Chapter 533: On Merit

"Marketplaces can be built, but... opening the blessed lands and cave heavens, I need to consider."

In fact, Nanxiang County nowadays can attract a large number of cultivators without needing to implement any special policies.

First is heritage.

As one of the top ten powers of the Central Continent in ancient times, Nanxiang City itself carries an aura that makes countless cultivators yearn for it.

Second is the current situation.

The four sacred grounds of Talismans, Artifacts, Formations, and Alchemy have relatively high entry thresholds, requiring corresponding professional talents; although the Central Sacred Ground and Xuanfu Manor do not require such talents, they bear the responsibility of maintaining continental stability, which carries certain dangers; as for the three cities of North, West, and East, there has been no movement so far, and those who wish to join cannot find a way.

Under these many restrictions and comparisons, Nanxiang City became one of the few choices for cultivators.

Third is security.

Since the Vermilion Bird Army fully took over Nanxiang County, amid the turbulent Central Continent, Nanxiang County truly counts as one of the rare 'paradises' suitable for living nowadays.

When Hua Changxi previously inspected Nanxiang County, she noticed that the number of cultivators had clearly increased again.

For her, who had little ambition, such aspirations as contending for the world were never in her consideration.

She felt that relying on Nanxiang City's siphon aura, the cultivators attracted would be sufficient for development.

Hua Changxi glanced at Song Weimin, who was clearly somewhat disappointed, and her eyes flickered.

This person's strength has improved quite rapidly!

How long has it been since he was rescued from the Nine Netherworld, and his cultivation has already crossed from the Qi Sea realm into the Core Formation realm.

The golden lotus in his dantian had become even more dazzling, with five-colored lotus petals blooming layer by layer, and five-colored lotus seeds jointly supporting a flowing, colorful five-colored inner core.

The quality of that five-colored inner core was exceptionally good.

Having just experienced the powerful effect of energy circulation on the physical body due to the activation of the root chakra, navel chakra, and solar plexus chakra, Hua Changxi even thought—

If according to the principle of the five elements generating each other and cycling endlessly, once Song Weimin reaches a certain realm, would he no longer need to deliberately cultivate, but could automatically absorb and emit the world's spiritual energy by relying on that unending five-element cycle?

The Golden Lotus Merit Art that Song Weimin cultivates is truly extraordinary!

Merit...

Hua Changxi seemed lost in thought, and through Song Weimin's rapid advancement, she saw herself.

Her cultivation speed had also experienced several clear leaps forward.

Each leap occurred after she had done something that advanced the general trend.

Advancing the general trend brings merit!

And Song Weimin gained merit by developing people's livelihoods and ensuring the people lived and worked in peace and contentment!

Hua Changxi also thought of the changes that occurred after the Star Observation Tower and the Immortal Divine Tree absorbed the merit from her body...

Merit is truly a wonderful thing!

Hua Changxi looked at Song Weimin and suddenly wanted to chat with him about 'merit'. She immediately asked with a smile: "Lord Song, the technique you cultivate is called the Golden Lotus Merit Art. Then, your understanding of merit must be quite profound, right?"

The topic changed too suddenly, with too large a span. Song Weimin's heart skipped a beat. He glanced at Hua Changxi before replying cautiously: "Reporting to Hall Master, this humble official dare not claim deep understanding, but I do have some insights."

He had discovered the extraordinariness of the Golden Lotus Merit Art early on in his cultivation.

Logically speaking, cultivation techniques are very private matters for cultivators and should not be discussed with outsiders, let alone insights gained during cultivation.

However, Song Weimin had never thought of refusing to answer Hua Changxi, nor did he intend to gloss over it.

There was no other reason; when Hua Changxi was choosing him, he was also choosing her.

He also wanted to see, if he treated her with sincerity, how would Hua Changxi treat him.

Song Weimin clasped his hands in a salute, pondered for a moment as if weighing his words, then slowly said: "This humble official believes that for different people, merit has different interpretations."

"For this humble official, merit is divided into achievement and virtue."

"Achievement means accomplishments; concretely in behavior, it means making contributions and establishing a career."

"In terms of making contributions and establishing a career, what this humble official can do now is to let the people of Nanxiang County live and work in peace and contentment, no longer suffering from the pains of turmoil."

"And virtue means moral conduct; when put into practice, it is the responsibility that this humble official, as the parent official, must shoulder and cannot shirk."

"If I, from the bottom of my heart, manage to achieve these two points, then I can barely be considered a person of slight merit."

Hua Changxi looked at him: "You're being quite honest."

Every sentence has its source, every matter can be verified.

And as for her understanding of merit—doing good deeds and accumulating virtue—it was rather superficial.

Song Weimin: "I am untalented and limited in ability; I cannot participate in great works of merit. I can only fulfill my duty and accumulate small merits."

Hua Changxi smiled: "Do you even distinguish between large and small merits?"

Song Weimin: "Of course. Great people do great things, small people do small things, so the merit they accumulate is naturally different."

He paused.

"In my view, a person bearing great merit should be like you, Palace Master."

Hua Changxi laughed: "Oh? Tell me specifically—how am I a person bearing great merit?"

Song Weimin said earnestly: "The resurgence of spiritual energy has brought about the collapse of the old order. Before a new order is established, both cultivators and ordinary people are in a state of unrest."

"On a macro level, whoever can improve the living environment and promote the establishment of a new order; on an individual level, whoever can show others the way amid the chaos—that person bears great merit."

"And you, Palace Master, happen to possess both of these abilities."

Seeing that Hua Changxi had no response to his words, Song Weimin thought for a moment and added: "After I was suspended from office, I spent quite some time drifting in turmoil. Now that I've returned to Nanxiang County, I have once again found my former peace."

"For that, I am full of gratitude toward you, Palace Master."

"I feel this way, and so do others."

"When the Phoenix clan invaded Nanxiang County, trying to occupy the Wutong Forest, you drove them away with force; when the imperial court governed Nanxiang County without caring for the people's hardships, you had the Vermilion Bird Army take it back from the court, sheltering countless commoners."

"Your strength and your fearlessness of the powerful have planted in countless people the seed of hope that 'one can still live well even in troubled times.'"

"If these are not great merits, then what are?"

"And these are just two examples I casually listed. The things you’ve done, Palace Master, go far beyond these."

Hua Changxi looked at him: "You certainly have a high opinion of me."

Seeing that Hua Changxi not only showed no delight at his praise, but instead looked grave, Song Weimin felt somewhat confused.

Were his words too flattering?

Heaven knows, he had spoken from the heart.

Hua Changxi understood Song Weimin's "theory of merit"—that it must arise from genuine altruism and produce positive results.

Ah, this level... the requirements are so high!

She had also come to realize: the higher the grade of the cultivation technique, the higher the demands on the cultivator's virtue.

Song Weimin cultivated the *Golden Lotus Merit Art*, and it seemed the core of it was cultivating virtue.

What about the *Vermilion Bird Divine Art*?

Did each breakthrough also require matching virtue?

Hua Changxi suddenly asked: "Lord Song, have you ever encountered a bottleneck in your cultivation?"

Song Weimin shook his head: "No."

Hua Changxi asked again: "Then have you ever had a stage where your cultivation stagnated?"

Song Weimin glanced at Hua Changxi, as if understanding what she truly wanted to ask: "The greatest taboo in cultivating merit is a utilitarian mindset."

"It’s not that people cannot have utilitarian intentions, but one’s actions and deeds must not be entirely driven by utility—especially for those in high positions."

"Those in high positions hold too many resources; a single decision they make can affect thousands of commoners. Therefore, I believe those in high positions should pay even more attention to cultivating their virtue."

"A person without virtue, when in a high position, acts only for themselves in everything they do. Even if they perform good deeds, in essence it is nothing more than self-enrichment, which cannot be counted as merit."

"When I cultivate the *Golden Lotus Merit Art*, I feel that only when the thought of 'self-interest' fades away does the golden lotus bloom freely."

"As soon as the thought 'I want to gain benefits' arises, the lotus withers."

"In my view, the more clear and empty the mind—selfless and egoless—the more merit it can bear."

Hua Changxi: "...Your cultivation level is very high. I must learn from you."

"Let's stop here for today. I won't disturb you any longer."

With that, she stood up and prepared to leave.

Seeing this, Song Weimin quickly asked, "Hall Master, regarding the opening of the Cave Heaven and Blessed Land..."

Hua Changxi looked at him: "The opening of the Cave Heaven and Blessed Land involves too many complications. I need to think it over carefully."

Currently, all parties are short on cultivation resources. Opening the Cave Heaven and Blessed Land would undoubtedly be a major lure to attract cultivators.

However, from her perspective, the Vermilion Bird Army still had many internal issues waiting to be resolved, and she had no desire whatsoever to introduce 'external problems.'

Watching Hua Changxi stride away quickly, Song Weimin keenly sensed something unusual.

He noticed that Hua Changxi's assertiveness was mainly displayed in confronting enemies and handling crises. When it came to internal construction, however, she seemed somewhat indecisive and sluggish.

In other words, she lacked a firm vision of her own!