Primordial Era: Reborn as a Qi Immortal, Steadily Cultivating

Chapter 70 The Debate on Merit
Standing atop the clouds, Ma Yuan noticed the strong sense of vigilance in the eyes of the Phoenix Clan cultivators.

He knew that although the Phoenix Clan had retreated to this immortal volcano after the ancient Dragon-Han Calamity and nominally remained indifferent to worldly affairs, their inherent arrogance had never diminished in the slightest.

As an unknown rogue cultivator, if I were to rush forward rashly, I would likely only arouse the other party's suspicion and hostility.

"Well, if we don't share the same ideals, we can't work together."

Ma Yuan understood.

Since the Phoenix Clan does not welcome outsiders, he is not the kind of person who would invite trouble.

He immediately patted Ao Xuan's dragon head beneath him, signaling him to suppress his aura, avoid this dangerous place, and continue onward.

However, just as the man and the dragon were about to turn and leave, a sudden change occurred.

The Taiyi ferocious beast, which was trapped by the Phoenix Clan's great formation, suddenly unleashed its final ferocity when it was on the verge of defeat after a long siege!
Its single, scarlet eye scanned the battlefield frantically, finally locking onto Ma Yuan.

In its chaotic state of mind, it may have sensed the rich pure energy of merit within Ma Yuan's body.

The pitch-black aura around it suddenly surged back, and at the cost of damaging its own source, it forcefully broke through a corner of the Nanming Li Fire Formation set up by several Phoenix Clan experts!
"Not good! Stop it!" Upon seeing this, the leading Phoenix Clan Taiyi Golden Immortal's expression changed drastically, and he shouted sharply.

Unfortunately, it was too late.

The moment the ferocious beast broke free of its restraints, it did not continue fighting them.

Instead, it transformed into a black streak of light that tore through the void, carrying a terrifying aura capable of defiling everything, and charged straight toward Ma Yuan's location!

"Seek death."

Upon seeing this, a hint of anger flashed in Ma Yuan's usually calm eyes.

I originally intended to avoid trouble and take a detour.

Unexpectedly, this wicked beast set its sights on him.

Faced with the desperate counterattack of this ferocious beast at the Taiyi Golden Immortal level, Ma Yuan dared not be careless in the slightest.

He knew clearly that the ferocious beast before him possessed both an intense concentration of chaotic and malevolent energy and profound cultivation.

They were all far superior to the Taiyi Taotie he had encountered in the volcanic field.

"rise!"

With a thought, the purple-gold jade ruyi, which was already in harmony with his mind, appeared in response to Ma Yuan's thought!

A simple jade ruyi, its entire body shimmering with a divine light of purple and gold, suddenly floated above his head.

With a gentle sway of the jade ruyi, a precious light descended, and countless golden flowers of merit appeared out of thin air. Furthermore, thick, mountain-like purple mist descended, transforming into an indestructible protective shield that firmly protected him and Ao Xuan beneath him.

"boom--!"

Almost the instant the protective shield took shape, the ferocious beast's claws, carrying the immense power to shatter mountains and rivers, slammed heavily into it.

However, that seemingly flimsy purple-gold protective shield was as stable as Mount Tai.

It merely created ripples, easily dissolving the terrifying power that was enough to tear apart the body of a Taiyi Immortal.

"You beast, since you are so eager to die, I will grant your wish!"

Ma Yuan's eyes also revealed murderous intent, and he no longer held back in the slightest.

He slowly raised his hand, and the next moment, twenty-four divine pearls radiating a deep blue light silently appeared in all directions of this void.

In an instant, the beast, which was already at its last gasp, was completely enveloped in an absolute domain that isolated all laws!

"town!"

Ma Yuan's words carried the weight of heavenly authority, and law followed his every word. The power of the twenty-four worlds surged down in layers, crushing everything in its path!

The Taiyi ferocious beast, already severely injured, couldn't even put up a fight against this overwhelming power.

Its enormous body, along with the undying remnant of the demon god, was instantly crushed into dust and completely disappeared from this world.

Both body and soul are destroyed!

With the fall of the ferocious beast, the suffocating aura of brutality finally dissipated.

At that very moment, the winds and clouds rose again in the sky!
A golden cloud of merit, nearly twice the size of the one that had been used to slay the Taotie, gathered together.

Above it, the mysterious yellow energy flowed, with countless rays of auspicious light and thousands of strands of lucky energy, as if to completely purify the endless fiery energy of this primordial southern region.

"What immense merit!"

Upon seeing this, Ma Yuan's heart stirred.

He knew that this beast was far more ferocious and had committed far greater sins and calamities than the Taiyi Taotie!
Therefore, the merits bestowed by Heaven are also incredibly abundant.

The vast golden cloud of merit transformed into a dazzling pillar of heaven and crashed down.

However, as it descended into the air, the pillar of merit trembled slightly and split into two.

The largest portion, accounting for about 60%, is among them.

It transformed into a dazzling golden pillar of light, directly descending upon Ma Yuan, who had slain the ferocious beast.

The remaining 40% transformed into several smaller beams of light, which fell upon the several severely injured Phoenix Clan cultivators below.

If they hadn't severely injured those ferocious beasts first, Ma Yuan wouldn't have been able to kill them so easily.

Heaven is impartial and its rewards and punishments are clear.

This cause and effect is predetermined.

Ma Yuan accepted it calmly, guiding the immense power of merit to merge entirely into the golden wheel of merit outside his primordial spirit.

The golden wheel shone brightly, and the mysterious yellow energy flowing on it became increasingly solid and heavy.

Below, the Phoenix Clan cultivators were bathed in the golden light of merit. Not only were their injuries fully healed, but they also felt that much of the karmic force of their bloodline caused by the Dragon-Han Calamity had been neutralized, and their cultivation had also improved.

However, there was no joy on their faces.

Instead, their faces were all ashen, and their eyes were filled with undisguised anger and dissatisfaction as they looked at Ma Yuan!

A young Phoenix Clan cultivator at the Golden Immortal realm stepped forward, his fiery phoenix eyes fixed on Ma Yuan, and he coldly questioned:
"Who exactly are you?! Why are you interfering in the affairs of my Phoenix Clan and stealing our merits for no reason?!"

Upon hearing this, Ma Yuan frowned slightly.

He slowly finished his practice, turned to look at the Phoenix Clan cultivator, and asked in a calm voice:
“Fellow Daoist, you are mistaken. Just now, the ferocious beast broke free of the formation, not for you, but for this humble Daoist.”

"To protect myself, I slew the ferocious beast. Heaven has bestowed merit upon me, and will judge fairly. How can you claim it as something to be taken away?"

"You!" The Phoenix Clan youth was speechless after being choked by Ma Yuan's words, his handsome face turning bright red.

A Phoenix Clan cultivator standing nearby couldn't help but speak up:
"Fellow Daoist, you may not know this! Since the Great Calamity of the Dragon-Han Era, our Phoenix Clan has been burdened with karmic debts, making our path to cultivation extremely difficult!"

"Normally, we can only rely on suppressing the endless fiery energy in this immortal volcano and slaying these ancient ferocious beasts that roam the south to gain a little merit and offset our own karma!"

"We have been fighting this ferocious beast here for nearly five hundred years, and we were about to succeed when you, fellow Daoist, intercepted us halfway and stole sixty percent of our merit! How can we accept this?!"

(End of this chapter)