Chapter 543

To describe it with a single line of poetry is perfectly apt—white bones exposed on the wild, for a thousand li no rooster crows.

No one starves to death—what kind of paradise of the Dao is this?

"Master Dao, why didn't you come sooner!"

"My child, why didn't you wait for the Master Dao's mercy!"

Even Mu Renqing was swept up in the sorrow.

Seeing the soldiers busy, Mu Renqing did not return to Huashan; instead, he ran about, offering every help he could.

Seven days passed in a flash.

During these seven days, the people had already planted the grain they received into the parched soil.

Though they did not know what use planting grain in scorched earth could possibly serve.

But since the heavenly soldiers said it would help, they had no choice but to obey.

"By order of the Great Primordial Infinite Taixuan Dao Jun, I decree that the Great Ming world shall enjoy favorable winds and timely rains for ten years. After ten years, the Great Ming shall itself appoint deities to govern wind and rain—do you hear and obey!"

Zhu Biao stood in the sky, activating the Command of Clouds and Rain; the token instantly swelled larger than a mountain.

The next instant, rain and wind descended abruptly.

The downpour spread across the entire Great Ming realm.

Before the people's hopeful eyes, the scorched earth grew moist; the grain they had planted took root and sprouted, visibly growing taller, bearing grain, turning golden.

In the wastelands, dead trees revived, covered in green leaves.

The sandy plains, in the blink of an eye, became teeming with life.

Even the sick, after being bathed in the spiritual rain, became vigorous and full of energy.

"Master Dao, how merciful!"

"Bow to the Dao Jun!"

"Thank the Dao Jun!"

In an instant, all the people across Jiuzhou rushed into the rain, kneeling despite the storm.

Thick streams of faith energy coalesced in the void, pure and absolute.

Zhang Taixuan sat quietly in the Great Luo Heaven, sensing the fervor of the Great Ming people; with a thought, he said: "Very well. Since things have come to this, let me make it even more complete."

The Star-Scaling Ruler soared upward, passing through the gate of space-time, landing above Jiuzhou.

The golden-yellow ruler halted in the void; ten thousand laws manifested, supreme and noble, radiating an aura that suppressed all things under heaven and earth.

The next instant, a beam of Bai Guang shot forth from the Star-Scaling Ruler, enveloping the entire Central Plains of Great Ming.

"All who have done good shall be reborn into this world."

The Bai Guang touched the earth; countless graves exploded open, white bones flew out, flesh grew upon them, and in an instant they became human again.

In the blink of an eye, millions across Jiuzhou were resurrected.

These were ordinary people who had died during the Little Ice Age at the end of the Ming.

Since it involved no time-space manipulation—only reviving mortals whose bones still remained—the difficulty was greatly reduced, and there was no backlash from the Long River of Time-Space.

Yet the will of heaven and earth stirred at this moment, sweeping over.

The will settled upon the Star-Scaling Ruler, then silently withdrew.

"So this is how a merit-based spiritual treasure kills without entangling karma," Zhang Taixuan mused, retrieving the Star-Scaling Ruler.

What is meant by "killing without entangling karma" is not that others will not seek revenge or cannot trace you after using a merit-based spiritual treasure to kill.

"Not entangling karma" means that after a merit-based spiritual treasure kills, heaven and earth will not record the sin upon you.

Thus, naturally, there is no karmic debt, no retribution.

In other words, under the protection of merit, even if you kill and burn, heaven and earth will not intervene—it is a kind of privilege.

As for the slain person's family and friends seeking revenge, that is another matter entirely.

A merit-based spiritual treasure cannot possibly brainwash people into abandoning their hatred!

Just now, had a common spiritual treasure been used to save lives, heaven and earth would have punished you.

But when a merit-based spiritual treasure acts, heaven and earth pay no attention at all, opening the gates wide.

This is the true meaning of "not entangling karma."

The Great Ming world.

With so many people resurrected, the entire Jiuzhou land erupted in chaos.

"My son, you've come back to life!"

"Mother, the Dao Jun is benevolent—he brought you back to enjoy happiness!"

"Father, you're alive?" Yuan Chengzhi stared in disbelief at the man before him. "This can't be real."

"Are you Chengzhi?" Yuan Chonghuan gazed at the young man, barely recognizing him. "I am… I remember being torn apart by the people."

"Father, it was the Dao Jun who saved you," Yuan Chengzhi pulled Yuan Chonghuan to his knees. "Let us quickly thank him."

Long moments passed.

Only after Yuan Chengzhi's explanation did Yuan Chonghuan accept the truth, stunned into silence.

"The Dao Jun truly possesses boundless power—he resurrected so many people at once!"

"Yes, Father, you wouldn't believe it—I was ready to go kill Your Majesty in revenge. Now I see how rash I was."

Yuan Chonghuan sighed: "Foolish! Come, I'll take you to beg forgiveness from Your Majesty."