Elder Yun’s age was roughly the same as Elder Wu of the Scripture Hall; while not quite a thousand-year-old fiend, he was certainly several hundred years of advanced age.

Only Elder Wu was riddled with wrinkles and decrepit in appearance, a stark contrast to Elder Yun’s ruddy complexion and youthful countenance despite his white hair.

This wasn't due to Elder Yun practicing superior longevity techniques; it was likely because he spent his days battling toads and fleas, his mind carefree and unburdened by worldly cares.

After listening to Feng Zikang’s sophistry, he didn't get angry; he merely shook his head, pondering for a while, and when he couldn't figure it out immediately, he dismissed the matter.

Now that the toad was gone, he wasn't angry anymore, so naturally, he had no choice but to obediently return to the Hall of Merit to resume his duties. Along the way, he sighed and lamented, occasionally grumbling that Feng Zikang shouldn't have killed his toad brother; this need not be elaborated upon. Back in the Hall of Merit, Elder Yun flopped lazily onto his couch, tossing a jade booklet to Feng Zikang, and chuckled, "Little Fengzi, I heard you advanced to the fourth layer of Qi Induction.

I figured you’d be coming around, though I didn't expect it to take a few more days. You have more patience than most youngsters; worthy of being Little Ye’s disciple... This booklet contains the Merit Tasks you can claim upon reaching the fourth layer of Qi Induction. Take a look for yourself!"

The room was bare save for a single wall lined with bookshelves, holding jade booklets for various cultivation levels of Merit Tasks. The Great Reincarnation Disk was not in this outer chamber, and Feng Zikang would not be seeing that treasure's true form for the time being. He looked down at the booklet in his hand; it shone with a five-colored light. Opening the inner pages, he saw it divided into four sections: A, B, C, and D. Each section held dozens of entries, representing the currently available Merit Tasks. Class A tasks were the most difficult, rarely completed by ordinary disciples; Class D were the easiest, only chosen by the most inept, with most disciples opting for the B or C tiers, which offered substantial Merit Points without being overly strenuous. Feng Zikang browsed meticulously. The Class D tasks mostly involved delivering letters, carrying messages, or delivering gifts for celebrations at some minor sect, or perhaps being invited as a cultivator to attend a mortal ceremony. All these fell under Class D Merit, yielding meager points. The B and C tasks were far more complex, involving slaying fiends and exterminating demons, or searching for objects or people. Even the simplest tasks, like delivering messages, required traveling thousands of miles to distant lands. The Class A tasks, however, were most straightforward: kill, kill, kill! “Slay Wudu Ya, Chieftain of the Thirty-Six Southern Barbarian Caves, four hundred Merit Points.” “Slay the Green Snake Spirit of Ox-Head Mountain, two hundred and eighty Merit Points.” “Slay the Tartar demonic Daoist Huntian He, two hundred and eighty Merit Points.” ... Feng Zikang snapped the Merit Task booklet shut and returned it to Elder Yun, his expression calm. "Martial Uncle-Grandmaster, no need to look further. I choose the first Class A Merit Task: Slaying Wudu Ya, Chieftain of the Thirty-Six Southern Barbarian Caves!" "Oh?" Elder Yun was genuinely surprised, a look of curiosity dawning on his face. He sprang up from the couch and laughed, "I didn't expect Little Ye’s disciple to have such ambition! Let me see?" He unfolded the booklet, scrutinizing the entry, his brow furrowing tighter and tighter. "What layer has your Mind Calculation Art reached? Do you possess any Divine Abilities?" Feng Zikang shook his head. "Disciple has only just received the Heart Method. I have only sensed the realm it represents but have not yet practiced it. I plan to begin cultivation during this journey. Without having cultivated the Heart Method, I naturally possess no Divine Abilities..."

"And yet you dare go kill Wudu Ya?" Elder Yun’s eyes widened, his tone brimming with disbelief, though a hint of approval showed on his face. "Good heavens, bolder than I was in my youth... Not at all like Little Ye; more like that little bastard, Little Lu..." He looked at Feng Zikang closely. "Did you see clearly what Wudu Ya's cultivation specialties are listed in that booklet?" "I saw clearly!" Feng Zikang nodded. Wudu Ya was one of the thirty-six Barbarian Kings of the South. He specialized in all manner of demonic magic, capable of summoning wind and rain, making beans grow into soldiers, and was rumored to possess an indestructible Vajra body. He commanded nine hundred Vine-Armored Soldiers, each ferocious and battle-hardened.

To slay Wudu Ya amidst a massive army was almost an impossible task for a disciple at the fourth layer of Qi Induction who hadn't cultivated Divine Abilities. Although these barbarians only cultivated Divine Abilities and not Daoist Dharma, thus failing to achieve eternal life, they were still a formidable and unignorable force in confrontation. "Since you saw clearly, as the Elder of the Hall of Merit, I cannot dissuade you. Go ahead and accept this task!"

Elder Yun lightly brushed the jade booklet. The script of the first Class A entry transformed into a streak of cyan light.

He casually pinched this light, molding it into a bead that glimmered faintly, with the character "A" inscribed in the center. He handed the cyan bead to Feng Zikang and smiled, "This is the Task Bead. You only need to keep it with you. After slaying Wudu Ya, this bead will naturally revert to its original form and return to my booklet.

At that time, I will know, and I will grant you four hundred Merit Points." "Thank you, Elder Yun!"

Feng Zikang accepted the Task Bead, tucked it into his storage pouch, and immediately prepared to take his leave. Elder Yun coughed twice and quickly stopped him. "Hey, Little Fengzi, don't be in such a hurry to go. Since you've accepted this task, what follows is merely idle talk, not me trying to stop you..."

"That Wudu Ya is incredibly powerful. I heard that in the major sects, slaying Wudu Ya is listed as a Class A task for late-stage Qi Induction disciples. Only our Military Sect, in order to temper the resolve of our younger disciples, has placed it among the tasks for mid-stage Qi Induction disciples.

" He scrutinized Feng Zikang for a long moment, then clapped his hands and sighed, "With your current skill level, you’re probably just a small dish meant for him to chop up!" A Class A task for late-stage Qi Induction meant that even disciples at the peak of Qi Induction might find this Merit arduous. For Feng Zikang, with his current displayed cultivation and abilities, attempting such a great deed was perhaps sheer delusion!

Elder Yun spoke direly, seemingly attempting to frighten him. Feng Zikang offered a slight smile, unconcerned. Even if this Wudu Ya was truly as strong as a peak Qi Induction cultivator, he held no fear.

Even if direct confrontation was unfavorable, when it came to insidious tricks, he had countless methods! These barbarians understood little of Daoist Dharma; while their Divine Abilities were strong, their Inner Demons were even more fervent. He refused to believe they had no weaknesses! Seeing that he was unmoved, Elder Yun scratched his head, displaying a trace of urgency.

"I’m not bluffing you. I heard that Wudu Ya possesses the Divine Ability of Manifesting Heaven and Earth; he can transform into a giant twelve feet tall, open his massive maw, and swallow hundreds of soldiers in a single breath..."

"Since one has embarked on the Dao and is no longer a mere mortal, why fear such Divine Abilities?" Feng Zikang knew Elder Yun had something more to say, but he deliberately refused to prompt him, intent on making him anxious.

"Hmph!" Elder Yun stomped his foot, as if having made a crucial decision, and finally dropped the pretense. "With your current cultivation, fighting Wudu Ya means certain death. However, if you are willing to do me a favor..."