Chapter 533: On Merit

"The market district can be built, but... opening the heavenly caves and blessed lands requires consideration."

In fact, present-day Nanxiang County needs no special policies to attract a vast number of cultivators.

First is its foundation.

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

Second is the current situation.

The entry thresholds for the four great holy lands of Talismans, Artifacts, Formations, and Pills are relatively high, requiring corresponding specialized talents; while the Central Holy Land and the Xuanyuan Prefecture do not demand such talents, they bear the responsibility of maintaining continental stability and thus carry certain dangers; as for the Northern, Western, and Eastern Elephant Cities, there has been no movement to this day, so even those wishing to join cannot find a way in.

Amidst these numerous restrictions and comparisons, Nanxiang City has become one of the few choices left for cultivators.

Third is stability.

Since the Zhu Que Army fully took over Nanxiang County, this place has truly become one of the rare 'paradises' suitable for living amidst the turbulent Central Continent.

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

For her, who possessed little ambition, grand aspirations like contending for the world were never part of her considerations.

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

Hua Changxi glanced at Song Weimin, who looked obviously disappointed, and her eyes flickered.

This man's strength is improving somewhat too quickly!

It has only been a short while since she rescued him from the Nine Netherworlds, yet his cultivation has already crossed from the Qi Sea Realm into the Core Formation Realm.

The golden lotus within his dantian has become increasingly brilliant and dazzling; its five-colored petals bloom layer upon layer, while five-colored lotus seeds jointly support a flowing, colorful five-colored inner elixir.

The quality of that five-colored inner elixir is extraordinarily good.

Having just experienced the powerful effects of energy circulation on the physical body through the illumination of the Root, Sacral, and Navel Wheels, Hua Changxi even thought—

If one follows the principle of the Five Elements generating each other in an endless cycle, then once Song Weimin reaches a certain realm, might he not need to cultivate deliberately at all, relying solely on that ceaseless Five Elements cycle to naturally inhale and exhale the spiritual qi of heaven and earth?

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

Merit...

Hua Changxi fell into thoughtful silence; through Song Weimin's rapid advancement, she saw herself.

Her own cultivation speed had also undergone several obvious great leaps.

Every great leap occurred after she had done something that pushed forward the grand trend of events.

Pushing forward the grand trend generates merit!

As for Song Weimin, he obtained merit by developing people's livelihoods and allowing the common folk to live and work in peace and contentment.

Hua Changxi then recalled the changes that occurred after the Star-Gazing Tower and the Undead Divine Tree absorbed the merit from within her body...

Merit is truly a wonderful thing!

Looking at Song Weimin, Hua Changxi suddenly wanted to discuss 'merit' with him, so she smiled and asked, "Lord Song, your cultivation technique is named the 'Golden Lotus Merit Technique'; surely, your understanding of merit must be quite profound?"

The topic shifted too suddenly and with too great a leap, causing Song Weimin's heart to skip a beat; he glanced at Hua Changxi before cautiously replying, "Reporting to the Hall Master, this official dares not claim profundity, but I do indeed have some slight insights."

The extraordinariness of the 'Golden Lotus Merit Technique' was something he discovered right at the beginning of his cultivation.

Logically speaking, cultivation techniques are highly private matters for cultivators, not meant to be shared with outsiders, let alone insights gained during cultivation.

However, Song Weimin had no thought of refusing to answer Hua Changxi; in fact, he did not intend to gloss over it vaguely.

For no other reason than that while Hua Changxi was choosing him, he was also choosing her.

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

Song Weimin clasped his hands in a bow, paused for a moment as if weighing his words, then slowly said, "This official believes that for different people, merit holds different meanings."

"For this official, merit is divided into 'Gong' (Achievement) and 'De' (Virtue)."

"'Gong' refers to achievements; specifically in terms of action, it means establishing accomplishments and building enterprises."

"Regarding establishing accomplishments and building enterprises, what this official can do now is to ensure the people of Nanxiang County live and work in peace and contentment, no longer suffering the pains of turmoil."

"As for 'De', it refers to virtue; in practical terms, it is the responsibility that this official, as a parental official, must shoulder and cannot shirk."

"As long as this official accomplishes these two points from the bottom of his heart, he might barely be considered a person with some slight merit."

Hua Changxi looked at him: "You are quite honest."

Every sentence has a source, and every matter can be verified.

Whereas her own understanding of merit—doing good deeds to accumulate virtue—seemed somewhat superficial.

Song Weimin said, "This official lacks talent and has limited ability; unable to participate in matters of great merit, I can only do my duty and accumulate some small merit."

Hua Changxi smiled: "You even divide merit into large and small?"

Song Weimin replied, "Of course; great figures do great things, while small figures do small things; the merit accumulated is naturally different."

He paused.

"In this official's view, a person possessing great merit should be like the Hall Master."

Hua Changxi laughed: "Oh? Do elaborate specifically on how I am a person possessing great merit?"

Song Weimin said seriously, "The resurgence of spiritual qi has brought about the collapse of the old order; before a new order is established, both cultivators and ordinary people remain in a state of turbulence and instability."

"On a macro level, whoever can improve the living environment and push forward the establishment of a new order; on an individual level, whoever can point out a direction for others amidst the chaos—that person is one who possesses great merit."

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

Seeing that Hua Changxi gave no response to his words, Song Weimin thought for a moment and added, "After this official was suspended from duty, I endured quite a period of drifting and turmoil; only now, having returned to Nanxiang County, have I found my former peace again."

"For this, this official is filled with gratitude toward the Hall Master."

"If this official feels this way, then others do as well."

"When the Phoenix Clan invaded Nanxiang County, attempting to occupy the Wutong Forest, the Hall Master forcefully drove them away; when the Imperial Court managed Nanxiang County, ignoring the hardships of the people's livelihood, the Hall Master had the Zhu Que Army seize Nanxiang County back from the Imperial Court, sheltering countless commoners."

"The Hall Master's strength, and fearlessness in the face of power, have injected the seed of hope—'one can still live well even in chaotic times'—into countless people."

"If these are not great merit, then what is?"

"And these are merely two matters this official listed casually; the deeds the Hall Master has performed go far beyond these."

Hua Changxi looked at him: "You certainly have high hopes for me."

Seeing that Hua Changxi showed no joy at his praise but instead wore a grave expression, Song Weimin felt somewhat confused.

Had his words been too flattering?

Heaven knew, he was speaking from the heart.

Hua Changxi understood Song Weimin's 'theory of merit': one must act altruistically from the heart, and furthermore, achieve positive results.

Alas, this realm... the requirements were so high!

She had also realized that the higher the grade of the cultivation technique, the higher the demands on the practitioner's virtue.

Song Weimin cultivated the Golden Lotus Merit Technique, and felt its core lay precisely in cultivating virtue.

What about the Zhu Que Divine Technique?

Did every breakthrough require matching virtue as well?

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

Song Weimin shook his head: "Never."

Hua Changxi asked again: "Then have you ever experienced a stage where your cultivation stagnated and made no progress?"

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

"It is not that one cannot have a utilitarian mind, but one's actions cannot stem entirely from utility, especially for those in high positions."

"Those in high positions command too many resources; a single casual decision can affect thousands of common people. Therefore, this subordinate believes those in high positions should focus even more on cultivating virtue."

"A person without virtue, occupying a high position, acts solely for themselves. Even if they perform good deeds, in essence, it is merely self-enrichment and cannot be counted as merit."

"When your subordinate cultivated this Golden Lotus Merit Technique, I felt that only when the thought of 'self-interest' in my heart faded would the golden lotus bloom freely."

"Once the thought of 'I want to gain benefits' arises, the golden lotus will wither."

"This subordinate believes that the more empty and clear the heart, without selfishness or self, the more merit it can bear."

Hua Changxi said: "...Your realm is very high; I must learn from you."

"Let us end our conversation here for today; I shall not disturb you further."

Having spoken, she rose to leave.

Seeing this, Song Weimin hurriedly asked: "Hall Master, what about the matter of opening the blessed lands and grotto-heavens...?"

Hua Changxi looked at him: "Opening the blessed lands and grotto-heavens involves too much; I need to think it over carefully."

Nowadays, all factions lack cultivation resources; opening the blessed lands and grotto-heavens would absolutely be a powerful tool to attract cultivators.

However, for her, the Zhu Que Army still had many internal issues awaiting improvement, and she had no desire whatsoever to introduce 'external problems.'

Watching Hua Changxi depart with quick steps, Song Weimin keenly perceived a slight anomaly.

He discovered that Hua Changxi's dominance manifested mainly when facing enemies and handling crises, yet when dealing with internal construction, she appeared somewhat soft and procrastinating.

In other words, she lacked a firm stance in her heart!