Chapter 207: The Merit-Verifying Dao: Xiang Xiang Xiang Xuanqing Researches a New Divine Art (110, Extra Chapter)

Luo Hou, the Demon Ancestor, had never been so welcomed by the Immortal Dao before.

"I am the Demon Ancestor, and you are Immortals—isn't this enthusiasm inappropriate?" Luo Hou was surprised.

"Appropriate? How could it be inappropriate?"

The Immortals laughed: "It's more than appropriate."

There was no helping it—the contrast in the Demon Ancestor's behavior was too extreme.

When Fu Xi and Nü Wa opened heaven and earth, that demonic calamity had engulfed time and space; the Demon Ancestor's tyranny had instilled dread in the gods.

Even a passing dog would get slapped twice.

Even the eggs of true dragons had to be shaken until their yolks scattered.

Thus, though the Opening Heaven demonic calamity had occurred only once, it had sunk deep into the gods' hearts.

Everyone subconsciously felt that Opening Heaven must be treated with utmost caution.

Now they discovered that the Opening Heaven calamity could be outsourced—and safely weathered!

How could they not rejoice? How could they not be thrilled?

The Demon Dao did have its merits… Even elders like Yin Yang Dao Ren found Luo Hou's advertising campaign too effective—they were all somewhat tempted.

"Luo Hou, dear friend, please give serious consideration to our orders," the Immortals said with sincerity.

Luo Hou's brief appearance not only earned him merit but also secured a massive batch of orders, instantly filling the entire Demon Realm's quota.

The gods of the Primordial Chaos always operated this way: the leaders of organizations were invariably the most ambitious, capable, and diligent.

They didn't just excel in their own work—they lifted their entire teams to new heights.

After this publicity campaign, the Demon Dao had directly opened up an entirely new blue ocean.

In the future, Great Demons and Demon Kings could all venture out independently to take orders.

BOOM BOOM BOOM!!

While the Immortals conversed with the Demon Ancestor, Hong Jun and Yang Mei were far from idle.

They were still Opening Heaven.

Central Jun Heaven was merely one part.

They intended to seize this opportunity—Luo Hou's "gift"—to make a grand move!

"OPEN!"

Hong Jun raised the Great Great Pangu Banner and opened heaven and earth anew.

Yang Mei stabilized the world's laws with the Taiji Diagram.

Heaven and earth took form; yin and yang separated; chaotic qi was refined into azure immortal qi.

This was the Eastern Cang Heaven.

Then, the two Great Luo Sovereigns successively opened seven more heavenly realms.

Northeast: Dashen Dashen Bian Heaven; North: Xuan Heaven; Northwest: You Heaven; West: Hao Heaven; Southwest: Zhu Heaven; South: Yan Heaven; Southeast: Yang Heaven.

Together, these nine worlds formed a vast Immortal Realm.

Each world contained a distinct form of immortal qi, symbolizing the nine paths to Immortal Dao attainment.

Henceforth, the Immortal Emperor would reside in Jun Heaven, ruling the eight directions.

BOOM BOOM BOOM~~

As the Immortal Realm opened, boundless merit gathered, and infinite time-space trembled.

The Primordial Chaos had never possessed "merit" as a tangible entity, let alone Opening Heaven merit.

The earliest merit originated from Xiang Xiang Xiang Xuanqing's crafted Xuan Huang Tian Dao and the various heavenly laws of the Taiwei gods.

Yet as the Taiwei deities subtly and overtly promoted merit, the concept—and its underlying logic—gradually solidified into a rule, etched into all heavens and worlds, accepted by gods and beings alike.

The formal emergence of Opening Heaven merit, however, stemmed from Fu Xi and Nü Wa's Opening Heaven.

Afterward, Nü Wa, as the Creator, crafted the Shan Hai Tian Dao specifically to distribute merit in gratitude to Xiang Xiang Xiang Xuanqing and the Metal Metal Qilin host.

This time, the presence of Opening Heaven merit was due to Hong Jun, fulfilling Luo Hou's request, directly imitating the Demon Dao's sacred virtue to fabricate Immortal Dao's Opening Heaven merit.

This made settlement convenient and further deepened the imprint of "Opening Heaven merit" within the Primordial Chaos True Realm.

By embedding Opening Heaven merit deep into the hearts of beings, rooting it in infinite time-space and the foundational logic of all heavens and worlds, transforming it into an inevitable rule, the creators of this heavenly merit could maximize their gains.

The Dao of merit—could it not also be a Dao?

Given time, as merit permeated all worlds and time-spaces, Opening Heaven would inevitably yield merit—and their Dao would be complete.

At that time, the Taiwei gods could not only condense various merit Dao fruits.

They could also prepare in advance for the future—even if they ever failed, they would gain an additional safeguard for return.

Hong Jun had not anticipated the deeper machinations of Luo Hou and the Taiwei gods, or perhaps he simply chose not to probe further.

That the Demon Ancestor Luo Hou agreed to act as a "contractor" for the Opening Heaven calamity had already met Hong Jun's expectations.

Beyond expectations, if it harmed no Immortal Dao interest, he had no need to scrutinize the reasons.

Thus, when Luo Hou made this request, Hong Jun immediately agreed.

Primarily because this merit was genuinely useful.

The commotion in the chaos stirred the attention of the primordial deities of all heavens and worlds; they all turned their gazes toward it.

They saw the Demon Ancestor's Opening Heaven merit descend, and witnessed the Immortal Realm transcending time-space.

After a brief calculation, they easily grasped the general course of events.

"Great Great Pangu's axe! The Demon Ancestor's gift is too enormous!"

"This is actually a good thing—future Opening Heaven will no longer be so troublesome."

"True. If the Demon Ancestor can outsource Opening Heaven, can Demon Kings and Great Demons do the same?"

"Hey! Now that you mention it, those cruel examiners suddenly look quite respectable."

"Just ask during the Demon Trials—you'll find out."

The deities of all heavens and worlds eagerly discussed this Immortal Dao Opening Heaven event.

It was an utterly unforeseen situation—so fresh, never seen before.

"Never thought you could exploit loopholes in the Opening Heaven calamity."

What's exploiting loopholes? This is opening up new lanes, developing untapped markets, and then connecting... Oh, I forgot, I learned this term recently in the Heavenly Realm of Wu Shang Chang Rong. They actually have a hell there, and its ruler is called something like Metropolitan King.

"Underworld? City Great King? What's that?"

"That's a long story…"

The Demon Ancestor Luo Hou, leveraging the opening of the Immortal Realm, launched the strongest advertisement in the entire universe.

If demons from the Demon Realm themselves opened worlds, everyone would curse them as "actors" and remain skeptical.

But the Immortal and Demon Dao had just fought a massive war, laying their conflict bare.

Now, the Dao Ancestor could still hire the Demon Ancestor to outsource the Opening Heaven calamity—what does that prove?

It proves the Demon Dao is truly trustworthy!

What could be more persuasive than recognition from a longtime rival?

After opening the Immortal Realm, Hong Jun still needed to organize the world's laws and align the Immortal Dao's plane with the Immortal Realm.

"Dear friends, thank you for your assistance."

"No need for such formalities—it is our duty!"

The heads of each major Immortal Dao lineage took charge of one heavenly domain and began their work.

Xiang Xiang Xiang Xuanqing stepped into the Immortal Realm and arrived at the Eastern Cang Heaven.

Hong Yun went to the Southeastern Yang Heaven; Nü Wa oversaw the Southern Yan Heaven; Tai Yi and his brother handled the Northeastern Dashen Dashen Bian Heaven; Ming He Wu You entered the Northwestern You Heaven…

Each performed their duties: Xiang Xiang Xiang Xuanqing and others organized the world's laws and aligned them with the Immortal Dao plane.

While Seeing Hou Tu, Zhenwu, Xihe, and others perfected the architecture of each heavenly realm.

Yun Gong, Pisha Gong, Wuming Gong… they instantly shaped thirty-three heavenly palaces; additionally, seventy-two layers of precious halls—Zhao Society Sanqing Dian, Lingxu Sanqing Dian, Baoguang Sanqing Dian, Immortal King Sanqing Dian—rose one after another. Within the towering heavens, magnificent, continuous divine palaces and immortal mansions were gradually built.

Finally, according to the suggestions of Yu Chen Dao Jun, they perfected the Immortal Realm's arrays.

In mere moments, a complete Immortal Realm was forged!

Seeing the success before them, the Immortals were filled with joy.

"Thus, all preparations are complete—awaiting the Immortal Ascension Ceremony in three thousand years."

Hong Jun and Yang Mei bowed: "Friends, we shall meet again in three thousand years!"

All Immortals smiled and bowed in unison:

"We shall meet again in three thousand years!"

The Immortals and gods agreed to reunite in three thousand years.

This time span was neither too short nor too long.

Three thousand years was enough for Xiang Xiang Xiang Xuanqing to refine his new luxury vehicle once more.

Three thousand years was enough for the tree at Wuzhuangguan to bloom again.

Zhen Zhen Yuanzi routinely played the role of flowers and grass.

He could now perfectly impersonate the Ginseng Fruit Tree—even achieving a cycle of blooming every three thousand years, fruiting every three thousand years, and ripening every three thousand years.

He even surpassed the Ginseng Fruit Tree in yield.

But the fruit's effects were significantly diminished.

"But the flavor is about the same!"

Shen Shu bit into the fruit; juice burst forth, its fragrance filling the air.

"Still room for improvement," said Zhen Zhen Yuanzi. "If a fruit matured over ten thousand years could grant immortality, that would be a true primordial spirit root."

"Even our primordial spiritual roots must have ambition; we must learn to cultivate ourselves, so we can keep pace with the times—even in the Age of Decline, we can still survive."

"Friend, you are truly a model among primordial spiritual roots!" praised the Reincarnation Purple Lotus.

Why did Shenshu and Yulü encounter Zhenyuanzi?

Answer: Zhenyuanzi has been impersonating the Ginseng Fruit Tree.

The Peach Tree and the Reincarnation Purple Lotus went to Wuzhuangguan seeking the "Ginseng Fruit Tree"—it was always Zhenyuanzi in disguise.

A great traveler pretending to be a guide immortal? It was effortless.

They are currently traveling.

Accompanying them was a bright, cheerful youth—the Fusang Tree.

Also a spiritually naive root, easy to deceive.

Fortunately, Zhenyuanzi had no ill intentions.

He was merely cultivating his own Dao.

Transforming into flowers and grasses was his method of cultivation.

The Underworld.

After returning, Xiang Xiang Xiang Xuanqing remained in Zhuojue Tian Palace.

He was re-refining the Nine-Dragon Sandalwood Chariot.

Originally, he had intended to help Lord Jing Yao and Master Master Yuchen re-smelt the Flame Light Flag and Purple Lightning Hammer.

Unfortunately, the two refused outright.

In the end, Xiang Xiang Xiang Xuanqing could only study the two spiritual treasures, replicate the Great Dao principles they contained, and record them into the Jade Xu Complete Guide to Artifact Refinement.

"Huh? Zhenyuanzi has uploaded some good things to Tian Shi Taiwei Yuan." Xiang Xiang Xiang Xuanqing noticed new spiritual plants in Tian Shi Taiwei Yuan.

【Danmu Fruit】Round leaves, red stems, yellow flowers, red fruit; its taste is like syrup; eating it prevents hunger.

【Shatang Fruit】Resembles a pear, with yellow flowers and red fruit, tasting like a plum but seedless; it grants water immunity.

【Jiarong Grass】... Consuming it renders one immune to thunder.

Xiang Xiang Xiang Xuanqing glanced over—Zhenyuanzi had updated dozens of new spiritual plants in Tian Shi Taiwei Yuan, all edible and with excellent effects.

For example, Danmu Fruit: it prevents hunger, seemingly useless to deities.

But it touches upon the level of Great Dao principles; considering hunger is one of the Three Thousand Daos, this fruit grants immunity to hunger, making it a natural counter to deities who cultivate that path.

"But if I reverse-engineer it, I could develop a divine art that forcibly induces hunger—then I would be the deity of hunger."

Xiang Xiang Xiang Xuanqing found this intriguing, so he exchanged for it, immediately reverse-engineered it, and developed a new divine art.

He used it on himself.

Xiang Xiang Xiang Xuanqing's face turned pale instantly; his body withered away, becoming gaunt and skeletal.

More critically, he felt an overwhelming hunger—a weakness unlike any before swept through his entire body, turning his eyes green.

"Hungry~~"

BOOM!!!

The Underworld trembled violently; the blood moon in the heavens changed color, turning green like Xiang Xiang Xiang Xuanqing's eyes.

Xiang Xiang Xiang Xuanqing's hunger as Lord of this world affected the Earthly Dao.

"What now?"

Meng Wu You, who had just moved, stepped out of Luo Fu Mountain, looked up at the heavens, and locked eyes with the blood moon.

"Don't look!" Xiang Xiang Xiang Xuanqing instantly recovered, waved his sleeve to obscure the blood moon, then casually handed Meng Wu You a Danmu Fruit.

"Mmm~~" Meng Wu You swallowed the fruit whole.

"I overdid it with Divine Soul cultivation—don't mind it," Xiang Xiang Xiang Xuanqing explained.

Meng Wu You blinked: "The fruit tastes good—give me a few more."

"Alright."

Xiang Xiang Xiang Xuanqing exchanged many spiritual fruits for her.

He also exchanged some for Wangchuan.

Meng Wu You ate the fruits while moving house.

She moved back into the Dream World.

Meng Wu You had almost forgotten—Xiang Xiang Xiang Xuanqing's experiments often went awry.

Haunted households weren't a one-time thing.

"Huh? A fruit that repels water—nice." Wangchuan, just poking his head out, returned to his cultivation.

He sealed the Naihe Realm to avoid interference.

"This divine art is too potent," Xiang Xiang Xiang Xuanqing stopped testing it on himself.

He turned to the Shatang Fruit—water immunity. That concept could be fun; Zulong would surely like it.

Indeed, besides Xiang Xiang Xiang Xuanqing, Zulong had exchanged for the most.

"If I reverse-engineer this further, can I achieve 'water deprivation' or 'strip away water immunity'?" Xiang Xiang Xiang Xuanqing continued experimenting.

This time, he didn't directly create a divine art—he planned to refine a spiritual treasure.

He cultivated a spiritual field using Shatang Fruit seeds, then manipulated time to hasten the plants' maturation.

"I can forge a Water-Partitioning Sword!"

————

Portal: 【Monthly Tickets】【Recommendation Tickets】

PS: Three chapters means three chapters!

Happy New Year to everyone!

Today's Chapter Two: 18:00