Chapter 615

Chapter 615: The Earth Treasury Palace

After settling matters with Zhu Xian, Mo Qianxun asked Fang Lie, "A hundred years isn’t overly long, but neither is it brief. What are your plans?"

"I’ll enter closed-door training!" Fang Lie answered. "I wish to borrow the Purple Palace Secret Realm for twenty years!"

Normally, the Purple Palace Secret Realm could only be lent for months at a time. Fang Lie’s previous two-year stay had already been exceptional. Now his demand for two decades left Mo Qianxun stunned.

The Sect Leader snorted coldly, "Boy, what gives you the nerve to make such a request?"

"Don’t I have Major Merits?" Fang Lie pretended innocence. "Winning the Celestial Platform Competition brought glory to Mo Sect. By our rules, that’s one Major Merit, correct?"

"Indeed it is," Mo Qianxun acknowledged.

"Then I exposed Zhu Xian’s outpost, uncovered critical intelligence, and rooted out multiple spies within our sect – including your blueprint-stealing grandson. Surely catching him counts as another Major Merit?" Fang Lie grinned.

Mo Qianxun’s face flushed red before he replied bitterly, "Congratulations indeed. Killing my own grandson merits recognition."

"The Sect Leader’s wisdom shines through." Fang Lie smiled before pressing, "What of slaying three Thunder Tribulation Immortals from Zhu Xian? Surely that’s worth more than single merits?"

"Three merits granted," Mo Qianxun conceded reluctantly.

Sect regulations strictly defined Major Merits – only defeating Thunder Tribulation Immortal-level enemies qualified. Each kill counted separately given their power.

Even Mo Qianxun found Major Merits difficult to obtain. Most Thunder Tribulation Immortal Elders only held two or three, earned through decades of arduous missions.

Fang Lie’s five Major Merits from casual killings within two years were unprecedented. Any other disciple would’ve faced suppression, but Mo Qianxun lacked that leverage here.

To his credit, Fang Lie didn’t claim credit for the Semi-Immortal capture – though he’d served as bait, the tokens deserved main credit.

Smiling, Fang Lie continued, "Each Major Merit permits requests, including Purple Palace access, yes?"

"Correct," Mo Qianxun confirmed. "Precedent allows half-year access per merit. Five merits grant two and half years. Twenty? Impossible."

Fang Lie scratched his head. "My expanded Qi Sea requires intense cultivation. Only the Purple Palace provides sufficient Magic accumulation."

"What can I do?" Mo Qianxun spread his hands. "All cultivators progress gradually. With your Divine Marrow altar and spirit pills, the Jade Pool should suffice – merely several times slower than the Purple Palace."

"My situation’s special," Fang Lie insisted. "I must maximize cultivation speed. Remember – in a century, I challenge the Zhu Xian Grand Leader!"

"Enough jesting!" Mo Qianxun rolled his eyes. "That was merely stalling tactic, not actual commitment!"

"Why shouldn’t I take it seriously?"

"How could you?" The Sect Leader scoffed. "A century-old novice defeating a twenty-millennia veteran? The Grand Leader’s talent surpasses yours! What makes you think you can overtake him?"

"I have my methods," Fang Lie stated calmly. "The sect must support me fully."

"Support has limits!" Mo Qianxun retorted. "I only spent three Purple Palace months during my Qi Sea Realm! Why should countless Thunder Tribulation Immortals yield two decades to you?"

"What if I donate the Ninth-Rank Treasure Ming Yue Disk?" Fang Lie countered.

Mo Qianxun blinked in shock. "You’d sacrifice a treasure rightfully yours through victory?"

"Twenty Purple Palace years in exchange."

"Add your five Major Merits, and done." Mo Qianxun table-slapped.

"Enough!" Fang Lie snapped. "A Ninth-Rank Treasure for twenty years, plus my merits? Isn’t this excessive?"

"You really think you can fool me?" Mo Qianxun sneered. "The Ming Yue Disk’s just an auxiliary treasure. Its main ability’s gathering moonlight during monthly full moons. Once ownership transfers to the sect, that moonlight becomes public property. Any Elder could purchase it with contribution points! With your wealth, who could outbid you? So except for the treasure not officially being yours, don’t all benefits still land in your hands?"

Exposed by Mo Qianxun, Fang Lie rolled his eyes. "There’s still a difference! Moonlight’s highly sought-after. I’m losing a treasure trove here. Even using it myself would cost merits. That’s a huge gap!"

"What nonsense! You’re drowning in riches yet fuss over trifles?" Mo Qianxun chuckled. "Let’s be clear – the Ming Yue Disk’s Ninth-Rank Treasure status helps me justify lending you the Purple Palace Secret Realm for twenty years. But you’ll surrender all Major Merits. I’ll throw in five extra years. Fair deal?"

Seeing Mo Qianxun’s Old Fox demeanor, Fang Lie grew suspicious. "Why take all my Major Merits?"

"Isn’t it obvious? You’ve more Major Merits than this Sect Leader. Makes me lose face!" Mo Qianxun declared righteously.

Fang Lie scratched his head, suddenly understanding. "This’s about that confiscated Ninth-Rank Treasure! By sect rules, anyone can exchange merits for it. You fear I’ll compete!"

They’d recently captured a Zhu Xian Semi-Immortal. The Benevolence Token instantly claimed the seized Ninth-Rank Treasure before Fang Lie saw it. As sect property, even the Sect Leader couldn’t freely handle it – Elders must exchange merits and contribution points for usage rights.

Clearly, Mo Qianxun wanted that treasure but feared Fang Lie’s interference. Yet reality revealed Mo Qianxun’s true motives.

Mo Qianxun chuckled awkwardly. "Wrong. That treasure doesn’t suit you – you wouldn’t waste merits on it. I’m worried about other family clans, especially the Purple Family. Their Family Head’s hoarded seven Major Merits! I need your merits to outbid him."

"Damn!" Fang Lie exclaimed. "You’d exploit your junior?"

"Exploit? I’m trading Purple Palace Secret Realm time! Even doubled it!" Mo Qianxun retorted.

"Whatever." Fang Lie sighed. "Deal."

Recently, Mo Qianxun had treated him decently. This matter crucially affected both Mo Qianxun and the Mo family. Ninth-Rank Treasures rarely appeared – whichever clan obtained one gained immense strength. As both Sect Leader and Mo Family Head, Mo Qianxun prioritized his clan’s combat power.

Fang Lie barely knew the Purple Family. Strengthening the Mo family meant bolstering his own backing. With doubled training time offered, Fang Lie acquiesced.

Overjoyed, Mo Qianxun declared, "The Purple Palace Secret Realm becomes available in three months!"

Nodding, Fang Lie departed.

Returning home, he spotted new Buddhist structures from afar. Across thousand-mile grounds stood a magnificent temple – thousand-foot main hall with silver floors, golden pillars, and starlike gems radiating colorful light. The plaque read "Kṣitigarbha King Hall" – shrine to Kṣitigarbha Bodhisattva housing the Kṣitigarbha Vow Sword.

Only the Mo Sect’s peerless mechanical puppet arts could erect such splendor so quickly. Monks already chanted scriptures within. Powerful Buddhist practitioners had infused the area with spiritual energy in mere months. Continued thus, it’d undoubtedly become a true Buddhist sanctum.