Chapter 94: The Foremost Merit (Bonus Chapter 6)

Xiang Weiyuan had only heard that the Founding Master had achieved mastery in the Dao, journeyed alone westward, and planted the first boundary stone in lands ruled by barbarian tribes—the origin of the Tai Chu Palace’s mountain gate, the Empty Valley Hanging Green. Since then, he had never heard of another boundary stone.

Boundary stones were listed as a separate major category, clearly of great importance, which stirred Xiang Weiyuan’s curiosity, so he opened and browsed it. Beneath the major category were several subcategories: Boundary Stone, Advanced, Premium, and Variant.

The Boundary Stone subcategory contained numerous entries, each with detailed descriptions. The core of a boundary stone is forged from Kongming Stone, possessing the ability to transform heaven and earth; what kind of realm it becomes depends on the cultivator who nurtures it. Once planted, the boundary stone transforms the celestial and terrestrial fortune within a certain radius, usually shifting it toward the human realm’s pure zones.

The primary method by which the human race expands its territory is the boundary stone.

After planting a boundary stone, the cultivator must continually nurture it with celestial qi and various heavenly treasures. When nurtured to a certain degree, the boundary stone advances. Generally, the most basic boundary stone can transform the land of one garrison town; after a century of nurturing, it becomes mid-grade and covers one county; after a millennium, it becomes high-grade and encompasses one commandery. Within the boundary stone’s range, humans may live, reproduce, and cultivate land freely.

The ordinary boundary stone list contained over a hundred entries, and Xiang Weiyuan examined each one carefully.

Boundary Stone 377: nurtured seventeen years, qualified, no special property;

Boundary Stone 491: nurtured five years, qualified, no special property;

Boundary Stone 1302: nurtured forty-eight years, qualified, possesses faint Earth Force.

Boundary Stone 2033: not nurtured, qualified.

…

Each boundary stone has a unique number, essentially one-of-a-kind. Major immortal sects, principal clans, and the Great Tang all exchange intelligence; boundary stones are among the primary items shared. These boundary stones have been nurtured for a few years to several decades, and some remain un-nurtured—likely newly forged.

As for those boundary stones with little nurturing time that reappeared in the exchange catalog, Xiang Weiyuan read several descriptions and understood: their owners had ventured out to expand territory, only to be overwhelmed by barbarian forces; their settlements destroyed, the boundary stones had to be uprooted and reclaimed. Many cultivators died defending their settlements, and their boundary stones were later found and brought back by others, eventually ending up in the hands of the Tai Chu Palace.

Dozens of boundary stones, each nurtured for less than a century, conceal destroyed settlements, mountains of corpses, and seas of blood.

With a sigh, Xiang Weiyuan glanced at the price of a new boundary stone: one hundred thousand merit points.

Xiang Weiyuan silently closed the records.

After steadying himself, Xiang Weiyuan opened another boundary stone, nurtured for seven years, and was surprised to find its price was ninety-one thousand merit points. Why was a nurtured boundary stone cheaper?

Xiang Weiyuan set down the jade tablet and went to consult the temple attendant Daoist.

The Daoist sized him up and said, “A new boundary stone is like a fresh piece of jade; once nurtured, it bears the master’s Dao imprint. If a later owner’s Dao force is incompatible, they must expend extra effort to grind away the existing imprint and nurture from scratch. Even if the Dao forces are similar, purity becomes increasingly vital in later stages—the more refined and deeply nurtured the boundary stone, the more miraculous its effects. Hence, secondhand boundary stones with little nurturing are actually cheaper than new ones.”

“I see,” Xiang Weiyuan said, then continued humbly: “Why are some boundary stones nurtured for seventy or eighty years priced far higher than new ones?” “After a century of nurturing, the boundary stone advances. Its domain expands tenfold. Compared to the benefits of advancement, purity becomes trivial.”

Xiang Weiyuan nodded. He had not realized how complex territorial expansion was—how much depth lay within it.

The Daoist couldn’t help adding, “Young brother, don’t take it amiss if I speak plainly. To expand territory, you must at least reach the Profound Spirit realm. This is no child’s play. The barbarians are not merely words—they truly kill. How do you think so many secondhand boundary stones in your catalog came to be? Most arrived ownerless!”

The Daoist, now speaking earnestly, continued: “Young brother, territorial expansion is not a game. The boundary stone is only one part—not the whole. To expand, you need kin and elders to hold the line, elite personal guards as the army’s backbone, provisions, weapons, and equipment. For the first decade, you must provide food, clothing, shelter, and daily necessities for commoners—all cost merit points! By past precedent, half the cost of expansion is the boundary stone; the other half is these other needs. You’re still young—where would you get so many merit points? Focus on your cultivation, strive to advance. Of course, if you’re from one of the Seven Surnames and Thirteen Prominent Clans, ignore what I’ve said.”

The Daoist might as well have written “overreaching ambition” on his face, yet his words carried genuine concern. Xiang Weiyuan sincerely thanked him and said, “I come from humble origins. I’m merely viewing these to broaden my horizons.”

The Daoist nodded. “I see. If you have questions, come ask me. And let me add one more thing: most who successfully expand territory do not use ordinary boundary stones.”

Xiang Weiyuan understood the Daoist’s hint. He returned to his desk and began examining the next three subcategories of boundary stones.

The Advanced boundary stone entries were far fewer—only a dozen or so.

Shengxuan Stone: possesses Shengxuan force; accelerates growth of all things within the domain, aids healing of injuries.

Huoming Stone: stabilizes the soul; grants temporary life preservation to fatal wounds within the domain, provided medical treatment is administered within one hour.

But Xiang Weiyuan could only view two or three entries; the rest required Heavenly Merit for exchange. The Premium category remained completely locked. Only one entry in the Variant category remained accessible to him.

!.

Yinghuo Stone: the domain is saturated with Fire force, bearing the spark of life; can generate one Infant Fire Pool, capable of forging special magic treasures. But the domain is unsuitable for commoners to inhabit.

Whether Advanced or Variant, their prices far exceed ordinary boundary stones, starting at least at five hundred thousand merit points.

After reviewing the boundary stones, Xiang Weiyuan finally understood that territorial expansion was still far beyond him. Yet their high cost made sense—how could a treasure capable of transforming heaven and earth be cheap?

Leaving the Merit Hall, Xiang Weiyuan visited the Mission Hall again. Now he could accept many more missions, but those for Foundation Establishment cultivators were simple and paid little—mostly one or two hundred merit points, rarely exceeding a thousand, nothing compared to the battlefield. After reviewing the missions, he found none suitable. He handed over the items to be sent home to the Mission Hall attendant, paying fifty merit points as fee. The attendant would find a suitable cultivator to deliver them.

After visiting both halls, Xiang Weiyuan went to the Wanxiang Hall to see where his Dao Base stood in the Star River. The vast expanse of rivers and mountains was unprecedented; he guessed his Dao Base must be Immortal. The attitudes of Xuan Yue True Person and several other True Persons confirmed it. Moreover, if the faint vitality within the Jade Mountain could sprout and grow a Seven Marvelous Treasure Tree, Xiang Weiyuan believed his Dao Base would not be inferior to Bao Yun’s. After all, everyone had a tree—he had a tree and a patch of earth.

(End of Chapter)