Feng Zikang stood suspended in the air, far off, a smile playing on his lips.

The four Demon Gods abruptly parted, revealing a blood-red figure kneeling on the ground. Its face was contorted in a fierce grimace—it was none other than Huo Zhongguang, whom everyone believed had fled into the Demon Realm!

"Junior Brother Feng... your methods are truly something. Your elder brother admits defeat!"

Huo Zhongguang let out a tragic smile, struggling to straighten his body. Though he was merely a shadow of blood, his features were perfectly rendered, indistinguishable from his real self.

"Oh?"

Feng Zikang settled himself leisurely. "Didn't Senior Brother look down even upon Core Condensation masters? Why would you deign to care about a mere Qi Induction junior like me?"

Huo Zhongguang had shattered his body to become this shadow, enduring the agony of division, all to toy with four Core Condensation masters. Alas, the mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind—in the end, he could not escape Feng Zikang, the final fisherman.

Feng Zikang had long since stealthily unleashed the Four Symbols Demon God Formation, lying in wait like a hidden snare at the entrance to the Demon Realm. When Huo Zhongguang used the technique of transforming his primordial spirit into a shadow to evade Master Wuzhen’s lotus pursuit, he thought he had successfully slipped into the Demon Realm’s entrance. Instead, he crashed headlong into the Four Symbols Demon God Formation.

Huo Zhongguang grimaced bitterly. "Junior Brother, your elder brother does not fear Core Condensation masters, but you are my nemesis!"

When he spat on Elder Chiyuan's face last night, he was indeed riding high, believing he was destined to enter the Demon Realm to cultivate supreme sorcery, the destined protagonist of this era. Yet, in the span of a single night, he now stood utterly dejected, all his sharp edges blunted.

He had always known this junior brother was not simple, but after completing his Foundation Establishment merits, he had encountered successive fortuitous encounters and even inherited demonic arts, causing his spirit to soar. While he hadn't entirely dismissed his junior brother, he had indeed looked down upon him to a noticeable degree.

He never imagined that while the four Core Condensation masters couldn't subdue him, and the ten-sided ambush couldn't trap him, he would ultimately fall into the hands of this younger brother.

"Junior Brother, since I am in your grasp, your elder brother will speak no more nonsense. Just grant me a swift end!"

"No rush, no rush!"

Feng Zikang landed calmly before him, waving his hand to dismiss the four Demon Gods. Every Demon God held a crimson chain, tightly binding Huo Zhongguang’s blood shadow.

"Senior Brother Huo, it seems you have accumulated many secrets since we last met. Before I uncover those secrets, how could this junior brother possibly allow you to reincarnate so quickly?"

Although Huo Zhongguang’s demonic cultivation was a chaotic blend, he clearly possessed a distinct inheritance, which greatly piqued Feng Zikang's interest.

He had initially assumed that since Huo Zhongguang’s will was not completely firm, falling into the Four Symbols Demon God Prison would naturally render him incapable of defying his wishes. He should simply spill everything, allowing Feng Zikang to grant him the swift end he desired.

Who knew that Huo Zhongguang only offered a bitter laugh, remaining utterly silent, determined to resist to the bitter end?

The more Huo Zhongguang behaved this way, the more interested Feng Zikang became.

He felt no urgency, merely smiling faintly. "Since Senior Brother hasn't come to a decision yet, we’ll spend a little more time. The Four Symbols Demon God Prison has many fascinating features that I have yet to fully test. Please, Senior Brother, savor the experience slowly!"

Feng Zikang drifted away gracefully, turning back to nod toward the four Demon Gods.

"Treat my Senior Brother Huo well!"

The four Demon Gods roared their assent, shaking the very heavens!

Feng Zikang withdrew from the Sea of Consciousness, returning to his thatched hut in the small bamboo grove. He recalled that Gu Ya had sent gifts from several other major sects last night. Opening them, he found mostly elixirs, save for one item from the Confucian sect: a stack of Nanhai mulberry paper. These fine white sheets were undoubtedly precious, but their purpose remained a mystery.

Now that Feng Zikang’s reputation had soared, gifts had arrived from nearly every sect across the myriad paths, with two exceptions.

The first was the Novelists; this lineage of cultivators was known for being elusive, appearing and vanishing like spirits, and maintaining minimal contact with other sects.

The second was the Strategists.

Feng Zikang remembered clearly that after slaying Wuduya, he had also severed an arm belonging to Leng Jinchan, a disciple of the Strategists.

He wondered what standing Leng Jinchan held within the Strategist school. It was a pity he hadn't managed to kill him outright then. The fact that the Strategists sent no messengers to offer courtesies now suggested a rift had formed.

As dawn broke, he sat cross-legged for a brief rest before preparing to head to the Sutra Hall to exchange Merit Points for a Divine Ability.

Now that his cultivation had advanced, relying on the Formless Heavenly Demon Heart Method and external artifacts, he wasn't afraid of facing opponents at the peak of Qi Induction or even early Foundation Establishment in actual combat. However, the path of cultivation primarily involved strengthening oneself; external aids, no matter how powerful, could never surpass one's own cultivation foundation.

Furthermore, he genuinely lacked a powerful offensive method.

He had been hesitating whether to exchange for a healing/recovery ability or an offensive one. The gift from the Farmers—the Silent Rain of the Spring Breeze’s Gentle Nurturing—had conveniently resolved this dilemma.

Currently, for defense, he had the Twenty Layers of Vajra Undying bestowed by the Vajra Sarira. For recovery, he had the Silent Rain of the Spring Breeze’s Gentle Nurturing. For obscuring vision and confusing senses, he had the Seventeen Layers of Obscuring Illusions affixed by the Spirit Shaman Bone. For probing and reconnaissance, he had the Formless Heavenly Demon Incarnation ability.

Only in terms of speed and offense did weaknesses remain.

The Soul Bone Sword's accompanying Hundred Ghosts Devouring Soul ability was quite effective for mass attacks against weaker foes; the Four Symbols Demon God Formation was his ultimate trump card and could not be deployed lightly.

Fortunately, among the Military Sect's divine abilities were the most powerful offensive techniques. Although his current Merit Points were not substantial, he could still make a careful selection.

Elder Wu was sunning himself by the doorway. Seeing him approach, the Elder actually opened his eyes, smiled, and nodded—it seemed the tribute of Thousand-Year Snow Bamboo Ginseng Tea had been quite useful.

"Martial Uncle-Grandmaster, this disciple has come to exchange for a divine ability technique. I seek your guidance, Martial Uncle-Grandmaster..."

The Sutra Hall held an ocean of divine abilities; selecting one on his own would be overwhelming. It was better to be discreet and ask this seasoned veteran for advice; it would surely yield benefits. In any case, with his current Merit Points, he could probably only exchange for an ordinary offensive technique. Elder Wu was most familiar with the techniques inside the hall and might be able to pick out a decent skill.

"Hmm..."

Elder Wu managed a faint affirmation from his throat, pulling a jade booklet from his robes and flipping it open to examine closely.

"Let this old man see how many merits you accumulated on this trip to the Southern Barbarians, young fellow..."

Feng Zikang was momentarily stunned. "Martial Uncle-Grandmaster, isn't it four hundred Merit Points? Slaying Wuduya was an A-rank mission listed as exactly four hundred merits on the Merit Book."

"Fool..." Although he was cursing, Elder Wu chuckled warmly. "Did you only accomplish the assassination of Wuduya on your trip to the Southern Barbarians?"

He searched the jade booklet for a long time, seemingly unable to see clearly due to age. He fished out a pair of reading glasses, perched them on his nose, searched further, and then slapped his thigh, laughing heartily. "Third-generation disciple Feng Zikang, your current Merit Points stand at..."

Elder Wu paused, looking up at Feng Zikang. His eyes behind the reading glasses were filled with approval.

"One thousand two hundred and eighty points!"

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