Lu Qing looked at the terrifying Dao Rhyme Qi that covered the sky.

And vast amounts of Great Merit surged and galloped, like Dragons running wild, extremely terrifying.

The Dao battle and debate between these two was indeed spectacular.

Golden light was boundless.

When Lu Qing saw those Dao Rhyme Qi, he knew in his heart that both of them were undoubtedly Prodigies who had forged their own Great Dao.

“Ancient Prodigies, contemporary Prodigies, Prodigies beyond the Heavens…”

Lu Qing calculated and suddenly realized that the current competition for the Nine Heavens prodigy rankings was indeed very much in line with the concept of a prosperous era.

The Qi around him naturally became one.

Where he was, that was nature.

Not integrating into nature, but being nature itself.

He did not continue to stay here, waiting for the final outcome of the Dao battle.

In fact, some Cultivators also left.

They also had self-awareness, or rather, their years of Cultivation life in the Cultivation world had given them an extra sense of caution.

In the universe, a vast Sword Cloud then emerged, stretching across the sky, with Sword Qi clanging.

Clearly, the other side did not need to look closely to know that this change in Merit also heralded the end of the Dao battle.

Lu Qing looked at the dense and abundant Spirit Dao Merit in the Sword Cloud.

That was the Spirit Dao Merit that appeared in various places of Heaven and Earth itself.

At this moment, it suddenly rose three inches, like the wisp of green smoke coiling from an incense stick.

Lu Qing’s pupils narrowed slightly.

None of the Cultivators present were able to glimpse the location of these Great Dao Merit of Heaven and Earth.

Yet, they could vaguely sense a feeling emerging in Heaven and Earth.

That was the Spirit Dao Merit strengthening.

“Azure Sea Sword Mountain.”

Unlike the Immortal Path, which had the Nine Immortal Sects, other Dao paths, after the calamity that swept across all the Nine Heavens Realms in ancient times, were different.

The glorious Human Path was no more, and the other Dao paths also suffered immense damage.

This Spirit Dao Dao tradition, named Azure Sea Sword Mountain, was not particularly renowned in ancient times.

“Spirit Dao Merit, Immortal Path Merit.”

Divine Abilities appeared in Lu Qing’s eyes.

He saw that both the Immortal Path Merit and the Yao Path Merit had undergone a slight change.

“Interesting, it seems the Golden Feather Sect’s problem was exposed early on.”

After Tang Yun of the Golden Feather Sect was defeated, both the Immortal Path Merit and the Yao Path Merit changed.

Previously, Lu Qing’s Heavenly Secret Merit Dao had not yet condensed a Dao Seal, and in the face of the confusing calamity, it was difficult to see more subtle Merit changes.

But now that his Merit Dao had first illuminated the Void Refinement, it allowed Lu Qing to keenly detect these changes in Merit.

“Golden Feather Sect, Demonic Beast.”

A thought flashed through Lu Qing’s mind; this was not a conspiracy or trick that the Golden Feather Sect placed in the open, as everyone knew that the Golden Feather Sect was likely one of those who had deviated from the Immortal Path.

“The Immortal Path’s Merit is currently prosperous, but it has also stood at the top for countless years, having solidified many positions. The changes in Merit are firmly controlled by the Nine Immortals.”

“In comparison, the Human Path, Spirit Dao, Divine Path, Yao Path, and even the Demonic Path, all seem to possess a visible great potential for Merit.”

Some people who wanted to soar ninety thousand li in one morning would absolutely not let go of this sliver of Heavenly Secret.

“It’s like the beginning of Chaos, the best time for Cultivation. When a certain Merit falls to the bottom and then rises to the peak again, the Merit that can be obtained is unimaginably astonishing.”

Even though many people now seem to have a lot of Merit, their Merit is only the Merit of one person. How can it compare to the exaggerated and startling Merit of a Dao, or the Merit of all Dao paths?

“And if I’m not mistaken, Merit is definitely not just related to luck and Cultivation, but more likely to be related to Lifespan.”

Lu Qing thought of the mastermind who intervened during the peak of the calamity.

The huge commotion that flashed across the long river when he blocked the opponent.

Undoubtedly, it also reminded Lu Qing of one thing from the side: do not take the two words ‘Merit’ lightly.

The Merit of various Dao paths, which many Dao traditions consider a great matter, must also contain secrets that Lu Qing does not currently know.

“It’s just that when I observe these Merit struggles, there’s always a feeling of a Dynasty vying for Dragon Qi.”

He subtly dismissed this thought.

He always felt that heroes throughout the world were rising up, all to seize the various Merit of the world.

“I almost forgot, there’s also Merit.”

As Lu Qing left, a wisp of Merit Qi drifted down from the sky.

Lu Qing was not unfamiliar with that wisp of Nine Heavens Merit Qi.

He had also encountered a Merit Auspicious Cloud.

Naturally, his perception of Nine Heavens Merit Qi was extremely clear.

“Defeating a prodigy from another of the Six Dao paths can also earn Merit?”

Lu Qing’s expression became even stranger.

These days, was Merit that easy to obtain?

Or were there other benefits on this Hidden Dragon List?

Lu Qing didn’t dwell too much on things he couldn’t figure out.

No matter how many benefits or ideas, they couldn’t compare to the importance of his own Cultivation at this moment.

He had a premonition that after this journey, perhaps upon his return, he could enter seclusion and approach the threshold of Void Refinement.

Therefore, regarding the things he had seen and the Divine Senses they triggered, he merely had a thought at the moment.

As for deep contemplation, he still preferred to wait until his Dao cultivation improved, and these hidden secrets would automatically unfold before him.

Why waste time and effort just to know these Cultivation secrets that, the more one knows, the more silent one becomes?

Lu Qing’s Qi was very relaxed.

He wore a cyan robe.

His Qi was ordinary, like a drop of water merging into this vast sea of Cultivation, coming and going freely, naturally like the wind.

Another half year passed.

Lu Qing encountered his second near-miss.

He made a small movement, sweeping his palm, and restrained a bull Demonic Beast ahead, full of raging fire and Baleful Qi.

“Damn Cultivator!”

“Damn Immortal cultivator!”

“Hmph!”

“You have the guts to do it but not the guts to admit it, is that it?!”

Lu Qing’s smile remained unchanged, “It seems you, this bull Demonic Beast, are also unclear about right and wrong. You have achieved the Void Illumination Realm Dao cultivation, but still cannot discern illusion from reality. Since that is the case…”

The bull Demonic Beast’s original greed suddenly seemed to be overwhelmed by reason when he saw this Immortal cultivator not playing by the rules.

“You—”

“I will send Fellow Daoist into a Reincarnation.”

Lu Qing sighed, and a breeze swept by.

This bull Demonic Beast’s Dao cultivation was decent, but the reason it was a near-miss was because its Divine Abilities were quite bizarre.

“Clearly, it’s a pair of Illusion-Shattering Divine Eyes, an ancient Great Divine Ability that can fix the years. How could you, this bull Demonic Beast, use it like this?”

He swept his gaze forward. A bull Demonic Beast, whose greed had arisen and wanted to extort and kill a Cultivator, quickly turned into a cloud of dust. As Lu Qing’s sleeve swept past, the area in front of him remained clean.

Lu Qing shook his head slightly. The first moment he saw the opponent, Lu Qing did not let down his guard.

He just hadn’t expected that the opponent would be the second near-miss as foretold by the divination.

“I’m not sure if my strength in the divination was based solely on Realm, or if it took all aspects into consideration?”

However, Lu Qing felt it was likely the former.

His current strength was subtly no longer confined to the Void Illumination Realm Three Gates Realm.

So, his foundation was somewhat superior to Cultivators of the same Realm.

But by how much, Lu Qing hadn't fought against other Cultivators of the same Realm, so it was hard to compare.

He looked in the direction where the bull Demonic Beast had disappeared.

He had always acted on impulse.

Now, Lu Qing was not too hesitant.

He stepped directly forward.

This black mountain had always had few Demonic Beasts, simply because the area was neither picturesque nor rich in Spiritual Qi.

Although over the years, the spiritual energy in Heaven and Earth had gradually increased.

But if everyone improved, it also meant that places with better Heaven and Earth environments would become even better, while worse places wouldn't necessarily improve, just be a bit better than before.

This black mountain was such a place.

To be honest, what met the eye was a land of profound black, forests that were ink-black, and a bald mountain peak. Lu Qing didn't encounter such sights often, but a mountain that could grow to so perfectly match the name 'Black Mountain' was rare in the world.

The bull Demonic Beast’s Dao cultivation entered Reincarnation, but its memories and Divine Soul were glimpsed by Lu Qing’s Heavenly Secret eyes.

Lu Qing also happened to gain a local guide’s memory.

“This Black Mountain.”

Lu Qing walked with his feet on solid ground, not riding clouds.

Feeling the faint wisp of Earth Vein Qi coiling beneath his feet, a trace of surprise appeared in his eyes…