Chapter 12: Merit Lottery, Substitute Death Yin Puppets
Chapter 12: The Merit Lottery and Substitute Death Yin Puppets
"Colored Merit Fish, one billion grand prize..."
Since rumors about this had already spread far and wide, Lü Yang didn't need much effort to uncover the full story.
It turned out that the Primordial Saint Sect had a permanent special mission called "Accumulating Merit."
The location was beneath Sacred Fire Cliff, deep within the sea of clouds—a treasured site known as the Merit Pool. Inside the pool resided a unique spirit beast called the Merit Fish.
The fish came in five colors: white, blue, purple, gold, and multicolored.
The closer the fish was to multicolored, the richer its essence. Consuming it not only improved the quality of one's true qi but could even help break through bottlenecks.
Hence, the "Accumulating Merit" mission was born.
Each person could undertake this mission only once per month. First, they blindly selected a number, then paid 10 Contribution Points to take the fish corresponding to that number.
However, the 10 Contribution Points paid by cultivators weren't reclaimed by the sect. Instead, they were recorded in the Merit Pool's ledger. A high-ranking sect member had once explained: If anyone managed to pick the sole multicolored Merit Fish in the pool, they would receive all the Contribution Points accumulated within!
This mission had been active for nearly a hundred years.
Yet, in all that time, no one had ever picked the multicolored fish. As a result, the Contribution Points in the pool had snowballed into an astronomical sum.
"One billion! One billion!"
The old man on the rocking chair muttered under his breath, his tone thick with envy and resentment.
Just yesterday, the super prize of this "Merit Lottery" had finally been claimed—by a disciple who had been in the sect for less than ten days.
A century's worth of accumulated prizes, snatched by a newcomer who hadn't even been around for ten days!
No wonder the old man from the Library Pavilion was so bitter. After all, his own contributions over the years had gone into that billion-point jackpot.
To make matters worse, Xiao Shiye, the lucky winner, hadn't just walked away with the billion-point prize—he'd also obtained the most precious multicolored Merit Fish. After consuming it, he'd broken through from Qi Refining first layer to Qi Refining perfection overnight. Now, he'd been taken in as a disciple by a True Person in the sect and was in seclusion, preparing to attempt Foundation Establishment.
Even Lü Yang couldn't help but feel a pang of envy at such fortune.
But soon, his expression shifted... because Xiao Shiye hadn't kept secret the number he'd chosen when he drew the multicolored fish.
"2025113..."
Lü Yang swallowed hard as he memorized the string of digits, planning to make use of it in his next life.
Just then, a graceful figure stepped into the Library Pavilion.
"Junior Brother Lü?"
Lü Yang looked up and immediately recognized her—it was Fairy Qing Chen. She seemed equally surprised, her delicate face lighting up with the delight of an unexpected encounter.
"Oh, Qing Chen, is it time?"
The old man from the Library Pavilion also noticed Fairy Qing Chen. His previously bored expression instantly turned serious as he stood up. "Then let's hurry and set off."
"Senior Brother, you're also going to explore the cave dwelling?" Lü Yang asked curiously.
"What else?" The old man huffed. "After losing a fortune just now, if I don't find some extra income, I'll be left drinking the northwest wind!"
"Lost a fortune?"
"Ah, it was a momentary lapse in judgment." The old man sighed. "Some time ago, the sect fought a major battle against the Jade Pivot Sword Pavilion in Jiangnan."
"The Jade Pivot Sword Pavilion came prepared and forcibly seized one of our sect's mass graves in the south."
"The 'Substitute Death Yin Puppets' produced in that mass grave are incredibly rare treasures. Once the grave was taken, their price within the sect skyrocketed."
"At first, everyone was hoarding them. Out of caution, I waited and observed for a while."
"But then I saw the price truly rising without falling, and I thought the opportunity was fleeting. So, I took action and bought a batch at a high price from others."
At this point, the old man clutched his chest in anguish, slapping his thigh in regret. "Who would've thought? The moment I finished hoarding, news broke that the sect had launched a counterattack and retaken the mass grave. The price that had just surged plummeted instantly—lower than the original price!"
Lü Yang: "........"
"But thankfully, there's Qing Chen." After sighing for a while, the old man regained his composure and sighed gratefully. "Qing Chen is truly a good person."
Fairy Qing Chen smiled modestly. "Senior Brother flatters me."
"It's the truth." The old man spoke sincerely. "If you hadn't introduced me to Senior Brother Zhao, I probably wouldn't have even recovered my capital."
"It was nothing." Fairy Qing Chen waved it off humbly. "Senior Brother Zhao happened to need a batch of Substitute Death Yin Puppets, and you had stockpiled some. I merely facilitated the meeting. I only hope that when we explore the cave dwelling later, if I find something I desire, Senior Brother can lend me a hand."
Senior Brother Zhao... Zhao Xuhe? Lü Yang's mind stirred.
"By the way, Junior Brother Lü."
Only now did Fairy Qing Chen seem to remember Lü Yang, turning to look at him. "Are you truly not joining us in exploring the cave dwelling?"
"...Forgive me, Senior Sister."
Lü Yang shook his head. "This junior has only just entered the sect and is weak in strength. I wish to focus solely on cultivation. Exploring cave dwellings is too dangerous—I simply lack the capability."
"Kid, I don't like hearing that."
The old man from the Library Pavilion shook his head. "Focus on cultivation? For ordinary disciples like us, who have neither money nor influence, blindly focusing on cultivation leads nowhere."
"Cultivation is inherently defying the heavens. Without taking risks, how can your progress soar?"
"When everyone else is afraid and wants to retreat, that's precisely when you should be bold and seize the opportunity!"
When others are fearful, you get greedy—no wonder you went bankrupt.
No matter how eloquently the old man tried to persuade him, Lü Yang politely declined, frustrating him to the point where he spat out, "You can't carve rotten wood!" before storming off.
Seeing this, Fairy Qing Chen didn't press further. She merely gave Lü Yang a deep look before following the old man out. Together, they arrived at a hidden cave dwelling on Mending Heaven Peak. She had the old man wait in the outer courtyard before proceeding to the inner quarters, stopping before a meditation chamber.
Soon, the chamber door opened, and Zhao Xuhe strode out.
"Failed again? He still refused?"
As Zhao Xuhe listened to Fairy Qing Chen's account, his brows gradually furrowed. "What a steadfast Dao heart. No matter—his absence won't affect our plans."
"Senior Brother, I suspect there's something off about him."
Fairy Qing Chen bit her lip. "The Life Lamps of my three lovers went out last night. I sent them to kill that guy... It seems they failed."
"Senior Brother, you know my three lovers were all at Qi Refining third layer. If Lü Yang killed them... Could he already be at 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, he could at most reach Qi Refining third layer—there's no way he's broken through to mid-stage."
"Don't let paranoia cloud your judgment. I checked his purchase records."
"He bought so many Primordial Qi Pills. If he consumed them recklessly, reaching Qi Refining third layer wouldn't be surprising. As for your three lovers..."
"He took out a cultivation method loan and bought a Divine Ability—the Jade Pivot Sword Pavilion's Divine Firmament Sword Control True Formula." Zhao Xuhe analyzed methodically. "If he has exceptional talent and comprehension in the Sword Dao, enabling him to master the sword art quickly, then killing your three lovers wouldn't be unusual."
"This... Senior Brother makes a fair point."
After some thought, Fairy Qing Chen found Zhao Xuhe's reasoning more plausible. After all, she knew firsthand how difficult mid-stage bottlenecks were—it had taken her nearly a decade to barely break through.
The idea that a newly entered disciple could break through in less than a month was nothing short of fantasy—unless he was a True Person reincarnated to cultivate anew.
"Enough. We'll discuss this later."
Zhao Xuhe waved his hand, his eyes glinting coldly. "First, let's handle the 'cave dwelling' matter. Have you gathered everyone?"
"Yes." Fairy Qing Chen nodded. "Especially Wang Bairong from the Library Pavilion. Since you bought his Substitute Death Yin Puppets, he trusts us completely now."
"Good."
Zhao Xuhe smirked coldly. "Our sect has never lacked talent. Whether we can make a fortune this time depends entirely on these fellow disciples of mine..."