Icouldn’thelpbutsmile.Althoughitwasthankstotheialentgrantedbymymaster,itstillmademegenuinelyhappy.

Hearingthatgotmeexcited.TheHeartDemonTribution—justthreesimplewords,yetthey’vebroughtruintotlesscultivators.Ifmeritcouldhelpoverethat,howcouldIresist?

Shecheckedthemissionlist.

Ghosts—remnantsofsapientbeingsthathavedied.Somearebenevolent,somemalevolent.TheirstrengthrangesfromStage1to9,correspondingtotheninemajorcultivationrealms,fromQiRefiningtoGreatAssion.TherearealsoWanderingSouls—weaker,harmlessentitieswithoutcultivation.

Themethodwassimple:thePowerofMerit,likeqi,residesiian.Bycirgqianddrawingupoatthesametime,itbeusedforvariouseffects.Itestedbothoffenseanddefeworkedbeautifully.Aswordformedbymeritenergywassharperthanawoodehoughstilbittooweak.Evenamid-stageQiRefiningcultivatorcouldbreakit,soIoincreasemyprofidbuildmoremerit.

“WhythehellisitStage2peak!?”Ishoutedindisbelief,staringattheghostfiftymetersahead.

Tootetopin.Onlybychallen

“Ameritcultivator?Youmean...thePowerofMeritbeusedinbattoo?”

ThismissietedaStage-2EvilSpirit.Itsoundedeasyenoughatfirst…untilIgotthere.

Meng’er’seyeswidened.

Iexpectedearlyormid-stage,maybete-stageatworst—butpeak?

SoIasked,“Isthereataskthatgrantsalotofmerit?”

“Incredible,youngmaster!Youreallydohaveagiftformartiarts!”

“Ofcourse.Meritpowerhasendlessuses—itbeoffensive,defensive,andevenhelpyouovereinributions.”

Iperformedthefullsetofmovements.Eachstirredupfierds—theairitselftrembleduheforce.

“Teachme!Please!”

“Asamatteroffact,there’soneperfectforyou—syinganevilspirit.Likezombies,they’realsospawnedfromreseanddarkenergy.”

ShesmiledfaintlyaeagmehoowerofMerit.Withmyenhanitude,Ilearquickly.

Mehenasked,“Doyouwishtobeeritcultivator?”

Andthere’sonlyooear—doinggooddeeds.