Chapter 168: Top-notch Swindler

「Ding! You have performed Soul Salvation on an evil monster, congratulations on receiving the reward: Merit +10! 」

A mechanical, cold voice echoed in his mind, and Wang Ping'an's expression changed slightly.

This was not his first time using the skill: Soul Salvation!

Although it was his first time using it on a monster, he never expected that after using the skill Soul Salvation, he would only receive ten points of Merit.

This was something he never could have imagined.

According to his guess, using Soul Salvation on a monster, even if he didn't get the Merit from slaying it—which would be a thousand points—he would at least get a few hundred.

He never would have thought it would be only a measly ten points.

You should know that even using Soul Salvation on poultry or even a mouse yields one point of Merit.

「Could it be that I'm being discriminated against this monster, so I only get ten points of Merit? 」

Wang Ping'an guessed.

Not long after, Wang Ping'an used Soul Salvation on the corpses of two more monsters, and to his disappointment, he again received only ten points of Merit as a reward.

This is something he simply cannot accept!

Wang Ping'an wondered: "Could it be that the system discriminates against all monsters?"

This thought hadn't lingered in his mind for more than three seconds before he dismissed it himself, for the rewards from slaying monsters and from slaying Evil Cultivators are the same, showing the system does not discriminate against them.

In other words, there is a reason why using Soul Salvation on them yields only ten points of Merit.

「Soul Salvation, Soul Salvation, Soul Salvation... 」

Wang Ping'an muttered to himself, and suddenly a flash of inspiration crossed his mind, recalling some folk tales he had heard in his previous life.

It means that doing good deeds in this life will ensure rebirth into a good family in the next.

If one does evil in this life, the next life will make it hard even to be reborn as an animal, and one must suffer torment in the Eighteen Levels of Hell.

「I understand! 」

Wang Ping'an suddenly had an epiphany, and thoughtfully said: "Monsters that have exhausted all evil deeds are not qualified for Soul Salvation; receiving ten points of Merit is already the system's great mercy!"

Soul Salvation is about sending beings to be reborn.

If even beasts that have committed endless evil could be Soul Salvated and sent to rebirth without suffering any torment, ending up the same as good people, then what point is there in doing good deeds thereafter?

Since ancient times, there has been the principle that good deeds bring good rewards and evil deeds bring evil retribution.

After understanding, Wang Ping'an was still somewhat disappointed, but not much; instead, all the regret in his heart was swept away.

During this period, many Evil Cultivators had died at his hands, but because it was his first kill, or perhaps he was frightened, he had no mind to use Soul Salvation on their corpses.

At first he didn't use Soul Salvation, and later he simply forgot about it.

When he finally came to his senses, he remembered he still had the unused skill Soul Salvation, missing a source of Merit, and he fell into regret for a long time.

He didn't know how much Merit he had lost, nor how many skills he could have raised from Mastery to Cultivation.

Now that he knows, Soul Salvation on Evil Cultivators or heinous monsters yields at most ten points of Merit—so how could he still have any regret?

At present, what he lacks are tens of thousands of Merit, not a mere ten points.

Wang Ping'an came to his senses, angrily staring at the three monster corpses on the ground; if not for these three monsters contributing a full three thousand points of Merit, he could have upgraded three more skills to Cultivation.

He wished he could crush those three monsters to ashes, for wasting his time using Soul Salvation on them yielded only thirty points of Merit. Hope.

Maybe these three monsters have some treasures on them!

Wang Ping'an crouched down and carefully examined the three monsters; to his disappointment again, aside from a yellowed book, their corpses held only a dozen or so Low-grade Spirit Stones.

「You damn poor ghost, learning nothing good, learning to kill and rob from others... 」

Wang Ping'an couldn't help but curse under his breath, and before he finished speaking, he suddenly realized.

Those who engage in murder and robbery, aside from being reckless and disregarding human life, are mostly penniless poor ghosts.

If they had money, who would bother with murder and robbery?

However.

Fortunately, there is a yellowed book, hopefully containing something satisfactory; as for the additional dozen or so Low-grade Spirit Stones,

he didn't take them to heart!

He can sell a Talisman for one Low-grade Spirit Stone, and drawing a Talisman takes no more than drinking a cup of water—would he even care about such a trifling amount of Low-grade Spirit Stone?

Wang Ping'an rose to leave, but before he had taken a few steps, Hu Jiushisan fell to his knees with a "plop!" and begged bitterly:

This novel you have arrived.

「Fellow Daoist, fellow Daoist, I didn't come here with ill intent to cause trouble; I came to admire your mighty power, how you ruthlessly slaughtered three clueless beasts. Please show mercy, and please don't treat me as an equal opponent! 」

Wang Ping'an casually pointed at the three monster corpses!

Naturally, he wouldn't stoop to Hu Jiushisan's level; Hu Jiushisan hasn't engaged in murder and robbery, and with his timid, mouse-like nature, he likely hasn't done any wrongdoing.

Even if it is a monster, slaying it does not necessarily grant a Merit reward.

Moreover.

He also hoped Hu Jiushisan would massively purchase his Talismans!

He knows that Hu Jiushisan buys his Talismans at market price, and Hu Jiushisan would surely profit, but he doesn't mind, after all the old saying goes:

Profitable trades, even if they risk execution, find takers; but loss-making trades, even if forced at knifepoint, find no one willing.

If Hu Jiushisan can sell his Talismans at a price above market, that's due to his own ability, and that money belongs to Hu Jiushisan to earn.

As long as he himself doesn't lose out, that's enough!

He cannot possibly pocket every single penny; even a big capitalist couldn't do that.

Hu Jiushisan stared blankly, not understanding why Wang Ping'an pointed at the three monster corpses; suddenly, a flash of inspiration crossed his mind, he swallowed, and said:

「Fellow Daoist, you wouldn't be trying to get me to submit a letter of allegiance, would you? 」

Wang Ping'an looked at Hu Jiushisan speechlessly, having no idea what it was thinking, how it could think of a letter of allegiance, and then produced paper, ink, brush, and inkstone.

「These three monster corpses are for sale to you! 」

"Sell me?"

Hu Jiushisan was first stunned, then reacted, giving Wang Ping'an a strange look. He had originally thought he was an Evil Cultivator who enjoyed wanton slaughter, but didn't expect him to be a top-notch swindler.

He lured out monsters to ambush him, then wantonly slaughtered them to vent his anger, and afterwards sold the corpses at a high price.

Such conduct is practically a model among swindlers, able to maximize profit.

Hu Jiushisan gave a wry smile and said: "Fellow Daoist, I wanted to buy these three monsters' corpses, but the problem is, I've spent all my spirit stones on your talisman, fellow Daoist, and have none left, so I can't afford to buy these three monsters' corpses."

(End of chapter)