Chapter 220
Our Discord Server: https://discord.gg/PazjBDkTmW
You can buy coins here to unlock advanced chapters: https://gravitytales.com/coins-purchase-page/
Chapter 220: Merit Treasure
While contemplating the magical gourd’s abilities, Mu Lin assessed the grade of his bright red wine gourd.
"Blessed by the power of human path, this should qualify as a merit treasure."
"Yet my accumulated merits remain insufficient. At best, this treasure reaches middle grade among acquired treasures."
In this cultivation world, treasures naturally existed with distinct classifications.
From Mu Lin’s knowledge, artifacts here ranked lowest as magic items.
Low-grade magic items, medium-grade magic items, high-grade magic items, premium magic items… These served as primary tools for Taoist Children in the Awakened Realm, A-level cultivators in Spirit Pool and Spirit Sea Realms, even mages at Refining the Evil and Condensing Essence levels.
Treasures ranked above magic items, typically forged and wielded only by High Mastery of Transformation experts – though prodigies like Blood Cherry defied norms.
Like magic items, treasures divided into low, medium, high, and premium grades.
Beyond treasures lay spirit treasures. Blood Cherry’s magical blade belonged here – artifacts capable of propelling cultivators directly to High Mastery of Transformation when properly attuned.
Higher still existed Taoist Treasures, unimaginably rare. Securing such could sustain powerful clans or renowned sects for millennia.
Not all great families possessed Taoist Treasures, for these were destiny-anchoring relics.
Originally mere magic items, Mu Lin’s wine gourd ascended to middle-grade treasure status after receiving human path blessings.
Enhanced by merit and humanity’s power, its functions surpassed ordinary treasures.
…
Gaining this treasure filled Mu Lin with childlike excitement.
He surrendered to the impulse.
"Collect!"
At his command, vitality resources from Yan Yunyu – eight-century crimson spirit mushrooms, blood ginseng, Earth Essence Yuan Liquid – flowed into the wine gourd.
Closing his eyes, Mu Lin channeled Zhong Kui’s power to pour mana into the vessel.
*Hmm!*
The embedded Cycle of Life and Death formation whirled like a yin-yang millstone as energy surged.
Yin-yang forces swiftly processed the contents.
Essences remained while impurities dissolved. Within an incense stick’s time, the materials transformed into peculiar Yuan Liquid.
Merging the gourd with his body, Mu Lin drew the mist-like liquid through the opening without swallowing. Shared origins allowed seamless absorption, the liquid bearing his imprint.
His depleted physique rapidly replenished.
"Tenfold… This gourd amplifies resource absorption ten times."
"Correct choice indeed. The wine gourd forms Zhong Kui manifestation’s core."
Yet Mu Lin realized he hadn’t tapped its full potential.
For ordinary people, this vessel could transmute dross into treasure.
Evil ghosts were filled with vicious energy and resentment. Merely touching them could make ordinary people gravely ill.
Monster flesh was similarly dangerous – eating or contacting it risked corruption.
But with the bright red wine gourd, evil ghosts could become pure soul power, while monster flesh had its malice erased by the Cycle of Life and Death, transformed into clean vitality and Yuan Liquid.
This treasure could completely reverse a poor cultivator’s destiny.
"Yet by not hiding my capabilities, I attracted many observers. They wisely chose to invest resources instead of eliminating me, leaving me far from destitute."
"With abundant resources accelerating my training speed, this gourd only boosts my efficiency tenfold. A true pauper cultivator could gain hundredfold improvements."
…
Truthfully, had he obtained the gourd earlier, Mu Lin might’ve kept it hidden – secretly hunting ghosts and demons instead of attending school, becoming a wandering monster-slaying ranger.
But no use dwelling on might-have-beens.
"What a shame."
…
Mu Lin examined his Zhong Kui manifestation and Seven Stars Demon-Slaying Sword next. Though unchanged like the gourd, both remained potent. The sword ranked as high-grade magic items normally, but reached peak quality when empowered by the Zi Wei Emperor Star’s might.
Moreover, the Big Dipper’s slaughter-oriented nature granted devastating offensive power against demons, making it Mu Lin’s hidden ace.
Zhong Kui proved stronger still. As the core of the Heavenly Technique "Divine Lord’s Summoning of True Resolve", even without human path empowerment, he surpassed A-level cultivators to reach Refining the Evil tier.
Combining Zhong Kui, sword, and gourd (when fused as an Energy Core) elevated the manifestation to Condensing Essence level.
"Another energy glutton, but at least he self-trains." Mu Lin noted. "The gourd’s refined spiritual energy still needs my bodily adaptation, but Zhong Kui absorbs it freely. More energy means faster growth."
Storing Yan Yunyu’s spiritual pills, Moonlight Essence, and other supplies in the gourd, Mu Lin headed for the Time Secret Realm instead of immediate refinement.
Commanding the gourd to merge with Zhong Kui’s form, the fearsome judge carried newly-made paper figures into the timeless domain.
"Neither Substitute Paper Figures nor Zhong Kui age here. Perfect for rapid power accumulation."
…
While his manifestation worked, Mu Lin tasked Yan Yunyu with gathering more resources. "Get me everything – vitality boosters, spirit energy restorers, soul nutrients. The more the better."
He added after a pause: "Also find me evil ghosts – fully corrupted ones beyond salvation, preferably mass-murderers."
"Understood, Mu brother." As Yan Yunyu departed, Mu Lin pondered:
"Though the Cycle of Life and Death purges ghosts into soul power, it’s inefficient compared to direct soul resources – which are pricey, but I can afford them now."
His real purpose was experimentation. "Zhong Kui originated from divine essence. Since gods gain power by fulfilling divine offices…"
"If I use the gourd to destroy evil ghosts as per Zhong Kui’s duty, might we accumulate divine power or merit?"