NOVEL NEXT Chapter 12
Chapter 12: Merit Lottery, Substitute Death Yin Puppet
“Colorful Merit Fish, Ten Billion Grand Prize.”
Due to the widespread disseMyriadmination of related news and ongoing discussions, Lü Yang quickly grasped the situation without much effort.
It turned out that within the Primordial Saint Sect, there was a permanent special task known as “Accumulating Merit.”
The location was beneath the Sacred Fire Cliff, deep within the sea of clouds, at a treasured place called the “Merit Pool,” where an exotic spiritual beast resided, known as the “Merit Fish.”
The fish came in five colors: white, blue, purple, gold, and colorful.
The closer the fish was to the colorful hue, the more abundant its essence; consuming it not only enhanced the quality of true qi but also had the effect of breaking through bottlenecks.
Thus, the so-called “Accumulating Merit” task was born.
Each person could undertake this task once a month, first blindly selecting a number, then paying 10 contribution points to receive the Merit Fish corresponding to that number.
However, the 10 contribution points paid by the cultivator were not reclaimed by the sect but were instead recorded in the Merit Pool’s account.
The sect’s higher-ups had specifically explained: as long as someone selected the sole colorful Merit Fish in the pool, they would receive all the contribution points within the Merit Pool!
This task had been issued for nearly a hundred years.
Yet, in all that time, no one had selected the colorful Merit Fish, resulting in the accumulation of contribution points in the pool reaching astronomical figures.
“Ten billion! Ten billion!”
On the rocking chair, the old man continued to mutter softly, his tone filled with envy, jealousy, and resentment.
Just yesterday, the grand prize of this “Merit Lottery” finally had a result, and the disciple who obtained it had been in the sect for less than ten days.
A century-old prize pool was claimed by a newcomer who had been in the sect for less than ten days!
No wonder the old man from the Library Pavilion felt unbalanced, especially since his participation in the Merit Pool task over the years contributed to that ten billion prize.
Moreover, that Xiao Shiye, upon obtaining the ten billion grand prize from the Merit Pool, also received the most precious colorful Merit Fish.
After consuming it, he broke through from the first layer of Qi Refining to the peak of Qi Refining overnight. He had now been accepted as a disciple by a True Person within the sect and was in seclusion, preparing to break through to Foundation Establishment.
Such a fortunate encounter made even Lü Yang reveal a look of envy.
However, his expression soon changed because that lucky individual, Xiao Shiye, did not conceal the number he chose when he drew the colorful Merit Fish.
“2025113”
Looking at this number, Lü Yang couldn't help but swallow hard.
As Lü Yang firmly memorized this string of numbers, preparing to use it in his next life, a graceful figure suddenly walked into the Library Pavilion.
“Junior Brother Lü?”
Lü Yang responded by looking up and immediately recognized the person—it was none other than Fairy Qing Chen. She seemed surprised as well, her delicate face showing a hint of pleasant surprise at the unexpected encounter.
“Oh, it's Qing Chen. Is it time?”
The old man from the Library Pavilion also saw Fairy Qing Chen. His previously bored expression instantly became serious as he stood up and said, “Then let's set off quickly.”
“Senior Brother, are you also going to explore the cave dwelling?” Lü Yang asked curiously.
“What else?” The old man from the Library Pavilion replied grumpily, “I just lost a large sum of money. If I don't find some extra income, I'll be drinking the northwest wind!”
“Lost a large sum of money?”
“Ah, it was due to my momentary carelessness,” the old man from the Library Pavilion sighed. “Some time ago, the sect had a major battle with the Jade Pivot Sword Pavilion from Jiangnan.”
“The Jade Pivot Sword Pavilion came prepared and forcibly seized a mass grave in the south that belonged to our sect.”
“The 'Substitute Death Yin Skeletons' produced in that mass grave are very precious treasures. Once the mass grave was taken, their price within the sect immediately skyrocketed.”
“At first, everyone was hoarding them. Out of caution, I observed for a while.”
“Later, I noticed the price kept rising without falling. Thinking the opportunity was fleeting, I bought a batch at a high price from others.”
At this point, the old man from the Library Pavilion was filled with regret, slapping his thigh in remorse. “Who would have thought, just after I finished hoarding, news came that the sect launched a counterattack and reclaimed the mass grave. As a result, the prices that had just risen plummeted instantly, even lower than the original price!”
Lü Yang: “...”
“But fortunately, there's Qing Chen,” the old man from the Library Pavilion sighed for a while, then regained his composure and exclaimed, “Qing Chen is truly a good person.”
Fairy Qing Chen smiled shyly. “Senior Brother flatters me.”
“It's heartfelt,” the old man from the Library Pavilion said sincerely. “If you hadn't recommended Senior Brother Zhao to me, I might not have even recovered my capital.”
“It was just a small effort,” Fairy Qing Chen said modestly. “Senior Brother Zhao happened to need a batch of Substitute Death Yin Skeletons, and you had hoarded some. I merely facilitated the connection. I only hope that in future explorations of cave dwellings, if I find something I like, Senior Brother can assist me.”
Senior Brother Zhao... Zhao Xuhe? Lü Yang's heart stirred.
“By the way, Junior Brother Lü.”
Only then did Fairy Qing Chen seem to remember Lü Yang, turning her head to look at him. “Are you really not planning to join us in exploring the cave dwelling this time?”
“...You jest, Senior Sister.”
Lü Yang shook his head. “I've just joined the sect and am still weak. I want to focus on cultivation. Exploring cave dwellings is too dangerous; I truly lack the strength.”
“Young man, I don't like what you're saying.”
The old man from the Library Pavilion shook his head. “Focus on cultivation? For ordinary disciples like us without money or influence, blindly focusing on cultivation won't lead to immortality.”
“Cultivation is about defying the heavens. Without taking risks, how can your cultivation soar?”
“When everyone else is afraid and wants to retreat, that's when you should be brave and strive. Only then can you seize opportunities!”
No matter how eloquently the old man from the Library Pavilion spoke, Lü Yang politely declined, angering the old man to the point of leaving with a parting shot: “Rotten wood cannot be carved!”
Seeing this, Fairy Qing Chen couldn't say much either. She merely gave Lü Yang a deep look before turning to leave. She and the old man from the Library Pavilion arrived at a secluded cave dwelling on Mending Heaven Peak. She then had the old man wait in the outer courtyard before entering the inner courtyard and arriving at a quiet room.
After a while, the door to the quiet room opened, and Zhao Xuhe stepped out.
“Failed again? He still didn't agree?”
As Zhao Xuhe listened to Fairy Qing Chen's account, his brows gradually furrowed. “He's truly resolute. Well, it's no big loss without him.”
“Senior Brother, I think there's something off about him.”
Fairy Qing Chen bit her silver teeth lightly. “The life lamps of my three lovers have gone out. I sent them to kill that guy last night, but it seems they failed.”
“Senior Brother, you know, my three lovers were all at the third layer of Qi Refining. For Lü Yang to have killed them... Could he have already reached mid-stage cultivation?”
“Impossible! Absolutely impossible!”
Zhao Xuhe shook his head without hesitation. “Breaking through bottlenecks is no easy feat. In just a few days, at most, he could have reached the third layer of Qi Refining, but not mid-stage.”
“You don't need to be paranoid. I've checked his purchase records.”
“He bought a lot of Vital Energy Great Pills. If he consumed them without regard for cost, reaching the third layer of Qi Refining isn't surprising. As for your three lovers...”
“He used a loan to purchase a divine ability, the Divine Firmament Sword Control True Formula from the Jade Pivot Sword Pavilion.” Zhao Xuhe analyzed carefully. “If he has exceptional talent and insight in swordsmanship, mastering the sword technique quickly, then killing your three lovers isn't that surprising.”
“Senior Brother is right.”
Fairy Qing Chen pondered for a moment and felt Zhao Xuhe's analysis was more reasonable.
After all, she had firsthand experience of how difficult the mid-stage bottleneck was.
It had taken her nearly ten years to barely break through.
Now, saying that a newly inducted disciple broke through in less than a month was pure fantasy unless he was a True Person reincarnated.
“Alright, let's discuss this matter later.”
Zhao Xuhe waved his hand, his eyes gleaming coldly. “Let's first handle the 'cave dwelling' matter. Have all the people been gathered?”
“They have,” Fairy Qing Chen nodded. “Especially Wang Bairong from the Library Pavilion. After Senior Brother bought his Substitute Death Yin Skeletons, he now trusts us greatly.”
“That's good.”
Zhao Xuhe sneered coldly. “Our sect has always been full of talents. Whether we can make a big profit this time depends entirely on our fellow disciples.”