Chapter 37: Heaven-sent Merit
The Evil Daoist chuckled. "Brat, you’re merely at the Celestial Realm Peak, yet you dare run your mouth at me? Only by opening both Ren and Du Meridians does one step into the Grandmaster realm. You’re just a hair’s breadth from breaking through the Du Meridian, but that sliver of a gap is an unbridgeable chasm. Some people can never cross it in their entire lives! Seeing as your Cultivation wasn’t easily achieved, I can take you as my servant. As long as you swear a Celestial Dao Blood Oath of loyalty to me, I can spare your insignificant life."
Cheng Yuan’s pupils contracted slightly. ’So my Cultivation is at the Celestial Realm Peak.’
’And opening the Ren and Du Meridians makes one a Grandmaster!’
’But why don’t I feel any life-threatening pressure from the Evil Daoist?’
’No matter what, I’ll test him in a fight first. If I can’t beat him, I’m still confident I can escape.’
"Fine! I’ll swear the Celestial Dao Blood Oath!"
Hearing this, the Evil Daoist began to laugh maniacally. ’To have such a talented servant, my chances of revenge have just skyrocketed!’
The three members of the Mei Family and Liang Zhen turned pale with fright!
Cheng Yuan was their last hope. If even Cheng Yuan was backing down, weren’t they doomed?
Just as the four of them were utterly despondent, Cheng Yuan suddenly moved, pouncing toward the Evil Daoist like a leopard!
"I swear a Celestial Dao Blood Oath that today, I will kill you, you old dog!!"
BOOM!!
Cheng Yuan gathered all the True Essence in his body and slammed a full-power punch toward the Evil Daoist’s chest!
The Evil Daoist’s maniacal laughter came to an abrupt halt. ’This brat actually dared to launch a sneak attack on me?’
’Courting death!’
The Evil Daoist’s gaze turned cold. Instantly shedding any appreciation for talent, he gathered the True Essence in his body and threw a full-power punch of his own!
’I’ll crush this little bastard head-on! I’ll make him understand the gap between a Quasi-God and the Celestial Realm... no, wait, I’m not a Quasi-God anymore, just a Grandmaster!’
’Even so, there’s still an insurmountable gulf between a Grandmaster and the Celestial Realm!’
The Evil Daoist was confident he could crush Cheng Yuan with a single punch!
BANG!
Their fists slammed heavily into one another!
Then, the Evil Daoist’s expression changed, twisting into one of utter terror!
’How is this possible??’
’My True Qi is clearly several times more abundant than Cheng Yuan’s, but his True Qi destroyed mine in an instant and then struck my body!’
With a dull THUD!
The Evil Daoist shot backward as if hit by a speeding truck, slamming heavily into the wall!
GACK!
The Evil Daoist sprayed a mouthful of blood, staring at Cheng Yuan in utter disbelief!
’How could this be?’
’I was actually defeated in a single blow by this brat who’s only at the Celestial Realm Peak!’
"You... you’re not an Ancient Martial Artist... you’re a... a Cul... Culti..."
The Evil Daoist’s breathing grew weaker and weaker. He never managed to say the last word. His neck lolled to one side, and his breath ceased forever.
Cheng Yuan was also stunned, staring blankly at the now-dead Evil Daoist.
The moment their fists collided, Cheng Yuan had thought he was finished. After all, his opponent’s True Qi was so much denser—several times more than his own!
Cheng Yuan never would have imagined that he would win so easily!
’Looks like I must have won because of the quality of my True Qi.’
’What did that old man mean with his dying words?’
’I’m not an Ancient Martial Artist, but a what? A Cultivator?’
’Could the Celestial Witch Inheritance be an Immortal Technique?’
’That must be it!’
’How else can I explain being able to fight above my level?’
Cheng Yuan couldn’t help but feel a surge of excitement. If the Celestial Witch Inheritance was an Immortal Technique, then once he reached Great Success in it, could he fly through the heavens and tunnel through the earth? Could he become immortal?
Suddenly, Cheng Yuan felt a gentle warmth spread through his body, as if something was seeping into him.
Cheng Yuan quickly activated his Double Pupil and saw streams of golden light descending from the sky, refining his body! Cheng Yuan’s physical strength surged! Even his Spiritual Power received a definite boost.
Cheng Yuan was overjoyed. According to the records of the Celestial Witch Inheritance, this golden light was the Power of Merit!
’Why would Merit descend from the heavens?’
Cheng Yuan quickly figured it out. That old man must have been steeped in sin, so eliminating him had earned great Merit.
Merit has many uses. It can resolve calamities, pacify Evil Spirits, heal the sick and save lives, and even help when facing tribulations in the future.
Cheng Yuan and the Evil Daoist’s battle happened so fast that the four people behind them couldn’t even react. The victor was decided in the blink of an eye!
It was a full several seconds before the four of them came to their senses and began to frantically shower him with flattery!
"Master Cheng, you’re so young, yet you’re a master at the Celestial Realm Peak! The title of Luocheng’s number one expert of the younger generation can only belong to Master Cheng!"
"Master Cheng, you’re incredible! You took down that old monster in a single blow! You’ve avenged the workers!!"
"Master Cheng, you are the great benefactor of our Mei Family! From now on, whatever you need, just say the word. I, Mei Xing’an, will not hesitate!"
...
Cheng Yuan waved his hand and said lightly, "The problem isn’t completely solved yet."
The four of them stiffened.
"That old bastard wasn’t the source of the supernatural incidents?"
"He was."
"Then why?"
"There are still nine female corpses."
"Nine female corpses?"
The four of them turned pale with shock.
"We must ask Master Cheng to step in and eliminate this scourge completely!"
Cheng Yuan looked at Mei Xing’an with a calm expression. "To solve this scourge completely, I can’t help. Boss Mei will have to handle it himself."
"Please guide me, Master Cheng."
"You remember the buildings we just walked through, right?"
"I remember."
"In addition to those, at nine locations in total, nine meters underground, there is a female corpse buried at each spot. If Boss Mei wants to eliminate this scourge for good, you’ll need to dig up these nine corpses, cremate them, and give them a proper burial."
Mei Xing’an’s brow furrowed deeply. If they were to dig up these corpses, it would definitely disturb the foundations. The buildings might even collapse.
It was simply too dangerous!
He had already used every trick in the book just to suppress the news of the supernatural incidents. If the buildings collapsed, there would be no way to keep it under wraps!
"Master Cheng, is there any other way?"
This was exactly what Cheng Yuan had been waiting for, but he forced a troubled expression onto his face. "The only other option is to find a master to perform a ritual, pacify the souls of the nine corpses, and help them be reborn in the paradise of the afterlife."
"Great! I’ll find a master to perform the ritual and pacify their souls right away!"
Cheng Yuan reminded him with a very serious tone, "You can’t just find some charlatan. You need a true master of Mystical Techniques. Otherwise, if something goes wrong, you’ll create a Fierce Ghost ten times more terrifying than that old man."
Mei Xing’an started to panic!
’That old man was already terrifying. If something ten times worse shows up, how am I supposed to survive?’
’Besides, those masters I’d hired before couldn’t even get close to the old man. They couldn’t be trusted at all!’
’Where was he supposed to find a master like that?’
An outsider often sees what the insider misses.
Mei Chao smiled. "Brother, no need to be nervous. Isn’t there a ready-made master right here?"
Mei Xing’an nodded vigorously, looking at Cheng Yuan with a hopeful expression. "Master Cheng, since you’ve already helped us this much, could we trouble you to pacify the souls of the nine corpses?"
Cheng Yuan frowned, looking very troubled. "To pacify the Undead requires consuming my Merit and good fortune. It’s an irreversible loss. Cultivation is not easy. Boss Mei, you should just stick to digging them up, cremating them, and giving them a proper burial!"
’Like hell I’m digging them up!’
’If the buildings collapse and a few more workers die, Xing’an Group will be completely finished!’
"Master Cheng, I can raise my offer on top of the original price! Just name what you need!"
Cheng Yuan was inwardly overjoyed but kept a very troubled expression on his face.
"I remember your son once mentioned that your family has a piece of land whose zoning can’t be changed? If I were to use that land to build a Buddhist Hall and spread good karma, perhaps it could replenish my lost Merit and good fortune."