Chapter 81: Zu Long: Yes, We Must Target the Qi Lin Clan!

Xiang Xuanqing continued to look at Qishen:

“Jin Yao Tai Bai Shang Zun!”

“Your servant is here!” Qishen’s expression was solemn, his demeanor grave, his voice resolute and powerful.

This was clearly the work of a seasoned performer—far superior to Fu Xi, that grinning fool.

Xiang Xuanqing was deeply satisfied, so he decided to grant additional rewards: “You uphold the Primordial Qi of Metal, gather all things, and proclaim success with solemnity… Henceforth, I bestow upon you twelve square units of Xuan Huang Merit… Do you accept this honor?”

“Thank you, Tian Di!” Qishen accepted the Xuan Huang Merit and studied it curiously; he felt it was unlike his own Merit Pool water.

“Tian Di, it’s my turn now, it’s my turn!”

The Water Yao Chen Xing Shang Zun urged impatiently.

“Water Yao Chen Xing Shang Zun!”

“Your servant is here!”

“You uphold the Primordial Qi of Water, facilitate all things, contain truth and nurture spirits…”

Everyone cooperated enthusiastically; Xiang Xuanqing enjoyed the performance.

The deities seated on either side accepted Xiang Xuanqing’s “rewards.”

Except for one.

Tai Yi!

Because Tai Yi had stepped into Taiwei Yuan with his left foot first, and had led the complaints against Tian Di.

So Tian Di decided not to give him any share.

“Wait, why does everyone get something and I get nothing? Why?”

“You, Tian Di, are not fair!”

The Sun Shang Zun flew into a rage, glaring at Xiang Xuanqing, ready to draw his divine sword and lay bare his grievances.

The Taiwei Yuan sages, seeing this, clapped and cheered, encouraging Tai Yi.

“The dim-witted Tian Di distributes rewards unfairly! Sun Shang Zun draws his sword to demand justice—we stand with him!”

“Sun Shang Zun, act quickly! Slash him down!”

“Yes! When the Taiwei Tian Di is dead, we can divide the [Merit Dao] among ourselves!”

“Reasonable, very reasonable.”

The Taiwei deities erupted in joyful chaos.

It ended with Sun Shang Zun being ruthlessly suppressed by Xiang Xuanqing, thrown into a scroll, and locked in a dark room.

The authority of the master of Taiwei Yuan could override all other Taiwei deities.

Otherwise, they wouldn’t jokingly call Xiang Xuanqing “Taiwei Tian Di” and regard themselves as subjects.

In any case, everyone took turns sitting on this “Tian Di” throne.

What matters most is having fun.

“Ji Du Dao You, your [Merit Dao] seems rather rebellious!”

Fire Yao Ying Huo Shang Zun Yuan Huang, after studying the Xuan Huang Merit, realized this thing was extraordinarily potent.

It could accomplish functions like forging artifacts, refining pills, enhancing fortune, aiding cultivation… and more.

It was practically a universal remedy!

She immediately forged a divine fan.

Then, Yuan Huang tossed the fan into the Tian Shi Yuan.

“Seven-Bird Fan.”

“Quality: Lower-grade Merit Artifact.”

“Value: Nine square units of Xuan Huang Merit.”

“Huh?”

The deities’ eyes lit up, and they all began crafting.

Jing Yao didn’t refine pills this time—he forged a meditation cushion.

“Wind-Fire Meditation Cushion.”

“Quality: Lower-grade Merit Artifact.”

“Value: Nine square units of Xuan Huang Merit.”

Luo Hou forged a lotus.

The pitch-black lotus was gilded with a layer of Merit-gold light.

Jin Yao Tai Bai Shang Zun Qishen looked left and right, sensing something odd—but couldn’t say what.

The rest forged swords, jade pendants, or long banners.

Among them, Qishen’s bowl had the highest value, because Xiang Xuanqing had granted him three extra square units of Merit.

But it still didn’t exceed the lower-grade artifact tier.

“If enough Merit is infused, can this kind of Merit artifact continuously ascend in rank?” Ming He forged a lamp himself—pitch-black, radiating an ominous aura. “Soul Lantern.”

“Quality: Lower-grade Merit Artifact.”

“Value: Nine square units of Xuan Huang Merit.”

In response to Ming He’s question, Xiang Xuanqing replied: “Theoretically, yes.”

“As long as you have enough Xuan Huang Merit, you can keep upgrading the artifact’s quality—even to the level of a Ling Bao.”

“But there are conditions.”

Xiang Xuanqing looked at them all: “First, it’s limited by the materials used in forging. If the materials are poor, no amount of Merit will help—the ceiling is fixed.”

“Second, Xuan Huang Merit itself has grades. My [Merit Dao] was casually crafted—it’s equivalent in rank to the Dao of a Da Qian World.”

“The maximum you can elevate a forged item to is the post-heaven Ling Bao tier of the Hong Huang Zhen Jie.”

“Of course, if you take it to a Da Qian World, calling it a ‘pre-heaven Merit Supreme Treasure’ won’t be wrong.”

Xiang Xuanqing’s definition of a Ling Bao was simple: proper or improper, useful or more useful.

During the Blood Sea battle, Yin Yang Dao Ren wielding the Tai Ji Tu still couldn’t withstand Xiang Xuanqing’s “Falling Cherry Divine Axe.”

“I see.”

The deities nodded, understanding.

“Can this [Merit Dao] be replicated?” This time, it was Luo Hou who asked—he recalled his creation of the myriad demons of the Zhu Tian and sensed a possible synergy.

“Of course it can be replicated!”

Xiang Xuanqing said: “If something can’t be replicated, it can’t be used for grand schemes—then why did I bring it to Taiwei Yuan?”

“In fact, this [Merit Dao] is one of the themes of this year’s Taiwei Yuan Assembly.”

As he spoke, Xiang Xuanqing snapped his fingers.

He released Tai Yi from the dark room.

“Time for serious business?” Tai Yi sat down obediently.

A row of golden pre-heaven Dao characters appeared in the air.

“Firmly Promote the Irregular Spirit of Taiwei Yuan, and Continuously Advance Taiwei Yuan’s Chaotic Agenda.”

“First, we must eliminate Shen Ni!”

Xiang Xuanqing declared solemnly: “This terrorist must be killed every time he appears—no leniency!”

“Understood!”

The deities nodded solemnly.

Our Taiwei Yuan upholds the irregular spirit and supports chaos—but not destruction, not undermining the roots of Hong Huang!

Shen Ni’s madness of summoning the Chaos Demon Gods has enraged us all.

“Second: attempt to implement the Merit System across the Zhu Tian.”

At these words, the deities grew excited.

“Are we expanding Taiwei Yuan?”

Ying Huo Shang Zun, ever eager to stir trouble,’s eyes gleamed.

“Expansion is good! Chaos is good!”

Water Yao Chen Xing Shang Zun clapped: “You may not know, but a major force has already begun expanding into the Zhu Tian.”

“That’s right—it’s the Qi Lin Clan!”

Zu Long told the deities: “The Qi Lin Clan has declared their slogan: ‘Carrying Heaven, Bearing Earth, Thirty-Six Emperors!’”

“Listen to that—how arrogant! Thirty-six Emperors?”

“How humble we are in Taiwei Yuan—we only call ourselves Shang Zun, and at most, Tian Di. They just unleashed dozens of Emperors!”

“What does this mean? Isn’t this a provocation against Taiwei Yuan?”

Zu Long seized the opportunity, his lips moving rapidly as he piled up accusations against the Qi Lin Clan.

Fu Xi, one of the Thirty-Six Qi Lin Emperors—the Wu Ji Shen Jun—gave Zu Long a long, piercing look.

You’re silent about your own Dragon Clan’s affairs.

Yuan Huang, master of the Phoenix Clan, listened to Zu Long’s denunciations of the Qi Lin Clan with great interest.

“Chen Xing Dao You, I know you’re eager—but hold your horses!”

Xiang Xuanqing looked helplessly at Zu Long: Do you really think we haven’t placed any pieces in the Qi Lin Clan?

“Am I eager? I’m not eager at all!”

Zu Long said: “I’m merely clarifying the enemy for our Taiwei Yuan’s agenda!”

"I am the greatest loyal minister of Taiwei Yuan!"

PS: One more chapter, coming at three o'clock.

(End of this chapter)