Lai State, Kaiyuan Sect Headquarters.

After the transmission ended, silence enveloped the grand hall; only wisps of smoke curled around a few divine statues.

“Ha…”

Helian Boxiong suddenly laughed heartily, looking at everyone and said, “We were overthinking, always feeling unprepared, but it turns out we were unsure, waiting for True Man Zhang to speak.”

“Indeed…”

Elder Huayan stroked his beard with deep emotion, “The day has finally arrived, everything is renewed, new creations of Kaiyuan, a blessing for the human race…”

“Actually, it’s nothing much.”

Taoist Puyang smiled and said, “The powerful clans across regions have been dispersed by us. Now the divine network’s decrees are accessible everywhere. True Man Zhang’s reputation among the people has already reached its peak. With a single command, the heavens can be changed, the earth can be moved. The time has naturally come!”

“Well said!”

The hall erupted with joy.

The guard at the door, though curious, did not look around recklessly. He did not understand the matters discussed by the National Guardian True Men, he just needed to perform his duty diligently to accumulate merit points, which could be exchanged for talismans, spiritual medicine, or money and food for his family.

Zhang Kui’s human merit system doesn’t require you to perform grand deeds or to be a saint wholeheartedly.

The hardworking farmer’s cultivation is merit, the government official’s arrest of thieves is merit, and the teacher’s education of students is also merit. No matter if you’re a commoner, a cultivator, or a True Man, all efforts eventually converge bit by bit to strengthen the human race.

Just like Zhang Kui once said, it’s not about seeking the world’s great unity, but about ensuring the human race is no longer as insignificant as ants, but lives with hope.

And hope is actually very simple, it’s about everyone knowing what they should do, and getting what they deserve after their efforts.

This is the greatest function of the merit system!

The Kaiyuan Sect on the mountain was brightly lit, while the town below was bustling even at night. All of Lai State was surging with a terrifying force accumulating in people’s hearts.

Unknowingly, snowflakes began to fall from the sky, fluttering into the darkness and the lights.

Another year of winter arrived…

…

“The bright moon shines on the vast sea, a divine ship… sails through the void, an immortal bestows sacred liquor, laughing heartily between heaven and earth… hahaha…”

Cui Yebai got drunk and sprawled next to the dragon ship, making a scene, completely different from his earlier shaky demeanor.

“Hahaha…”

Zhang Kui lifted a wine jar and took a fierce gulp, laughing, “You scholar, you speak so smoothly. Though I’m no immortal, this wine is indeed excellent. Come, drink!”

Having rescued old friends, after not seeing them for a long time, it was natural to indulge in a good drink. Zhang Kui invited the three onto the dragon ship, sailing through the sea of clouds, admiring the moon and tasting wine.

On the opposite side, Old Liu smacked his lips with a wine bowl in hand, watching the clouds roll by, his eyes filled with bewilderment, “Master Kui, knowing you in this life is worthwhile.”

“What nonsense, keep drinking!”

Zhang Kui sighed slightly, continuing to urge them to drink.

Though he had great abilities, he still couldn’t reverse yin and yang. Old Liu had poor cultivation aptitude and only had more than ten years left to live.

This was the fate one must face on the path of pursuit; all known people would age and turn to dust, leaving only oneself to witness the changes of the world alone.

The past is precious, the future is promising, but only the current scene should not be wasted!

Unconsciously, all three became drunk. Old Liu and Cui Yebai lay unconscious inside the ship, while Yang Bai still had some consciousness, hugging Fatty Tiger with tears and rambling.

Fatty Tiger looked disdainful but did not escape, considering Yang Bai as his little brother. Though not very capable, his flattery was indeed persuasive.

Zhang Kui seeing this laughed heartily,

“Fool, go, take these three drunkards back to the ship, we’re departing.”

“Taoist, where are we going?”

“Back to Jiangzhou!”

…

The mountains and rivers of Central State are vast, the climate varies from north to south. Lai State, Anqing State, and other places are covered in boundless snow, and the mountains are clad in silver. But once past Lanzhou, it’s a constant drizzle and piercing cold wind.

The dragon ship passed through the overcast clouds, and the rain curtain automatically parted, turning into mist and gently falling down.

Below, the verdant waves billowed; it was the location of the Lanjiang Water Mansion, and Yuan Huang was already on the lake’s surface welcoming them with Great Venerate Toad.

Zhang Kui originally planned to head straight back to Jiangzhou, but suddenly remembered that Yuan Huang had invited him to Lanjiang Water Mansion several times. Now, as allies who had helped each other greatly, it was a perfect opportunity to visit the mysterious old mansion master.

“Haha, Taoist friend, long time no see.”

“Taoist Friend Yuanhuang, greetings.”

As the dragon ship descended, Yuan Huang clasped his hands and smiled, exchanging pleasantries with Zhang Kui.

Great Venerate Toad, looking at the dragon ship, eyes gleaming, said, “True Man Zhang, this divine ship is a treasure indeed, but there’s one disadvantage—it can’t be carried around when shrunk. What if someone steals it?”

Zhang Kui raised an eyebrow, “If anyone has that capability, I’ll resign myself to it.”

No sooner had he finished speaking than the dragon ship erupted in a golden protective shield, and a dozen Yellow Turban Warriors suddenly appeared, ferocious and menacingly arming the dragon bone ship crossbow, their killing intent permeating the surroundings.

Great Venerate Toad shrank back his head, grinning sheepishly, “Haha, truly formidable.”

He could feel the tremendous strength of the spirits of these peculiar warriors, beyond his probing ability. If I recall correctly, there were over forty of them; approaching would risk being beaten to death.

Yuan Huang stood to the side, smiling without a word.

Since this ship was bound for the Underworld, Zhang Kui did not conceal it from him. Although these Yellow Turban Warriors are fierce, they cannot leave the dragon ship.

It’s a bit of a pity, but if one can have such a safe haven in the Underworld, it’s a dream come true for countless people.

Upon thinking this, Yuan Huang smiled slightly, “The Mansion Master is already waiting, Taoist Friend Zhang, please!”

Zhang Kui nodded, instructing Fatty Tiger to stay on the ship, he followed the two into the Water Mansion, along the way the River Demons and Water Ghosts all bowed respectfully and retreated.

The last visit was sneaky, this time coming as an honored guest and with increased power, Zhang Kui instantly saw the arrangement of the Water Mansion clearly.

It turns out this Water Mansion is actually built upon an Extreme Yin Spiritual Vein, those Talins are the nodes, which is why they congeal into ice.

And those evil spirits of the Water Mansion, after entering the tower, not only nourish themselves with yin energy but also use the slight yang energy born from the Extreme Yin to cultivate, drawing from the excess to replenish the deficiency, it’s quite ingenious.

Zhang Kui watched and nodded slightly.

If one were to open the sect, the spirit veins would certainly need modifying, this thing may be useless for him, but it’s crucial for ordinary humans.

He has seen many places, finding that each forbidden ground has its own uniqueness, yet ultimately they cannot escape the Dao of Yin and Yang and Five Elements, and the spirit veins they are situated on are crucial.

Zhang Kui suddenly recalled the Feng Shui Land Recognition Skill from the Earth Demon 72 Techniques, which he had only leveled up once at the time, but now it is just what he needs.

There are also skills like medicine and star skills, which although don’t help much in combat power, now that he doesn’t lack offensive means, these auxiliary skills become indispensable if he is to open a sect.

As he walked and thought, in the blink of an eye, he arrived before a deep cave at the center of the Water Mansion, where Yuan Huang turned and said, “Taoist Friend Zhang, the Mansion Master is waiting for you inside, there might be some words only meant for your ears.”

As if fearing Zhang Kui might be suspicious, he added, “Below is a spatial fracture, similar to an Ancient Secret Realm, feel free to enter, my friend.”

Zhang Kui nodded, took a step forward, and his figure was instantly swallowed by darkness…

Dimly dark, blood-red flames were everywhere.

Zhang Kui was taken aback as soon as he came down, good heavens, so many Karmic Fire Red Lotuses, no wonder Yuan Huang was so generous.

“Hahaha…”

A burst of old laughter sounded, and an old monk with scales all over him slowly emerged from the darkness, “Young friend, I know you have extraordinary mystical skills, but this Karmic Fire cannot be given to you, for if it’s diminished, the Buddha Mother might emerge immediately…”

“Greetings, senior!”

Zhang Kui quickly cupped his hands, this old monk was clearly a flood dragon, yet he had a trace of Dragon Qi, and his Qi Mechanism was gentle and vast, with immeasurable Buddhist skill.

Oddly, he seemed in a state between life and death, somewhat similar to the military advisor of the General’s Tomb, yet it was another state.

“Buddha Mother?”

Zhang Kui furrowed his brow slightly, this name gave him a bad premonition.

The old monk faintly smiled, “Young friend, if you have the means to probe, you can see what’s below.”

“Alright.”

Zhang Kui nodded, the Sun and Moon Light Wheel instantly spun in his eyes, and two beams of light shot toward the ground.

The old monk was stunned, then shook his head, “This probing method, the commotion is too great.”

However, Zhang Kui on the opposite side was taken aback, for in the darkness beneath his feet lay a massive skeleton over a hundred meters high, with three heads and six arms; the forehead’s cavity was already extending with flesh visible to the naked eye, and the bones were entwined with squirming flesh.

And a giant three-clawed flood dragon skeleton clutched the opposing head tightly, its tail connected to the Karmic Fire Red Lotus on the ground, continuously extracting and burning the aura on this bizarre skeleton.

Zhang Kui suddenly recalled something,

“That Drought Fiend Divine Statue…”

The old monk nodded slightly, “Indeed, over ten thousand years ago, the Jialuo Race of Peacock Buddha Country practiced Nirvana, attempting to use relics found from the Underworld to nurture a Buddha Son, but this race was dark and brutal, instead creating an Evil Buddha that caused chaos, and was destroyed by a coalition of many forbidden grounds.”

“But no one expected that the Buddha Mother skeleton, which had nurtured the Evil Buddha, would escape the pursuit, reaching Central State. The unfortunate old monk happened to encounter it and had to abandon his true form to suppress it, leaving a remnant soul here.”

Zhang Kui’s eyes flickered, knowing the old monk’s words were true, and he respectfully cupped his hands, “Senior has great merit with Central State beings.”

“Merit, my ass…”

The old monk sighed, “Merely lost in my own misfortune, if given another chance, I would definitely avoid it, or widely invite friends to deal with it together.”

Zhang Kui was speechless, his mouth twitching, “Is there anything I, the junior, can help with?”

The old monk coughed a few times, eyes serene, “Young friend possesses sky-reaching mystical skills, the human race also has a rising momentum, my time is limited, I can’t last another few years, when the time comes for this thing to emerge, the people of the Water Mansion might struggle to cope, I need your help.”

“The junior obeys.”

Zhang Kui nodded in agreement.

Not to mention the alliance with the Lanjiang Water Mansion, since this thing exists within Central State, how could the human race escape it?

“There is one more matter…”

The old monk suddenly lifted his eyes to ask, “Young friend, are you planning to act against the General’s Tomb?”

Zhang Kai squinted slightly, “Why does senior say that?”

The old monk chuckled, “Listening to your words, observing your actions, guessing your intent, your past is well-known, you’ve also specifically stationed yourself in Jiangzhou, don’t take the world’s people for fools.”

“The General’s Tomb may not have regarded you before, but after the battle with the East Sea, it has probably already started guarding against you.”

Zhang Kui remained silent.

The old monk was right, his past experiences were too simple, actions too unmasked, even an ordinary person could guess, let alone the General’s Tomb.

The old monk shook his head slightly, “Young friend need not worry, the General’s Tomb is leaderless, internal strife brewing, by now they must be in a state of high alert.”

“The reason I mention this is to remind you, young friend, not to let them release what lies beneath the General’s Tomb…”

Zhang Kui’s face immediately turned ugly.

The Chai Kingdom hides a Desolate Beast, the Lanjiang Water Mansion suppresses the Buddha Mother, why is there also something beneath the General’s Tomb?

The old monk chuckled, “There are no fools in this world, only the Spiritual Sect was isolated overseas for the shortest time, whom do you think Emperor Qianyuan learned his methods from…”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep