“WhythehellisitStage2peak!?”Ishoutedindisbelief,staringattheghostfiftymetersahead.

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

Iperformedthefullsetofmovements.Eachstirredupfierds—theairitselftrembleduheforce.

ShesmiledfaintlyaeagmehoowerofMerit.Withmyenhanitude,Ilearquickly.

Mehenasked,“Doyouwishtobeeritcultivator?”

Iexpectedearlyormid-stage,maybete-stageatworst—butpeak?

“Ameritcultivator?Youmean...thePowerofMeritbeusedinbattoo?”

Andthere’sonlyooear—doinggooddeeds.

Tootetopin.Onlybychallen

Shecheckedthemissionlist.

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

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

SoIasked,“Isthereataskthatgrantsalotofmerit?”

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

Icouldn’thelpbutsmile.Althoughitwasthankstotheialentgrantedbymymaster,itstillmademegenuinelyhappy.

“Teachme!Please!”

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

Meng’er’seyeswidened.

“Incredible,youngmaster!Youreallydohaveagiftformartiarts!”

ThismissietedaStage-2EvilSpirit.Itsoundedeasyenoughatfirst…untilIgotthere.