Chapter 113: Protected by the Merit of Humanity!

In the silent and mysterious forest, a clear spring gushed forth from between the mountain peaks. The area surrounding the spring was a lush, vibrant green. Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the leaves, casting mottled patterns of light upon the ground. Sitting by the water was a small group of female devotees. They were adorned in magnificent, resplendent garments, shimmering with jewels of various colors. Gathered together, they formed a circle that blossomed like a flower, radiating a beautiful glow. Some in the group softly chanted scriptures, others caressed flower petals, and some tasted sweet fruits, filling the air with a mysterious and solemn atmosphere.

Suddenly, a path paved with flower petals extended from the distance. It was the Saintess Chiling, who had just suffered a defeat in Qingliu County. Riding the petal path all the way to the Hidden Flower Hot Spring, Saintess Chiling hurried to a massive rock where the spring water surged.

"Is Fifth Sister present? Chiling requests an audience."

"Chiling? Weren't you ordered to lead the expedition? Why have you returned so soon?"

A gentle and melodious voice emanated from within the rock. The next moment, the rock slowly split to reveal a long passage, from which warm light and the rich scent of flowers drifted out. She walked inside.

Within the rock lay an endless sea of golden flowers. Countless petals gathered and dispersed in the air, staining the sky a brilliant gold. In the center of this sea of flowers sat a woman dressed in translucent silk. She had a gentle appearance, a faint smile on her lips, and radiated a warm energy, much like a flower blooming in spring.

Sensing the arrival of Saintess Chiling, the woman slowly opened her eyes, which were clear and transparent, like a deep azure sea. She stood up slowly, her movements as light and graceful as a soft cloud dancing in the wind.

"What is it? Your brow is clouded with dark energy and your aura is dim; it seems this expedition did not go well."

Taking Saintess Chiling's hand, Saintess Mingxi spoke softly.

"It should have been a sure victory, but a mysterious sword cultivator interfered, causing my efforts to fall short. It is truly hateful."

Before Saintess Mingxi, Saintess Chiling shed her usual cold and calm demeanor, revealing the petulance of a young girl.

"A mysterious sword cultivator? So you came to me because you want me to help you track this person's whereabouts?"

Tenderly stroking Saintess Chiling's temple, Saintess Mingxi said, "The lineage of sword cultivators possesses overwhelming martial prowess. I advise you not to provoke them. If you truly cannot swallow this grievance, go ask your Second Sister to help you seek revenge."

"I will not! That sword cultivator hides his head and shows his tail, acting like a common rat, ruining my plans from the shadows. I must find him and face him in personal combat. Otherwise, I cannot quench the hatred in my heart." Saintess Chiling gritted her teeth, speaking with bitter resentment.

"Very well, I will help you this once. But you had best be careful. The situation in the Dianchuan Province is turbulent, and various factions are stirring. The Sect Leader has already ordered us to consolidate our forces and hold the prefectures we have captured."

"I understand. Sorry for the trouble, Fifth Sister."

Nodding, Saintess Chiling flipped her palm and produced a slender, single-edged blade, its entire length a vivid, blood-red, as if forged from some ancient and indescribable blood.

"I shall protect you during the ritual."

"You child..." Shaking her head helplessly, Saintess Mingxi sat cross-legged, palms facing upward, her middle fingers slightly curled. "Southern Heaven Astronomy, seeking truth in the silence; all common knowledge, knowing my constant way; valuing peace and joy, begging for long-lasting wisdom..."

As she chanted the ancient, obscure, and mysterious scriptures, two droplets of bright red, crystalline blood slowly seeped from the tips of her middle fingers. Driven by an unseen force, the two blood droplets hovered in mid-air. They fused together, gradually expanding and flattening into a perfectly smooth, crystal-clear mirror of blood.

"Reflect!"

Opening her eyes, a miraculous light shot from Saintess Mingxi's sea-blue pupils, merging into the blood mirror before her. The next instant, the mirror churned with surging waves, and a figure gradually emerged from the swirling vortex.

Clutching her eerie blade, Saintess Chiling narrowed her eyes, staring intently at the answer about to be revealed in the blood mirror. The blood calmed. A figure with its back turned slowly rose from the center.

But just as the figure began to turn around, a golden halo of light ignited behind its head—vast, majestic, and awe-inspiring.

*Crack—*

The blood mirror shattered instantly. Saintess Mingxi let out a muffled groan as twin trails of blood flowed from her eyes, and she collapsed.

"Fifth Sister!"

The sudden turn of events caught Saintess Chiling off guard. She quickly helped Saintess Mingxi up, channeling her own 'Wanyu' vital energy—which shared the same origin—into her sister to stabilize her aura.

"Humanitarian Merit as a shield! Child, you have provoked someone you should not have." With tears of blood still streaming from her eyes, Saintess Mingxi tightly grasped Saintess Chiling's wrist. "Listen to your Fifth Sister: do not harbor another thought of opposing that mysterious sword cultivator. Otherwise, a great disaster will surely befall you!"

Never imagining that the mysterious sword cultivator possessed such a foundation, Saintess Chiling wiped the blood from Saintess Mingxi's face while asking with lingering reluctance, "How could that person possibly have the protection of Humanitarian Merit? Our Golden Flower Mother Sect saves the masses, creates a peaceful holy land, and protects the common people, yet not a single one of us has ever enjoyed such an honor. He is nothing but a sword cultivator with blood on his hands—how does he deserve it?"

"Oh, child, how can the justice of the world be explained by a mere 'how'? Just remember: do not let another thought of contending with this person cross your mind." Patting the back of Saintess Chiling's hand helplessly, Saintess Mingxi urged her softly.

"Chiling understands. It is just that I feel terrible for causing you such unmerited suffering, Fifth Sister. Wait here, I will go find Third Sister to treat you."

Rising and riding a ray of petal-light, Saintess Chiling rushed into the golden sea of flowers, her presence vanishing in an instant.

"Sigh, with a sword cultivator now protected by Humanitarian Merit, I fear another storm of blood is coming."

Struggling to open her eyelids, Saintess Mingxi saw her azure eyes filled with cracks. This was the terror of having Humanitarian Merit as a shield. If she hadn't dissipated her divination technique in time, her eyes would have shattered into dust, just like the blood mirror.

...

Qingliu County. In a small courtyard house.

Lying in a rocking chair, Qi Xiu held a bowl of grapes, eating them and spitting out the skins with a rhythmic *pfft*. Beside him, a cloth doll held a broom and a dustpan. Every time Qi Xiu spat out a skin, it swept it away.

With eyes cast downward, Qi Xiu contemplated the interface visible only to him in the void.

[Humanitarian Merit (First Realm): 0%]

"This debt of gratitude is a bit too large."

He had saved Qingliu County and crushed the rebellion of the Golden Flower Mother Sect. The "great opportunity" the Daoist of Green Cliff had spoken of was this so-called Humanitarian Merit.

"With this Humanitarian Merit as a shield, I won't have to worry about anyone stabbing me in the back in the future."

Spitting out another grape skin, Qi Xiu closed his eyes. A brilliant, majestic golden halo, as if forged from pure gold, hung within his sea of consciousness.

Humanitarian Merit was a special power bestowed by humanity itself upon sensing an act of great virtue. This power had no offensive capability, nor could it be actively wielded. Its greatest function was to generate a form of protection in the unseen realm. Any malicious act directed at someone possessing Humanitarian Merit would be met with the disgust of humanity, or even suffer a violent backlash. Furthermore, those who possessed it would see an increase in their fortune, turning misfortune into blessings.

"But logically speaking, the power of merit cannot be obtained through cultivation. It is only bestowed when one benefits humanity. Why, then, does this 'Humanitarian Merit' appear on my proficiency panel?"

Rubbing his brow, Qi Xiu’s mind raced. If it could appear on his proficiency panel, it meant this ability could be leveled up through the mysterious logic of "effort always yields results." If that were true... then he had hit the jackpot!

His eyes gleamed. Thanks to his recent intensive study, Qi Xiu had greatly filled the gaps in his knowledge of the cultivation world. The power of merit was one of the most unique forces in the world of cultivation. Aside from the Buddhist sects, very few clans or families ever involved themselves with it. After all, ninety percent of the sects and families of the Great Xuan Dynasty ignored the commoners entirely; they existed on two completely different levels, with almost no intersection.

The heavy "long robes" of cultivation made it difficult for disciples of sects and noble families to lower their status and walk among the world, painstakingly collecting the power of merit. But there was no doubt about the immense power of merit.

The most recent example was twenty-seven years ago, at the obscure Arhat Temple in Jiannan Province. When all the infants in the county below the mountain were abducted by demons overnight, the Abbot of Arhat Temple heard the news and, single-handedly, ventured into the demon's lair. With only a string of prayer beads and a wooden fish, he sat before the lair and chanted scriptures for ten days. The lair was filled with formidable demons, including those of the Blood-Stained Realm and even the Dao-Body Realm, yet they were completely helpless against this monk, who possessed no cultivation and only a physical body of flesh and blood.

In the end, all the demons in the lair were converted by the Abbot. Not only were the infants returned, but the demons themselves willingly joined the Buddhist faith, becoming guardians of the Arhat Temple. The reason the demons dared not lay a hand on the Abbot was because of the thick layer of Humanitarian Merit he carried.

Attack him? The moment a single malicious thought arose, either heavenly thunder would strike or volcanic fire would erupt from the earth. Under the crushing pressure of heaven and earth, who could withstand it?

"My first realm of Humanitarian Merit surely cannot compare to that high monk's level. But as long as it can be cultivated, I will eventually be able to push this merit to a state of perfection. Once that is achieved, I will stand invincible against any opponent. For now, what I must do is figure out how to increase the proficiency of this Humanitarian Merit..."