Chapter 1199: Power of Merit

Without hesitation, he took out a Dragon Blood Pill.

“There’s still half a day left,” he said. “Try to make some progress in your cultivation.”

Fairy Yunshang’s eyes sparkled. “I think I can break through to the Four-Aperture Demon Emperor stage.” Her Sky Fox bloodline had previously absorbed some essence from Jiang Fan, placing her at the peak of the Three-Aperture stage. With another Dragon Blood Pill, breaking through to the Four-Aperture Demon Emperor stage was a certainty.

Slave Heart Demon Emperor also said happily, “Thank you, Master. Breaking through to the Three-Aperture Demon Emperor stage shouldn’t be a problem for me.”

Chuyue was even more delighted. “I just joined the Heavenly Secret Pavilion and I’m already getting a fifth-grade spirit pill!”

Only the Rebellious Kid, after taking a Dragon Blood Pill, didn’t dare to eat it. Instead, he waited for the other three to consume theirs before he felt safe enough to swallow his own.

Jiang Fan rolled his eyes at him. “Are you afraid I’ll poison you?”

The Rebellious Kid quickly tried to curry favor, speaking in a childish voice, “How could that be? Big Brother is the kindest person to me in this whole world.” As he spoke, he hugged Jiang Fan’s calf and rubbed against it.

Jiang Fan disdainfully kicked him away. How cloying!

At this moment, a wave of high temperature swept in. The Heaven-Burning Clam Pearl spun in the sky, speaking in human language: “Where’s the little Qilin? I want to play with it.”

Only then did Jiang Fan remember the Heaven-Burning Clam Pearl; he had almost forgotten about it. “You accompany the four Demon Emperors in their cultivation. Only after they finish cultivating can the little Qilin come and play with you.” He hoped this would help their cultivation reach another level. As for the human cultivators, the Heavenly Realm fruits and vegetables brought back last time were enough for them.

Jiang Fan looked around. He found no trace of Rat Virtuous. He hadn’t paid attention to Rat Virtuous after bringing him back last time. He wasn’t sure if he had gone to the Heavenly Realm or was still in Taicang Prefecture. If he could participate in the Tianshan Battlefield, with his strength and his domain of thievery, he would surely play a significant role. However, considering that the fellow was currently in a state of complete madness, when he got ruthless, he would even steal from his own people. On second thought, it was better not to.

Immediately, he turned his gaze to the back mountain of the Heavenly Secret Pavilion. Speaking of which, he had invited Biluo’s family to the Heavenly Secret Pavilion, but he hadn’t met them yet. It was time to pay a visit to the two Seven-Aperture Demon Emperors.

In the back mountain, the little Qilin, propped on its short legs, was wrestling with the little tiger. The little tiger, however, was at the eighth level of the Core Formation stage. As for the little Qilin, since following Jiang Fan, it had spent most of its time sleeping. It had never truly cultivated and had no cultivation level to speak of. Surprisingly, it was evenly matched with the little tiger; neither could pin the other down. Even though both little creatures bared their teeth and roared fiercely yet childishly, they couldn’t do anything to each other.

Biluo, in a long yellow dress, looked on with astonishment. She walked around the little Qilin, examining it from head to toe, and exclaimed in wonder: “It truly is my little brother’s spirit beast. Just like him, it exudes extraordinary qualities from head to toe. It shows no trace of cultivation, yet it possesses immense strength and can fight our little tiger to a standstill.”

Nearby, Huangquan stood bare-chested, arms crossed over his chest, with an indifferent expression. At this moment, his eyes were also filled with surprise and doubt. He stared at the little Qilin’s abdomen, his eyes gleaming. “It has merit power within its body.”

Biluo gasped, covering her red lips. “Merit? Isn’t that what our Master has pursued his entire life? He said it’s essential for a cultivator to advance from the Nascent Soul stage to the Sage realm. How can it appear on a spirit beast with no cultivation?”

Huangquan’s eyes showed surprise. “I don’t understand either. I once unintentionally overheard Master say that merit power can be acquired in two ways. One is by cultivating virtue and accumulating the faith of all beings. The other is by absorbing the merit power of others. The problem is, no matter which method, its presence on this little spirit beast is very abnormal.”

Biluo was also stunned. The first method’s prerequisite was that the little Qilin had to be a Nascent Soul stage existence, a Demon Monarch, to even have the opportunity to cultivate virtue. The second method was even more exaggerated; to absorb others’ merit power, one must first be able to withstand it, right? How did the little Qilin manage to have merit power? It was truly baffling!

But then, Biluo’s expression turned to one of anticipation. “My little brother is incredibly noble, and even his spirit beast shows extraordinary qualities. Perhaps our little tiger will also have an extraordinary opportunity by staying with him.”

Upon hearing this, Huangquan scoffed. “Our Master is already a Sage realm existence. If he were willing to take us back, would little tiger still need opportunities from him?”

Hearing his words, Biluo sighed softly. “Are you still hoping Master will come looking for us? It’s been almost a month since we left the Nascent Soul ruins. If he were coming, he would have come by now. Huangquan, it’s better to settle down in the Heavenly Secret Pavilion and help our little brother guard it. He is a noble benefactor to our family; following him can’t be wrong.” If it weren’t for Jiang Fan, their family of three would have long been captured by the Great Yin Sect and refined into demonic undead.

Huangquan snorted. “I will repay his life-saving kindness. When the ancient giants arrive, I will naturally step forward to protect the Heavenly Secret Pavilion. But to rely on him? His strength isn’t even as good as mine.”

Biluo shook her head helplessly. Huangquan considered himself the spirit beast of a powerful Venerable in the past, so he was arrogant. Now that he knew their Master had entered the Sage realm, he became even more disdainful of everyone else. How could he still underestimate Jiang Fan? Having personally witnessed Jiang Fan kill the Giant King, Biluo didn't think Huangquan would necessarily win against Jiang Fan. In a fight to the death, if Jiang Fan used all his means, Huangquan was more likely to die.

A rumble echoed through the sky. Biluo looked up, and Jiang Fan, clad in a black robe, arrived with a valiant air. “Sister Biluo, Senior Huangquan.” Jiang Fan greeted Biluo with a casual smile and Huangquan with more seriousness. In his impression, Huangquan had a volatile temper and was difficult to get along with.

Biluo smiled. “Oh, look who it is, the busy man himself! I almost didn’t recognize you.”

Jiang Fan looked apologetic. He had been busy with various matters and hadn’t been able to visit the two Demon Emperors, which was indeed inexcusable. He took out two Dragon Blood Pills and said, “I went out to find demon clan resources for you two. And here I am, returning as soon as I got these Dragon Blood Pills.”

Biluo’s eyes lit up with joy. “Such strong demonic power! It’s a medium fifth-grade spirit pill! Thank you, little brother.”

Huangquan, however, didn’t accept it. His tone was stiff. “I don’t need it. I don’t accept unearned rewards. Biluo, you should return yours too. Do you want to enter the Eight-Aperture Demon Emperor stage without any preparation?” They didn’t lack opportunities to enter the Eight-Aperture Demon Emperor stage. Their Master had left them some resources, enough for them to break through. However, they had slept for hundreds of years and simply hadn't had the time to choose their own path. If they rashly entered the Eight-Aperture Demon Emperor stage, they would be randomly assigned a path, and the consequences of that were self-evident.

Biluo glared at him. One shouldn’t strike at a smiling face. Moreover, Jiang Fan was kindly offering a precious spirit pill; he should just accept it, why pour cold water on him? She apologized, “Little brother, don’t mind this scoundrel. He just has a bad temper.”

Jiang Fan raised an eyebrow. This was no longer just a matter of temper; he was being given a cold shoulder. Shaking his head, he didn’t bother to argue. Back then, he had only wanted to save Biluo and little tiger; Huangquan was merely saved out of consideration for the two of them. He could do as he pleased.

Upon hearing that Biluo had not yet clarified her own path, and knowing he was in a similar situation, Jiang Fan smiled. “Sister Biluo, the Grand Wine Sacrifice just gave me a Heart-Questioning Crystal. It can help one clarify their own path. Let’s try to comprehend it together.”

What? Given by the Grand Wine Sacrifice? Huangquan was startled. In his memory, the Grand Wine Sacrifice was an extraordinary existence. A Heart-Questioning Crystal bestowed by him must be a supreme treasure! If he could use it, it would surely benefit a Seven-Aperture Nascent Soul cultivator!

However, after the incident with the Dragon Blood Pill, Jiang Fan had felt rebuffed. This time, he didn’t invite Huangquan.