Icouldn’thelpbutsmile.Althoughitwasthankstotheialentgrantedbymymaster,itstillmademegenuinelyhappy.

ThismissietedaStage-2EvilSpirit.Itsoundedeasyenoughatfirst…untilIgotthere.

ShesmiledfaintlyaeagmehoowerofMerit.Withmyenhanitude,Ilearquickly.

“Teachme!Please!”

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

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

Mehenasked,“Doyouwishtobeeritcultivator?”

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

Iperformedthefullsetofmovements.Eachstirredupfierds—theairitselftrembleduheforce.

“WhythehellisitStage2peak!?”Ishoutedindisbelief,staringattheghostfiftymetersahead.

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

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

Iexpectedearlyormid-stage,maybete-stageatworst—butpeak?

Andthere’sonlyooear—doinggooddeeds.

Shecheckedthemissionlist.

SoIasked,“Isthereataskthatgrantsalotofmerit?”

Meng’er’seyeswidened.

“Incredible,youngmaster!Youreallydohaveagiftformartiarts!”

Tootetopin.Onlybychallen

“Ameritcultivator?Youmean...thePowerofMeritbeusedinbattoo?”