Chapter 829: The Monk of Emptiness

“Changqing, this is it.”

Zhong Li and Li Rui arrived together at the largest cultivator city in the Cloud Sea of Tianwai Tian.

Five Dao Jun guarded this place.

It was the main base of Tianwai Tian cultivators.

And also the seat of the Elder Council.

The Tianwai Tian cultivators had endured numerous great calamities, yet each time, their advance ended here—at this very city—the true mountain peak of the cultivator side.

Many cultivators came to this city merely to pay homage to the lingering glory of their predecessors.

Li Rui looked up, gazing at the vast square, entirely forged from white jade, its surface teeming with people—an uncommon sight in Tianwai Tian.

His gaze shifted slightly.

This square was called the Divine Light Altar.

It was where Tianwai Tian cultivators exchanged merits earned by slaying Outworld Demons for resources.

Hence, it was extremely bustling.

One could almost say.

Without the Divine Light Altar, Tianwai Tian cultivators would be little different from exiled refugees sent by the Immortal Court; yet precisely because of the Divine Light Altar, cultivators willingly came to Tianwai Tian seeking fortune.

All under heaven bustle for profit.

Li Rui and Zhong Li came to the Divine Light Altar precisely for the rewards.

Over the years, both had slain many Outworld Demons and accumulated considerable merits; they had come now because the Outworld Demons near Tianhuan City had recently grown quiet.

Li Rui’s gaze settled on a stone stele standing a hundred zhang tall upon the Divine Light Altar.

It was the Merit Stele.

Its names were all those who had slain Outworld Demons and earned immense merits—regardless of realm, all listed on a single roll, to inspire Tianwai Tian cultivators to fight bravely against demons.

Both Zhong Li and Li Rui’s names appeared upon it.

Zhong Li’s name was near the upper-middle tier; Li Rui’s was much lower, even surpassed by several Nascent Soul cultivators.

And at the very top.

Aside from Ye Jiuzhou and a few others, one name stood out sharply.

Bai Lian Dao Jun.

Ranked among the top five.

Know that his name even overshadowed renowned great cultivators like Shuangquan Dao Jun.

No other reason.

Not because of overwhelming strength, but because of relentless diligence.

Since arriving in Tianwai Tian, Bai Lian Dao Jun had always appeared as a righteous enemy of evil, personally slaying demons—even after breaking through to Dao Jun, he worked harder still.

A day or two would be nothing.

But Bai Lian Dao Jun had slain demons for decades—this could not help but command admiration.

Who in Tianwai Tian did not know the name of Bai Lian Dao Jun?

“Could he have changed his nature?”

Li Rui stared at Bai Lian Dao Jun’s name, lost in thought.

Both were members of the San Sheng Dao Tan; naturally, he knew him well. In Li Rui’s view, Bai Lian Dao Jun had always been quiet, not the righteous, demon-slaying type—he was even rather selfish. Precisely because he understood him, this change startled him.

He withdrew his gaze.

Li Rui and Zhong Li entered the square.

“Golden Phoenix Wings, Ten Thousand Yin Wood.”

Along the way, Li Rui truly spotted many fine items.

The Divine Light Altar resembled an Immortal Market: cultivators lined the square with stalls, displaying countless rare treasures, some even stirring Li Rui’s desire.

“Rumors say the Elder Council persuaded Tianji Dao Jun to establish the Divine Light Altar. Initially, only Tianji clan merchants operated here; these cultivators gathered later. If one traded merits, the Elder Council offered subsidies. Gradually, it became even busier than the Grand Gatherings of Shenxu Immortal Court.”

“Many cultivators come here specifically to seek treasures.”

Zhong Li spoke fluently.

Though he had never visited the Divine Light Altar before, he knew its affairs inside and out.

As the two spoke.

A commotion suddenly rose among the crowd.

Someone shouted: “It’s Bai Lian Dao Jun!”

Looking up.

Indeed, a middle-aged man in black robes descended gracefully onto the Divine Light Altar.

It was Bai Lian Dao Jun.

As he landed, a booming laugh rang out: “Bai Lian, come inside for a chat.”

The voice came from the grand hall at the center of the Divine Light Altar.