Chapter 457: Refining a Primordial Merit Magic Treasure, Hong Yi Achieves Sudden Enlightenment and Becomes a Ghost Immortal in an Ins

He casually sent the Yujun Sword to the chat group and explained the cultivation method, then began refining his own magic treasure.

Heavenly and earthly merit, supreme opportunity.

Generally speaking, merit only descends when the heavens and earth are newly opened, when sentient beings create something that advances civilization.

The worlds inhabited by everyone in the chat group are not newborn worlds, one and all.

To receive merit is simply an accident.

"Which magic treasure should I refine?" Zhang Taixuan mused, then quickly decided, pulling out the Star-Measuring Ruler: "I'll refine this one."

Though refining them separately would allow all four magic treasures to absorb merit energy and greatly enhance their power.

But that would be extremely wasteful.

Merit energy must be used to refine a merit magic treasure; using it merely to boost a magic treasure's power is sheer waste of heaven's bounty.

A merit magic treasure can suppress destiny, kill without accumulating karmic retribution, and repel demonic invasions—its benefits are countless.

He extracted all the merit from "420," then brought it together with the Star-Measuring Ruler.

Instantly, the two reacted like a chemical change, and the merit directly merged into the Star-Measuring Ruler.

When the merit was fully consumed, the originally bronze-colored ruler slowly transformed into a brilliant yellow ruler, wreathed in xuan-huang qi and law-force, radiating an aura capable of annihilating all things.

"Mid-grade merit magic treasure—and a mid-grade primordial merit magic treasure."

Originally, when the world ascended, the Ruler's essence had already risen to low-grade primordial magic treasure; now, with the addition of dozens of dou of merit energy, its essence surged again, reaching the terrifying mid-grade primordial magic treasure level.

Its power and resilience had become incomparable, reaching a new height.

With the Ruler's current power, even a Great Luo cultivator would dare not ignore it.

Of course, this refers to a Great Luo of the same grade activating the magic treasure—not Zhang Taixuan as he is now.

After all, he is still far too weak.

Even with a mid-grade primordial merit magic treasure, the gap between him and a Great Luo remains infinite, with not the slightest chance of victory.

Yangshen Chuan world.

"Big Brother Hong Yi, if you encountered this situation, how would you resolve it?" Xiao Sang recounted the problems she faced in the Yin World of Liaozhai, causing Hong Yi, Yuan Fei, and Bai Ziyue to frown.

Long silence.

Hong Yi said: "I thought for a while, and only came up with methods of royal and tyrannical rule—how did that Dao Jun resolve it?"

"I'm the same as Brother Hong," Bai Ziyue said apologetically. "Aside from royal and tyrannical paths, I don't know any other way to resolve the Yin World's dilemma."

Xiao Sang beamed proudly: "The Dao Jun brother practiced benevolent rule. Good people stay in the Yin World to enjoy peace; evil ones are reborn into the mortal world."

Hearing this, Hong Yi felt a thunderclap explode in his mind—the actions of the Dao Jun, whom he had never met, completely overturned everything he had learned over the years.

"Of course, of course. I've read countless books, convinced myself I understood ancient and modern wisdom, yet never imagined such a method. Am I stupid?"

"No! It's because I held myself too high, never treating those ghosts and monsters as equals."

"Just like an emperor—who ever regarded ordinary people as fellow beings?"

"The benevolent love others; the courteous respect others. Those who love others are always loved in return; those who respect others are always respected in return."

"After reading for so many years, I thought myself above all, yet forgot I was an ordinary person?"

"Emperors are truly the poison of mankind."

"If all people were benevolent and loving, why would they need emperors and ministers? A realm without a single ruler—perfect peace!"

Boom—

In the void, thunder cracked.

In this world, when the Masters of the Hundred Schools attained sudden enlightenment, they instantly became creators.

Hong Yi's mind opened fully; his soul-force surged to a new height. Thunder formed in the void, and his soul shot straight toward the heavens, plunging into the Lei Jie.

Moments passed.

When his soul returned, he had attained the power of a Three-Catastrophe Ghost Immortal.

Bai Ziyue, Yuan Fei, and the others were stunned.

They had all heard the legends of the Masters of the Hundred Schools.

But to witness someone right before their eyes achieve sudden enlightenment and become a Three-Catastrophe Ghost Immortal—this was too horrifying.

"Big Brother Hong Yi, you became a Ghost Immortal all at once?" Xiao Sang gasped. "That's too incredible—is this the power of a Epoch Son?"

Hong Yi smiled gently and bowed: "This is all thanks to the Dao Jun's guidance—I finally understood the principle of benevolence. Past emperors pursued either royal or tyrannical rule, yet never considered that common folk are fellow beings; benevolence can still govern. So-called imperial tactics are merely decayed relics. Today I have awakened; from now on, my duty is to cleanse the world and ensure the people live in peace and prosperity."

"Ah…" Xiao Sang was dumbfounded. "Big Brother Hong Yi, you're going to rule the world? That's completely different from what you were meant to do in your original timeline."

Hong Yi laughed heartily: "You once said I'd become a scholar who writes books, an Yi Zi, and reach the other shore. But now I understand—no matter how many books I write, it's still just another book. No matter how brilliant its content, what benefit does it bring to heaven and earth? What benefit does it bring to the people?"

"If writing books could make one a sage, then that sage would be false!"

"We scholars must bring peace to the world, ensure the people live in comfort and prosperity, and build a world of benevolence—that is what makes one a sage, and that is what leaves no regret in the heart."

"As the saying goes: 'What is learned from books is shallow; to truly know something, one must practice it firsthand.' This is the truth!"

"Excellent! Excellent! Excellent!" Bai Ziyue praised. "Such lofty ambition! I never thought a scholar like you would dare challenge the ways of ancient sages—what courage!"

Xiao Sang worried: "Ruling the world isn't easy at all—this challenge is probably far harder than writing books in your original time."

Hong Yi laughed: "If something is hard, does that mean we shouldn't do it? If we're timid and hesitant, what can we ever accomplish? We scholars must dare to lead the world!"

After this exchange, Hong Yi felt his spirit grow calmer, his soul-force more stable.

His resolve on the path ahead grew firmer.

Xiao Sang no longer tried to persuade him, but instead transmitted a cultivation technique to Hong Yi and gave him some elixirs, then let it be.

Everyone has their own thoughts; Xiao Sang naturally wouldn't interfere with another's choice.

He opened the chat group.

Xiao Sang: "Something huge happened today—I told Hong Yi and the others about how the Dao Jun brother handled the Underworld. Unexpectedly, Hong Yi brother had sudden enlightenment on the spot and became a Three-Catastrophe Ghost Immortal!"

Su Xiao: "Sudden enlightenment on the spot? No surprise—he's an Epoch Son, after all."

Ye Hei: "This is terrifying! Why didn't I get such a stroke of fortune? Am I not the real protagonist?!"

Han Paopao: "Don't even mention me—the original novel didn't have any sudden enlightenment, and every realm breakthrough felt like gasping for breath. Comparing people really makes you angry."

Xiao Mai: "Why did Hong Yi have a sudden enlightenment?"

Xiao Sang: "Brother Hong Yi said he understood the principle that the benevolent love others, and he aims to bring peace to the world and forge a new realm of benevolent harmony, version 3.0."

Ying Zheng: "What a grand vision! Governing the world through the Way of Benevolence must be many times harder than the Way of Tyranny or the Way of Kingship."

Ying Zheng No. 2: "This Yi Zi dares to set such a goal—truly a man of bold ambition, beyond our reach. No wonder he's the former Epoch Son. His grandeur far exceeds ordinary imagination."

Zhang Taixuan: "Speaking of sudden enlightenment, if any of you want it, come to the Tai Xuan Realm. Now, the Lei Jie in the Tai Xuan Realm is just like Xiao Sang's—once your soul realm reaches the threshold and you survive the Lei Jie, you may comprehend the many profound truths I've embedded within it, and your strength will surge."

Su Xiao: "Isn't this the cultivation path of a Ghost Immortal? Enduring thunder strikes to the physical body is already excruciating—now your soul gets struck too? It's like being flayed a thousand times! I won't cultivate this!"

Xiao Mai: "Surviving the tribulation is indeed agonizing. Let Nie Jie take this blessing."

Nie Xiaoqian: "…"

Miyazumi Miko: "Nie Jie: You guys are too awesome!"