Put away your magical powers now!.

Chapter 175 [It's Bright] (6100)

Chapter 170 [It's Light Up] (6100)

Lin Xianyu, that idol-turned-top-tier female celebrity from the demon race!
The photos he sent included a group photo with a group of children, as well as several other photos.

Photos taken with elderly people left behind in the village, with some leaders and cadres, with construction workers, at a nursing home, and with people with disabilities...

Almost a month has passed since I last met Lin Xianyu, and this demon clan brat has indeed carried out the donation of merit as instructed.

And indeed, he did it personally, instead of just going to some institution, dropping off a check, and leaving.

Chen Yan was startled, suddenly remembering the words of old Deng Lin Qingquan next door, which he had mentioned before.

The real reward for holding this position in the Inspection Division was not the three pills distributed by the Inspection Division each quarter.

The true reward comes from Heaven!

"So... merit?" Chen Yan clicked his tongue, his face full of surprise.

Doing good deeds is a meritorious act, and persuading others to do good is also a meritorious act...

Therefore, he ordered Lin Xianyu, this outsider, to donate her wealth and return the fortune she had taken from this world to the people of this world...

Did Heaven bestow some of this merit upon him?
Wait a minute, wait a minute!

Chen Yan quickly calculated the logic in his mind.

Lin Xianyu, a minor demon from the realm, has seized the fortune (luck) of this world, and the Heavenly Dao of this world must seek repayment from the Heavenly Dao of the realm.

By ordering Lin Xianyu to return the destiny to the people of this world, he was essentially helping the Heavenly Dao of the realm avoid a loss.

Therefore, the Heavenly Dao of the Realm took a portion of this profit (the avoided loss) for itself.

What the hell...

It's just "commission," isn't it?!
So, Lin Qingquan's offer to help him register his name on the Heavenly Dao of the Domain Realm was just for a commission on this business?
What the hell!

If that's the case, then this name is very well chosen!

·
Chen Yan simply got up, dressed, and, too lazy to go downstairs, opened the window and jumped out of the master bedroom on the third floor. After landing in the yard, he quickly ran to the wall and jumped over it.

Boom!

He pounded on the door of Lin Qingquan's villa.

Soon, the door opened, and Lin Laodeng looked at Chen Yan with a helpless expression: "I said, are you used to climbing over walls?"

"The Heavenly Dao's salary is just to increase my cultivation level?" Chen Yan asked directly without wasting any words.

Lin Qingquan glanced at Chen Yan and smiled, "Has your salary arrived?"

"Yes, we've arrived." Chen Yan took a deep breath: "But... how did merit turn into cultivation?"

Lin Qingquan waved his hand: "It's from Heaven..."

"What I mean is, how can it just become my cultivation level directly? I don't need to cultivate it slowly myself, the Heavenly Dao can just increase it for me whenever it wants?" Chen Yan's eyes widened.

Lin Qingquan looked at Chen Yan with a strange expression: "I thought you would have suspected this a long time ago."

"……Um?"

Lin Qingquan pointed at Chen Yan: "You've only been cultivating for half a year at most, and you've already reached the Returning Origin Realm! Let alone in this world where the Yuan Qi is scarce, even in the Domain Realm, those cultivators from prestigious families who have ample cultivation resources and are also exceptionally talented... like the Gu family girl, didn't you ask her how many years it took her to cultivate from scratch to the Returning Origin Realm?"

Chen Yan was taken aback.

"I have a spirit-gathering array in my house..."

"Ha!" Lin Qingquan sneered: "The spiritual energy in this world is already thin. Even if you use the Spirit Gathering Array, it will only increase your family's spiritual energy by a certain amount. But the realm is inherently rich in spiritual energy. Besides, don't those aristocratic families and clans have their own arrays and methods for gathering spiritual energy?"

“Uh…” Chen Yan’s heart skipped a beat. He suddenly said in a deep voice, “Is it because… I am Chen Yan, Chen… that person’s son?”

“For specifics, go ask your grandmother.” Lin Qingquan’s face hardened, and he shook his head. “I don’t know the answer. But I do want to remind you of something.”

"what?"

"Don't tell anyone that your 'salary' came from increased cultivation. Don't tell anyone!"

Chen Yan's eyes lit up: "The other people's salaries, not their cultivation levels?"

"Nonsense! Just like you asked me earlier, shouldn't cultivation be something you gradually develop yourself? It's not like the Heavenly Dao can just make a person's cultivation level increase on its own."

"Then what happened to me?"

“I already told you, go ask your grandmother. I don’t know the answer.” Old Man Lin spread his hands.

Chen Yan squinted at the old man.

My instinct told me that the other person wasn't telling the truth.

"I can tell you now that the 'salary' of other people, including your group leader Ouyang, is not based on cultivation level, but on luck."

If you do things for the will of Heaven and succeed, the reward from Heaven will be 'good fortune'.

That's right!

The Heavenly Dao should also return the lost fortune that I saved for the realm's Heavenly Dao.

But everyone else gets feedback based on luck.

I'll just repair it here?

"How can I see my mother? Or even just have a way to talk to her?" Chen Yan asked Lin Qingquan again.

Actually, I had asked this question before, but Mr. Lin refused.

And this time...

"Unless you go to the realm." Lin Qingquan shook his head.

However, his expression then turned serious: "But I advise you, unless you are about to break through to the Celestial Realm, it is best not to go to the Domain Realm."

"why?"

"Like I said, ask your mother later." Lin Qingquan looked impatient as Chen Yan seemed about to ask more questions. "I've already gotten myself into a lot of trouble because of your family's affairs, so don't drag me down with you! There are some things I won't ask about or get involved in; I don't want to get too deeply involved. We'll only do what we're paid for!"

Let me be frank with you today. Your esteemed master entrusted me with only one thing: to look after you in this world. By giving you an identity as an inspector, I have already fulfilled her request.

Don't come to me with any more questions, and don't ask me anything else.

Chen Yan objected: "Old man, you've been secretly doing a lot of dirty tricks around me, and now when I ask you something, you just shrug it off?"

As he spoke, his expression turned hostile: "I don't believe you know nothing! If you don't answer me, I'll come and bother you every day from now on."

"Suit yourself." Lin Qingquan wasn't afraid at all. "You can't beat me. If you make too much of a scene, do you think I won't dare to beat you up just because you have your mother? Besides..."

As he spoke, he sneered, "I'm leaving in the next couple of days. A stone demon at the Celestial Realm escaped from the Realm and came here, but his cultivation level was suppressed to the Ascending Stage Realm—the same level as the Gu family girl before."

Do you know how much trouble this has caused me, an old man?
Against an opponent of this caliber, none of the lower-level inspectors are of any use; I, the old man, have to personally take action.

I'm leaving tomorrow, and who knows how long I'll be gone... Go ahead and cause trouble if you want! I'm leaving the house to you; you can tear it down if you want."

Lin Laodeng's attitude this time was surprisingly tough, completely unlike his usual cheerful and easygoing self.

After saying these words, he closed the door with a cold face.

Chen Yan stood in front of the door for a moment, then frowned.

After pondering for a while, Chen Yan silently turned around, climbed over the wall back into his own courtyard, and went back into the house.

·
"Ugh……"

After closing the door, Lin Qingquan returned to his study, stood by the window watching Chen Yan return home, and then sighed.

He glanced at the basin of water beside the table.

"The Huang family... he seems to have realized a lot of things. I'm not going to worry about what happens next!"

"You've got a huge burden on you. This old man is too weak to handle something like this!"

·
Chen Yan sat in his living room, staring blankly at the ceiling.

The first question is, what exactly makes me special? The Heavenly Dao can directly transform the rewards of good fortune into cultivation points and add them to me!
Okay, Lin Qingquan won't tell me, he'll have to ask the old lady himself!
Then go ask the old lady!
Chen Yan wasn't stupid. Up to now, too many things were unusual. The old lady seemed to be hiding a lot of things, and all of these things seemed to be related to him!
Although Chen Yan absolutely believed that the old lady would never harm him, he still needed to ask her to find out the truth.

The second question, however, was another doubt in Chen Yan's mind!
He himself saved the Heavenly Dao of the Realm from the loss of its destiny...

It's basically about doing good deeds.

Be a good person, do good deeds, help people, and save people—just like what I did through Lin Xianyu this time.

And so he received wages (compensation).

Can……

Haven't I done any good deeds or meritorious acts before?

Let's not talk about things far away, let's talk about things closer to home.

Does helping Mr. He and his mother reunite count as doing a good deed?

Is killing a white fox considered doing good deeds and accumulating merit?
Going to the port city and killing the evil cultivators, does that count as doing good deeds and accumulating merit?
Going to Japan, killing the spirit within that magical artifact, and destroying its secret realm—wouldn't that count as doing a good deed and accumulating merit?

Why didn't any of those things increase my cultivation level?
Yes, as Lin Laodeng said, he now has a salary and his cultivation has increased because he has been attached to the Heavenly Dao.

A vivid analogy is that you only get a salary if you're officially employed.

Can……

What happened to Lu Sisi before?!
He gained an increase in cultivation level every time he saved Lu Sisi!
Moreover, the increase is much greater than the increase I made through Lin Xianyu's charity work this time!
Helping Lu Sisi defy fate directly boosts one's own strength by a significant margin!

Why is that?
Why does helping others not increase one's cultivation level, but helping Lu Sisi does?

Either you increase the amount of help you give to others, but you increase it a lot when you help Lu Sisi?

"Lu Sisi, do you have a hidden identity?"

·
Chen Yan believed he knew his girlfriend well enough.

Lu Sisi's background and experiences were almost completely transparent to Chen Yan—the girl never hid anything from him.

But just because Lu Sisi doesn't hide anything doesn't mean everything she says is true—what if someone else is lying to her?

Chen Yan didn't ask Lin Qingquan again—Lin Laodeng's attitude today, that of turning a blind eye and refusing to cooperate, had already made it very clear.

Moreover, the old man also said, "You can't beat me."

If you try to be forceful, you're not capable enough. If you try to be tactful, they'll just stay silent.

Chen Yan temporarily abandoned the idea of ​​trying to get ideas from Lin Qingquan.

"Let's start with the basics," Chen Yan sighed.

·
A few minutes later, Chen Yan held the phone and said, "You know everything I told you, right?"

The voice on the other end of the phone was Chu Keqing's, and the woman's tone was clearly strange: "Senior... I heard you clearly, but... do you really want me to help you investigate?"

"Yes, do it discreetly, don't let anyone know," Chen Yan sighed.

“Alright, I’ll make sure it’s done discreetly, and Miss Lu will never find out.” As she spoke, Chu Keqing suddenly smiled, changing to a teasing yet slightly intimate tone: “But senior, do you think it’s appropriate for a woman like me, who’s been eyeing you so intently, to investigate your girlfriend…?”

Chen Yan said calmly, "Don't mention 'watching like a tiger' anymore. I'll pay you for doing things for me. Don't you want a second pill like the one I gave you last time?"

Chu Keqing paused for a moment.

Do you want to?
Of course I want to!
Chu Keqing thought about how the pill had greatly improved her body and strengthened her physical form—the strengthening of the physical form was equivalent to enhancing the container for vital energy, resulting in a significant increase in her cultivation efficiency.

If I had another pill, perhaps my cultivation level could rise to another level in the future?!

"If you want it, then help me get this done properly." Chen Yan sighed. "Okay, keep it a secret and keep a low profile."

·
Chu Keqing's network of connections was truly impressive, including several powerful figures in official circles.

The day after receiving Chen Yan's instructions, a file containing Lu Sisi's life story was sent to Chen Yan's phone.

It can be said that this resume is quite comprehensive.

From Lu Sisi's birth records, birth certificate, and even her childhood vaccination records, to her kindergarten, primary, middle, and university admissions history, and the awards she received...

Everything is recorded, and there are also copies of the relevant certificates.

Then there's Lu Sisi's family background.

My father was the son of a wealthy merchant family from the port city. He did business in Jinling Prefecture, where he met a local woman surnamed Lu. They fell in love, got married, and had a son, Lu Sisi, a few years ago.

Lu Sisi's father's name and resume, as well as her mother's name and resume, were all recorded.

The main family members of both sides, the industries of their businesses, and their jobs were all listed.

Chen Yan quickly scanned it but didn't notice anything unusual. He looked at it carefully again but still couldn't detect anything unusual.

Lu Sisi's greatest extraordinary quality is the misfortune that plagued her for more than ten years before she met Chen Yan.

However, the mystery has already been solved by Chen Yan.

The evil cultivator in the port city, for his own selfish reasons, seized Lu Sisi's destiny and fortune, causing Lu Sisi to suffer misfortune for more than ten years.

And the murderer was all exposed by Chen Yanyang!

What other secrets could there be?

·
Actually... there's one more person I can ask!
The little girl who is a half-step Venerable One hiding in the mirror world, the Great Demon Lark.

Although she had lost too many crucial memories, the little girl was, after all, a half-step Venerable. Her cultivation level meant that her understanding of many things was far beyond what Chen Yan could imagine.

For example, Chen Yan doesn't understand the logic behind "how can luck be directly converted into cultivation and added to a person's body." Perhaps a half-step Venerable could figure it out.
But just as Chen Yan was about to jump into the well and enter the mirror world, a thought suddenly struck him, and he remembered Lin Qingquan's words.

My Heavenly Dao Salary can actually directly increase my cultivation level—don't tell anyone else about this!
Don't tell anyone!

This old man usually speaks with a chuckle and amusement; this is the first time I've seen him speak so sternly and harshly.

Chen Yan decided to hold off for a while—it concerned his core secrets, so it was best not to ask others for advice lightly.

After all, he didn't really know this great demon, the Skylark.

Moreover, he always felt that this little girl seemed to be hiding something from him as well.

·
After carefully reviewing all the information about Lu Sisi provided by Chu Keqing, Chen Yan pondered deeply, meticulously recalling every experience and every interaction he had had with Lu Sisi since they first met...

Suddenly, a thought struck him, and he remembered a detail that seemed like a joke.

When Lu Sisi was a few years old, her family took her to Gangcheng to acknowledge her ancestors.

As soon as the little girl knelt down in front of the Yang family's ancestral tablets, the tablets cracked with a snap!
When the story was brought up at the time, Chen Yan just found it funny.

Moreover, they only assumed that the cracked memorial tablet was caused by the little girl's bad luck.

But now that I think about it, maybe there's another explanation?
"Perhaps Lu Sisi possesses a great identity and great fortune... while the ancestors of the Yang family, though ancestors, were just ordinary mortals after all."

"How could an ordinary person possibly withstand the kneeling of someone of such high status and great fortune?"

There have been similar legends in folklore since ancient times.

For example, if a father kneels before his son, it is believed that the son's lifespan will be shortened.

For example, if a person of high status kneels before someone of low status, the latter will suffer a shortened lifespan and reduced fortune...

There are many similar opinions.

But Lu Sisi is clearly a descendant of the Yang family. She knelt down to her ancestors, and the ancestors couldn't withstand this kind of luck, and the memorial tablet cracked open.

Just how noble must Lu Sisi's status be?
"Could it be that Lu Sisi was adopted and not their biological child?"

Actually, it wouldn't be difficult to investigate. It wouldn't be hard for Chen Yan to get Lu Sisi's hair or anything like that.

It wouldn't be difficult for Chu Keqing to obtain Lu Sisi's parents' DNA through some means.

A paternity test can find out.

but……

She's his girlfriend after all. How could he suddenly dig into her past like this, even going so far as to get a paternity test...?

It feels very strange.

Moreover, he showed no respect for this girl who loved him deeply and was completely open with him.

It's like your girlfriend or boyfriend suddenly and inexplicably telling you, "Go home and get a paternity test with your parents. I suspect you're not their biological child."

Do you think the other person is mentally ill?

If the other party doesn't tell you, but secretly does this, secretly checking your paternity test results with your parents.

If you find out afterwards, wouldn't you think the other person is seriously mentally ill?
"So, do we still have to ask the old lady?" Chen Yan frowned in thought.

Lin Laodeng said that he had to ask his own grandmother for all the answers.

But no matter how you look at it, this statement seems more like an excuse and a delaying tactic.

The things the old lady left behind seemed to imply that she didn't want to have any connection with the realm.

Now, Lin Laodeng's suggestion is that it's best to wait until he's about to break through to the Celestial Realm before going to the Domain Realm...

It's like putting things off again.

Thinking of this, Chen Yan gave a soft, cold laugh.

"However, it seems that Elder Lin doesn't know that I can go to the realm at any time now."

·
Chen Yan rested at home for a few days, first circulating his vital energy every day to restore his overall condition to its best.

Then continue to stockpile the relevant materials and equipment for the boundary crossing.

Three more weeks passed...

Chen Yan made thorough preparations, and during this time he went to the mirror world to find the little girl and replenished her with a Mo Ling Crystal full of vital energy.

On this day, Chen Yan was drawing a talisman using the sealing technique when he suddenly sensed something and took a deep breath.

Chen Yan felt that his own cultivation of vital energy had increased slightly again.

He immediately took out his phone, which displayed a message.

The sender was "You Suyi".

"I have successfully completed my mission. The two demons have been slain as entrusted to me by you, fellow Daoist."

Chen Yan did some mental calculations and realized that a month had passed since he went to see the old fox Su Yi.

As expected, the old fox kept his word. After recovering from his injuries, he went out of the mountains and killed the two demon cultivators on the list given by the Patrol Division who had escaped from the realm and committed numerous evil deeds.

Subsequently, this achievement was counted as merit by the Heavenly Dao of the Realm, increasing his cultivation level.

Hmm, I've increased my cultivation level again.

Chen Yan suddenly had a strange thought.

If this trend continues, staying in the Patrol Division and accumulating merits to increase cultivation is practically a shortcut to heaven!
In other words, the Heavenly Dao of this world suppresses cultivation, and cultivators can only reach the Celestial Realm.

Otherwise, if he kept grinding for points and merits, working hard and collecting them like crazy, Chen Yan felt he could reach the Heavenly Venerable level all the way!
Chen Yan thought for a moment and then replied to You Suyi with a message.

"Fellow Daoist, you've worked hard! The Demon Spirit Pill will be delivered in three months!"

After sending the message, the old fox immediately replied with a "Thank you, boss" emoji.

Haha, that old fox is pretty savvy.

·
After sending the message, Chen Yan sent another message to Lu Sisi, telling his girlfriend that he was going into seclusion to cultivate for a few days.

Then Chen Yan turned off his phone, closed the door to the training room, picked up two backpacks full of equipment, and began to draw energy from them while holding a thumb ring in his hand…

·
hum! !

The moment the teleportation arrived, the intense wind felt as if someone had suddenly slapped Chen Yan's head.

He opened his eyes, but suddenly his eyes widened in surprise as he looked around!

I was still standing on the cliff in that canyon, on that protruding rock.

The cave is right next to me.

The wind howled, but it stopped snowing.

only……

Looking at the snow-covered canyon and gazing into the distance, the sky is no longer pitch black.

The mist, which seemed to hang perpetually over the strange forest outside the canyon, had also dissipated...

Above, a golden sun was shining brightly, piercing through the mist that had once enveloped the world like a sharp arrow...

This region of Badlands...

The seemingly eternal night has ended!
Is it dawn?!
Staring at the pale golden sun in the sky, Chen Yan felt an inexplicable sense of unease.

·
(End of this chapter)