The next morning.

Chu Liang got up early, feeling refreshed and leisurely after washing up.

Having spent so long traversing the foggy valley with those from the demonic sect, looking at the flowers and trees on Shu Mountain now felt like a return to the world of the living, incredibly familiar and comforting.

The swaying golden berries in the small flower garden were adorable, as was the little fish busily watering them. The golden-haired beast digging holes nearby was… well, its big head was a bit much.

The more he looked, the more endearing it seemed.

After breakfast, he hurried to the Sword Transmission Hall on Tongtian Peak to find Wen Yulong.

After killing the South Road Guide, he had obtained a statue with a storage space. The Guide’s treasures should all be inside. However, Chu Liang couldn’t open the storage artifact and had no choice but to seek help from a professional.

“Brother Chu, I’ve been waiting for you for a long time!” In the Sword Transmission Hall, the young man sat there full of energy.

“Thank you for your concern, Brother Wen.” Chu Liang responded with a smile.

“What good stuff did you bring back this time?” Wen Yulong asked eagerly.

By now, he might have developed a conditioned reflex. Every time Chu Liang returned from a task, he would have an opportunity to show off his skills.

In fact, Chu Liang had also developed a habit. Although Wen Yulong always surprised him, he would always end up saying how wonderful it was.

Extreme Flight, Flying Leaf Blade, Zongzi Form, Treasure Leaf Lamp, Divine Light Ghost-Cutting Sword, Lamp Ball Sword Technique…

If it were any ordinary artifact refining disciple, they might meet his expectations, but they definitely couldn’t refine such powerful effects with the same materials.

In other words, they were mediocre.

“This time, there’s nothing that needs refining. It’s something else.” Chu Liang sat down and took out the fierce and evil-looking statue. “I seized this statue with a storage space, but I can’t open it. Do you have a way to open it?”

“Let me see.”

Wen Yulong took the statue and examined it carefully, his expression gradually becoming serious.

After a while, he put the statue on the table and said hesitantly, “Brother Chu, this is the Evil Earth Store.”

“Oh?” Chu Liang looked up.

He had heard a little about the so-called “Evil Earth Store”.

In the Buddhist tradition, there is a legend of the Earth Store Bodhisattva, a benevolent bodhisattva who made the great vow “not to achieve Buddhahood until all hells are emptied”. However, in this world’s Mingwang Sect, there is also a belief in the “Evil Earth Store”.

In the legends of the Mingwang Sect, the Earth Store is an evil god suppressed in hell by hypocritical gods. It is bound in the underworld by chains imbued with the power of 380 million gods, with thousands of fierce ghosts gnawing at its flesh every day. Yet it remains undying, constantly yearning to return to the human world. Its believers believe that one day the Earth Store will return as an evil ghost to exact revenge.

But as for what this Evil Earth Store looks like and what it signifies, he didn’t know.

“In the Mingwang Sect, there is a demonic artifact ranked tenth in the Wanbao Record called the ‘True Body of the Earth Store’. It is said that this artifact can summon the true power of the Earth Store from the underworld. I don’t know if it’s true or not.” Wen Yulong said, “The statue you seized should be a replica of the True Body of the Earth Store, carrying some sort of guiding force.”

“I suspect that the Evil Earth Store in the legend can lock onto it.”

That was a bit scary.

Chu Liang leaned forward, “Isn’t it very dangerous to hold this thing?”

“If I’m not mistaken, the power of this thing should be to summon a portion of the Earth Store’s power.” Wen Yulong said, “But it won’t be too exaggerated. It won’t summon evil ghosts just by holding it. However, after you take out the things inside, I still advise you to dispose of it.”

“So you mean you can open it?” Chu Liang asked.

“It will be a bit troublesome, but it should be possible.” Wen Yulong smiled, “Leave it here for me to study for a while. When it’s about to open, I’ll notify you to come over and open it in front of you.”

Chu Liang knew that the reason for opening it in front of him was to prevent him from suspecting that Wen Yulong would steal the treasures inside. In the cultivation world, there were also those who opened storage artifacts on behalf of others. This was considered an industry practice.

Although he didn’t really suspect that Wen Yulong would steal anything, since there was this rule, there was no need for him not to comply.

“Alright, thank you very much.” He said.

“No need to thank me, this job will cost you two hundred sword coins.” Wen Yulong held up two fingers.

“What?” Chu Liang frowned, “This should be simpler than refining artifacts, why is it the same price?”

“Hehe.” Wen Yulong said, “This kind of job is usually priced according to the value of the storage artifact. Your Evil Earth Store is a big deal. Although I don’t know which demonic cultivator you seized it from, it’s definitely high-level. The treasures inside are definitely worth the price. Besides, among the disciples of the Sword Transmission Hall, I’m probably the only one who can open it. Otherwise, you’ll have to find an elder, and that won’t be the same price.”

“Oh.”

…

After leaving the Sword Transmission Hall, Chu Liang was thinking about how to get some more sword coins. He still needed to save money for the materials to form his Golden Core. You can never have too many sword coins.

Just as he stepped out, he saw the main gate of the Law Enforcement Hall nearby and decided to go in.

He had recently acquired a new divine ability from outside and wondered if he could exchange it for some rewards.

The new divine ability he had, the Evil Expelling Curse, was a reward from the White Tower. There was no cultivation method, so it definitely couldn’t be handed in; the Divine Hand ability was for thieving, and Chu Liang didn’t want it to spread. On one hand, it wouldn’t be secret if it spread, and on the other hand, he couldn’t guarantee that it wouldn’t be misused. So, the only thing he could hand in was a newly acquired method called the “Divine Slaughter Blood Refining Great Method”.

The inside of the Law Enforcement Hall was as deserted as ever.

The square-faced young man named Yuan Zhuo was still sitting there, quietly reading.

Chu Liang walked up and greeted, “Brother… uh, Brother Yuan!”

Yuan Zhuo looked up and responded, “Brother Chu Liang.”

Chu Liang was somewhat surprised that the other party recognized him at a glance after only meeting him briefly and such a long time had passed.

“I’ve seized another demonic cultivation method and I want to see if I can hand it in for some rewards.” Chu Liang said.

“Let me see.” Yuan Zhuo stretched out his hand.

Chu Liang handed over the “Divine Slaughter Blood Refining Method” to him. Yuan Zhuo scanned it with his divine consciousness and immediately said, “Indeed, we don’t have this in the library.”

“That’s great.” Chu Liang smiled.

Yuan Zhuo paused before saying, “Junior Brother Chu, I advise you not to practice this method yourself.”

“Huh?” Chu Liang asked, “Why?”

If Yuan Zhuo hadn’t mentioned it, he indeed planned to practice it.

“This demonic method requires the extraction of the essence and blood of living beings at the moment of their death to enhance oneself,” Yuan Zhuo explained. “Such actions violate the Great Dao and inevitably result in karmic retribution.”

“Usually, those in the demonic sects have methods to counteract this karma, and some even specialize in cultivating karma. However… evil is evil, and the so-called retribution is actually the work of karma. Even if they deceive their own hearts, they cannot deceive the Heavenly Dao. No matter how many methods they practice to counteract it, they often cannot escape the cycle of reincarnation in the end.”

Upon hearing this, Chu Liang understood.

The most typical example was the Demon Slayer Sword, which likely had some law related to karma. When it encountered those enveloped in bloody aura, it would become extraordinarily powerful.

He had slain many creatures these days, but his purpose was to slay demons and eliminate evil, which not only did not increase his karma but also earned him merit. However, if he killed for the purpose of extracting essence and blood in the future, he would inevitably be entangled with karma.

Originally, Chu Liang thought he could practice this divine power while slaying demons and eliminating evil. But now it seemed that he had oversimplified things.

“If you only practice this method, you won’t be too tainted, but as a cultivator, it’s best to be cautious. It’s best to avoid unnecessary karma, otherwise, it will become a hurdle for you when you seek the Dao in the future,” Yuan Zhuo said. “Moreover, if you want to practice blood refining divine power, there are other methods in the Hall of Law Enforcement.”

“The Hall of Law Enforcement has them?” Chu Liang’s eyes lit up.

“Of course.” Yuan Zhuo said, “Such divine power is not too rare. The reason why few people practice it is that cultivators have limited energy and cannot pursue to fully empower their hidden potential. Usually, only after reaching the sixth realm do they have the surplus energy to perfect themselves.”

His words enlightened Chu Liang.

The divine powers he currently mastered were already quite numerous among the disciples of Shu Mountain, and his talisman sword technique was even beyond ordinary.

The reason he felt he had learned little was actually because he had not focused most of his energy on improving his cultivation.

He was living a peaceful life here, all thanks to the big-headed doll carrying the burden for him!

A normal cultivator at this stage might be busy improving their cultivation and striving for the Golden Elixir. After the Golden Elixir, they would strive for the Five Elements, focusing more on cultivation step by step.

For various complex divine powers, many of them have to be selectively abandoned.

But he never worried about this, so he had plenty of time and energy to improve his magical instruments and divine powers.

“If you want it, use the reward for this divine power submission to exchange for a replacement method,” Yuan Zhuo said as he got up and walked away.

A moment later, he returned with a jade slip.

“This ‘Ling Guang Blood Refining Technique’ progresses a bit slower, but it’s more stable. This is the right way for us cultivators,” Yuan Zhuo advised.

Chu Liang took it and thanked him solemnly, “Thank you for your guidance, Senior Brother Yuan.”

“It’s not guidance, just some experience,” Yuan Zhuo said, always expressionless and carefree.

Chu Liang pondered Yuan Zhuo’s words, feeling that this square-faced senior brother’s words were all righteous and in line with the Great Dao. This person couldn’t be just a simple administrative disciple.

Unconsciously, a hint of admiration appeared in his eyes when he looked at him.

Just as he was about to say goodbye, he heard Yuan Zhuo suddenly raise his hand and say, “Wait, your reward is not enough for the ‘Ling Guang Blood Refining Technique’. You need to make up the difference.”

“Huh?” Chu Liang widened his eyes. There was such a thing as making up the difference? He quickly asked, “How much do I need to make up?”

Yuan Zhuo calculated for a moment and answered, “Seventy sword coins.”

“Uh…”

Chu Liang pursed his lips.

The admiration in his eyes disappeared.

———Author’s Note———

Good morning.

Another two chapters close to six thousand words, please vote with your monthly tickets.

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