Chapter 359: The Wonderful Use of Merit Light, Forging the Soul

"Ah, so this is it. This Merit Light—was it bestowed by Heaven itself, in recognition of my slaying of that Foreign Demon General and my salvation of tens of thousands of people in Zhou Fu Cheng?" In the Brow Qi Cavity Space, after a thorough investigation, Lu Qing finally understood the origin of the radiant glow before him.

It had been born from his act of cutting down the Demon Cultivator, thereby averting the catastrophic Xue Ji calamity that threatened the entire city. Heaven, moved by such a great deed, had granted him this divine Merit Light as a reward.

"But how exactly should I use this Merit Light?" Lu Qing mused, staring at the luminous orb. The amount of Merit Light he had obtained was even denser than what his Master had once received.

Yet, he knew nothing about how to harness it. Neither the Lihuo Sect nor the Divine Seal Sect’s cultivation heritage contained any techniques or methods related to Merit Light.

After a moment’s thought, Lu Qing withdrew his consciousness from the Brow Qi Cavity.

"Senior Brother Yan," he called out, "do you know how to utilize Merit Light?"

"The golden light just now... was that Merit Light?" Yan sounded startled at first, then quickly recovered. "Ah yes, now I see. You've saved an entire city’s worth of lives. It's only natural that Heaven would respond with Merit."

"From your tone," Lu Qing asked, "this heavenly reward isn’t an isolated case?"

"Not exactly common," Yan replied, "but in the Ancient Cultivation Era, such divine rewards weren't unheard of. Do you know why the righteous sects have always insisted on the eternal struggle between good and evil—why they so fiercely pursue the extermination of demons?"

"Part of it," Yan continued, "is that slaying demons brings greater favor from Heaven. It smooths one’s path through cultivation. And if one is granted Merit Light directly from Heaven? That would be nothing short of miraculous. A cultivator protected by Merit Light faces far fewer obstacles on their journey. Even when facing the Heavenly Tribulation—be it the Golden Pillar or the Spirit Soul Trials—the thunderstorm would be significantly weaker than for others."

Yan spoke at length, revealing the hidden truths behind Merit Light.

"Wait... Merit Light can actually reduce the power of thunderstorms?" Lu Qing was genuinely astonished.

"Otherwise, do you think so many righteous cultivators would willingly risk death every day, shouting for demon extermination? Young Master, cultivators are the coldest of beings. Especially those ancient elders who’ve lived for centuries or even millennia—they value life above all. They wouldn’t risk their existence for mere mortals unless there was something in it for them."

Lu Qing nodded slowly. He understood.

Yes, the truth was clear: cultivators pursued enlightenment not out of compassion, but to transcend mortality. They were the most self-preserving creatures in existence. Only the promise of Merit Light—divine reward—could drive them to such extreme actions.

"So, Senior Brother Yan, how do we use Merit Light?"

"I don’t know," Yan admitted, shaking his head. "Merit Light is profoundly mysterious. In the Ancient Cultivation Era, only a rare few achieved such great deeds that Heaven granted them this light. I’ve only heard it’s effective during the Tribulation, capable of drastically weakening the Heavenly Thunder. That’s why, in those days, even the most powerful cultivators would retreat into the mortal world to practice righteousness and accumulate virtue before their final trials."

"Beyond that," Yan sighed, "I have no idea what other uses it might have. Even within the Lihuo Sect, I’ve never seen anyone receive Merit Light."

He paused, then let out another quiet sigh. "You truly have exceptional fortune, Lu Qing. Merit Light is a treasure even the mightiest beings of the Ancient Era coveted. But it’s not easily earned—Heaven seems to have its own criteria. It’s not simply about doing good deeds. It’s not guaranteed, no matter how righteous one’s actions."

And yet, here was Lu Qing—having slain a mere Demon Cultivator who hadn’t even reached the Zhu Ji Qi level—and still, Heaven had bestowed Merit Light upon him.

If the great elders of the past had known, they’d have been green with envy.

"Even you don’t know..." Lu Qing shook his head.

If even Yan—the ancient sage—was baffled, then there was no choice. He’d have to leave the Merit Light inside his Brow Qi Cavity for now.

But he sensed no harm from it. On the contrary, the space within his cavity felt calmer, more harmonious. Even his Spirit Soul Power, bathed in the light, seemed to grow steadily.

So, for now, he decided to simply leave it be.

"Lu Xiao Langjun, are you alright?" A voice broke through his thoughts.

Wei Xinghe, concerned that Lu Qing might have been injured during the battle, had approached cautiously.

As for the city’s lord and others, having witnessed Lu Qing’s terrifying power, they now regarded him with awe and reverence. Not a single one dared to disturb him, even if he stood motionless—no disrespect, no movement, no word.

"Just thinking," Lu Qing replied with a smile, regaining his composure. "By the way, Wei Family Head, did you find Zihao?"

"Zihao!" Wei Xinghe snapped back to attention, instantly reaching out with his spiritual sense. But his face darkened immediately. "No... he’s gone!"

"What happened?" Lu Qing asked sharply.

He hadn’t been told anything about Wei Zihao during their previous Lian Xi Fu communication.

"Lu Xiao Langjun," Wei Xinghe explained quickly, "Zihao was possessed by that Demon Cultivator’s Evil Cultivation Method. He changed completely—his demeanor, his spirit. When the Array still lingered, he was still in the city. But now... I can’t sense his presence at all."

Panic filled his voice. He had a terrible feeling—once Zihao had slipped away, he might never find him again.

"Marked with Hei Se Fu Wen, and his personality completely altered..." Lu Qing recalled the Qingyun Jian Ge disciples he had subdued earlier—still lying unconscious on the ground, severely injured.

"Stay calm, Wei Family Head. Let me check."

Lu Qing extended his spiritual awareness across the city. His Spirit Soul Power far surpassed Wei Xinghe’s, granting him a vastly greater range.

And soon, he detected a faint, hidden presence somewhere in the city.

A faint smile tugged at his lips. "Wei Family Head, I think I’ve found him."

Then, before Wei Xinghe’s eyes could widen in surprise, Lu Qing vanished.

A moment later, a strange surge of energy erupted from a street within the city—but it vanished in an instant, instantly suppressed.

Seconds passed.

Lu Qing reappeared before them, holding a limp figure in his arms.

Wei Xinghe gasped. It was Zihao—eyes closed, unconscious, utterly still.

"Zihao!" Wei Xinghe cried.

"Relax, Wei Family Head," Lu Qing said calmly. "I only sealed his consciousness. The Demon Cultivator’s curse has clouded his mind. It’s complicated. I’ll need to return to the residence and consult with Master. Only then can we determine if it’s possible to remove it."

"Then that’s good news," Wei Xinghe exhaled, relief washing over him.

"Since the Demon Cultivator is dead, the crisis is over," Lu Qing continued. "But the curse on Zihao’s body draws power from his life force. If left unchecked, it will destroy him. We should return at once."

"Then let’s go!" Wei Xinghe instantly tensed. The memory of their earlier clash haunted him—Zihao wielding power far beyond his level, at great cost to himself.

Now, hearing Lu Qing’s warning, he could barely contain his urgency. He wanted to fly back to Jiuli Village immediately, so Lu Qing and Old Doctor could save his son.

The city lord and others had been waiting, hoping to offer their thanks once the conversation ended. But before they could even step forward, Lu Qing and Wei Xinghe announced their departure.

The city lord rushed forward. "Wei Family Head, sir—this hero, are you truly leaving so soon? You’ve saved our entire city. We haven’t even had the chance to thank you! And the night is falling—why not rest until tomorrow?"

Wei Xinghe turned to Lu Qing.

But Lu Qing only gave a slight shake of his head, his expression serene.

Wei Xinghe understood at once.

"City Lord," he said, voice firm, "you’ve seen it yourself—my son was cursed by that Demon Cultivator. We must return immediately to break the spell. I deeply appreciate your kind intentions, but we cannot delay. That Demon was merciless, slaughtering innocents. Our actions were duty, not glory. Right now, the people are still terrified. Your priority should be calming the city, not hosting us."

After delivering the polite words, Lu Qing placed a hand on Wei Xinghe’s shoulder.

With a mental command, a Clear Wind aura flared around them.

A sudden whirlwind rose. In an instant, the three of them shot into the sky, soaring beyond the city walls.

As they passed the fallen Qingyun Jian Ge disciples, a rope shot from Lu Qing’s hand, wrapping around them and lifting them up—carried along with the others.

The city lord and his companions wanted to call after them, but dared not. They could only watch, stunned, as Lu Qing vanished into the night.

Long after they were gone, the city lord finally spoke.

"Who... was that young man?" he asked, voice low.

Everyone turned to him. Among all in Zhou Fu Cheng, he had the sharpest eyes and the most reliable network.

But the city lord shook his head.

"I don’t know. I’ve never met him before. This is my first time seeing him."

Inwardly, however, he recalled the name—Lu Xiao Langjun—and it stirred a memory. A rumor, just recently whispered from the Imperial Capital.

"Even you don’t know?" the crowd murmured, surprised.

But some among them narrowed their eyes, their thoughts darkening.

"Regardless of who he is," the city lord said, scanning the group, "his strength is undeniable. He is far beyond anything we’ve ever seen. I advise you all—do not provoke him. It could mean your annihilation."

"Of course not!" came the chorus of voices. "He saved our lives. How could we ever offend him?"

Whether they truly meant it, no one could say.

Meanwhile, Lu Qing remained unaware of their conversation.

After using Talisman power to carry them over ten li, he landed on the ground.

"Wei Family Head," he said, "my current cultivation limits the use of Fa Fu. We’ll have to walk the rest of the way."

He wasn’t hiding it. In truth, he could have continued flying—his Spirit Soul Power was more than capable. But the strain on his mind would be immense. A hundred li might be manageable, but Zhou Fu Cheng was a thousand li from Jiuli Village. Pushing himself that far would be reckless.

"Thank you, Lu Xiao Langjun," Wei Xinghe said, not the slightest hint of complaint. Instead, his eyes lingered on the bound disciples, their faces marked with the same Hei Se Fu Wen as Zihao.

"Who are these people?"

"These are likely Zihao’s fellow disciples," Lu Qing explained. "They were also cursed by the Demon Cultivator. I spared them—perhaps we can save them too."

To prevent resistance, Lu Qing sealed their consciousness as well, plunging them into unconsciousness.

"Lu Xiao Langjun truly has a kind heart," Wei Xinghe said, genuinely moved.

Then, as he studied their faces, recognition dawned. Yes, these were indeed Zihao’s peers—visitors to the Wei Family Residence before. Only the inscriptions obscured their features.

"Lu Xiao Langjun," Wei Xinghe asked at last, "how difficult is it to remove these curses?"

Lu Qing hesitated.

"To be honest," he admitted, "I’m not certain. That Demon Cultivator was mysterious, wielding techniques of profound depth. The curse he planted... may not be easy to undo."

Wei Xinghe’s heart sank. His worst fear had come true.

Even before Lu Qing had said he needed to consult Master first, he’d sensed the difficulty.

After a long silence, Wei Xinghe finally spoke.

"Regardless of whether we can remove it or not... this is Zihao’s fate. But it’s a shame... the Demon is dead. If he were alive, we might have forced him to reveal the method."

At those words, Lu Qing’s face lit up.

"Perhaps not, Wei Family Head. Let’s not rush. We can delay our journey for now. There might still be a way."

Wei Xinghe stared, stunned.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end