upgraded through the divine marvel that effort guarantees reward. If that really is the case... Then I've really hit the jackpot!

With eyes shining sharply, and through recent intensive studying, Qi Xiu had significantly filled the gaps in his knowledge of the cultivation realm.

The power of merit is one of the very special forces in the cultivation realm. Few sects or aristocratic families other than the Buddha Sect are involved in it. After all, ninety percent of the sects and aristocratic families of the Great Xuan Dynasty pay no heed to commoners. They exist in a completely different realm, resulting in little interaction between them. The cultivators' robes they cannot shed make it difficult for disciples of the Sect Aristocracy to lower themselves to walk among mortals and painstakingly gather the power of merit.

But without a doubt, the strength of the power of merit is unquestionable.

The most recent example was from twenty-seven years ago, an obscure Arhat Temple in Jiannan Province. When all the infants from the county below the temple were kidnapped by demons overnight, the abbot of Arhat Temple went alone to brave the Demon Cave. With just a string of prayer beads and a wooden fish, he sat in front of the Demon Cave, chanting sutras for ten days. Within the Demon Cave were Great Demons from the Blood-Stained Realm, and even the Dao Body Realm, yet they were helpless against this abbot, a mere mortal with no cultivation. In the end, every demon in that Demon Cave was converted by the abbot. Not only were the kidnapped infants returned, but the demons also voluntarily converted to the Buddha Sect, becoming protectors of that Arhat Temple.

And the reason those demons didn't dare to attack the abbot was because of the profound Human Path Merit he was endowed with.

Make a move? The mere hint of a malicious thought, and they would face thunder from the heavens or fissures of molten fire from the earth. The crushing power of Heaven and Earth—who could withstand it?

My Human Path Merit (First Realm) surely doesn't reach the realm of that eminent monk. But as long as it can be cultivated, I can eventually push this Human Path Merit to a complete state. When that time comes, with merit upon me, facing any foe, Qi Someone can stand unconquered. What I need to do now is figure out how to increase the proficiency of Human Path Merit...

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