Chapter 227: Military Merit

Yan Buji was quite shocked upon receiving the news, and his mind became active.

"A small demon counts for ten points of military merit? A big demon one hundred points. And a bottle of healing pill requires one hundred points of military merit...."

Yan Buji flipped through the military merit exchange table his master gave him, along with various rules.

It stated that only slaying small or big demons counts as military merit, and if a demon general or demon king appears, anyone who participates in the siege can receive a reward of three thousand military merit.

But according to the exchange points on this table, Yan Buji would need to kill at least two hundred small demons to exchange for a single Human‑path Foundation Establishment Pill, and only three such pills are limited per day.

Yan Buji took a deep breath and temporarily abandoned the idea of obtaining the Human‑path Foundation Establishment Pill. Having this thing displayed forces Lianqi Phase cultivators like them to fight the demon race desperately, as if they were expected to charge down and take on thousands single‑handedly.

Besides that, many techniques and arts from the Ten Thousand Dao Mountains were also very tempting, and master Ming Zhong kindly marked for Yan Buji which ones originated from the Ten Thousand Dao Mountains.

"There are even Foundation Establishment Stage techniques, and yet there is the Five Elements Escape Technique? Ten thousand points? That's absurd."

Yan Buji stared at the ten‑thousand‑point cost for the Five Elements Escape Technique and couldn't help but click his tongue in astonishment.

The Five Elements Escape Technique likely requires cultivators who have practiced Five Elements methods to wield, and unlike a single escape technique, it suits most environments and is not easily restricted by certain means.

Yan Buji looked further, gauged his own strength, and secretly selected a few items he deemed necessary.

"Swallow Flame Technique, Tide Birth Formula, Geng Metal Refined Qi, Time of Dust and Sand... all can be cultivated at the Lianqi Phase, each has ten layers of realms, far superior to the basic methods I have learned."

Yan Buji wants to break through the Foundation Establishment, so changing his basic techniques is essential; now he either seeks to overlay different‑attribute techniques onto his original Five Elements foundation, or directly replace the base of the Five Elements methods to increase their capacity.

Otherwise, encountering conflicts where merging other types of techniques causes magical power to fall out of sync would be intolerable for him.

These four Lianqi Phase techniques combined with the Tree Person method he previously acquired might cause conflicts during cultivation, but having superior methods alone is enough to broaden his perspective.

Besides, various other arts also fall within Yan Buji's requirements, especially that kind of.....

"Ten‑Flower Eye Secret Method?!" Yan Buji was startled; is this also a technique that originated from the Ten Thousand Dao Mountains?

No, could it be that the Lingyu of the Hundred Herb Sect in the Kun Dao region has already been taken over by cultivators from the Ten Thousand Dao Mountains, thus acquiring this Ten‑Flower Eye Secret Method?

Because Yan Buji knows the Hundred Herb Sect also possesses the Thousand‑Flower Eye Secret Method above the Three‑Flower Eye, this Ten‑Flower Eye Secret Method is clearly an advanced version of the Three‑Flower Eye.

His Three‑Flower Eye does not dare to be used lightly, but at this moment it makes no difference.

After all, there are many who cultivate secret methods using Abnormal Material, so Yan Buji is not worried about anyone detecting any clue.

But if he obtains the Ten‑Flower Eye Secret Method, perhaps he could try combining his left eye with the Peeping‑Shadow Eye mentioned in the Stone‑Resolving Secret Method.

To be honest, Yan Buji has many hidden means; on the surface he already possesses eighth‑layer Lianqi combat power, and even his Martial Dao cultivation that he rarely dares to use, he is not afraid to clash with peak Lianqi in life‑or‑death battles, mainly because the origins of his secret methods are somewhat sensitive.

Therefore, he seeks techniques obtained through normal channels so that no one can spot any clue.

"It seems this great battle doesn't require us to flee first."

Yan Buji let out a laugh.

Later, upon learning that Qingfeng Monastery would guard the southern city wall together with the Great River Sect and Song Lake Sect, Yan Buji felt somewhat puzzled.

That evening, Lin Ruoyu of the Great River Sect came to his door.

The two sat inside the room, and Yan Buji asked in puzzlement, "Daoist companion Lin, why do you come seeking a poor Daoist in the middle of the night? Is there something urgent?"

Lin Ruoyu glanced around and whispered, "Moon‑Advancing Daoist friend, have you obtained that military merit exchange table?"

"Hmm."

Lin Ruoyu nodded, "Since that's the case, our Great River Sect and Qingfeng Monastery have always been on good terms, and now we are rotating the city‑guard duty with Song Lake Sect. To earn a lot of military merit, we must kill demons recklessly. Our two families must act together. I have heard that Song Lake Sect is not a minor force; the people they sent this time outnumber both our sects combined."

Yan Buji understood their meaning and smiled, "That is natural; for the great cause of the human race, defending Huang Du, Qingfeng Monastery and the Great River Sect should watch and assist each other."

Lin Ruoyu's eyes shifted, "Besides that, I heard that a few days ago Qingfeng Monastery clashed with Song Lake Sect, so inevitably the other side might marginalize you...."

Yan Buji squinted, "Daoist companion, feel free to speak plainly."

"Moon‑Advancing Daoist friend, speak quickly; I won't beat around the bush. My point is, striking first is the strongest," Lin Ruoyu said seriously.

Heh.

I really didn't see it coming; is Lin Ruoyu this kind of person?

Even though she appears quiet on the surface, she harbors a belly full of nasty thoughts.

"Daoist companion, what does that mean?" Yan Buji asked.

Lin Ruoyu said, "We guard the city wall, but the Elders will certainly go out of the city to battle the big demons of the demon race, to prevent them from destroying the wall and allowing the demon army to surge in. Song Lake Sect is powerful; if they send people to interfere with us in order to snatch military merit, wouldn't that put us at a disadvantage? Being prepared avoids trouble; I think we can strike first to disrupt them. The members of Qingfeng Monastery were previously bullied like this, and even if the other side apologizes it won't be easy to move on. Now is a good opportunity; at that time my Great River Sect disciples will definitely support Qingfeng Monastery!"

Whoa!

Well, you little girl, your mind is truly filthy.

You want Qingfeng Monastery to help your Great River Sect disrupt Song Lake Sect, and when the two families clash, your Great River Sect can sit back and reap the fisherman's profit, right?

Yan Buji smiled, "That remark is inappropriate; Song Lake Sect is powerful, and now the demon race is attacking the city. This war between humans and demons is unavoidable. Moreover, cultivators of the Xuan Kan Dao will certainly observe us from the shadows; if we are discovered, wouldn't we be looked down upon? Regarding this matter, I, a humble Daoist, actually have a solution that benefits both sides."

Lin Ruoyu still thought Yan Buji had caught her meaning and was deliberately declining, but then he said he had a way, which was quite odd:

"Moon‑Advancing Daoist friend, what method do you have?"

"Since they are fighting for military merit, let them fight. If the demon race can so easily deliver heads into our hands, then the Xuan Kan Dao gathering many forces would be making a mountain out of a molehill. Historically, a war flourishes in the first stage, wanes in the second, and exhausts in the third; better to first wear down their strength, and we can strike later, wouldn't that be better? Moreover, given the rotation of city‑guard duties, if the three of us truly fall into conflict leading the demons to breach the city, the military merit would be an illusion; first we must find a way to survive." Yan Buji said with a smile.

Lin Ruoyu, upon hearing this, furrowed his brows, thought carefully, nodded, and bowed, saying:

"Indeed, Moon‑Advancing Daoist friend, you have thought it through thoroughly; I was reckless."

"Hehe, Daoist companion, first rest assured; these matters... I, a humble Daoist, think it's better to observe a few more days before speaking further."

Lin Ruoyu nodded, and before leaving cast a glance at Yan Buji, a vague meaning flickering in his eyes.

Yan Buji squinted:

"The Great River Sect has allied with Song Lake Sect? That's fast."

Lin Ruoyu's coming this time is probably to test Qingfeng Monastery's attitude toward Song Lake Sect, right?

Interesting.