Starting from the Primordial Era, it began to devour the starry sky.

16. The Myriad Paths Diagram and Enlightenment

Master Kui Mu couldn't help but chuckle as he listened to Qiao Lin repeatedly chanting about 640 merits: "How can I put you? Facing Shi Liao, your first thought wasn't about surviving a near-death experience, but about being filled with fear and lingering apprehension; you were actually thinking about 640 merits!"

"Alas, the most painful thing for a cultivator is to be alive but have no resources."

"Haha, that makes sense. We cultivators are always lacking in cultivation resources. You lack them, and so do I!" Master Kui Mu laughed.

Hearing that Master Kui Mu offered no compensation, Qiao Lin realized that his hints had been in vain. Or perhaps Master Kui Mu understood, but also bluntly stated that he was very poor.

"Alright, stop looking like that. Actually, the appearance of Shi Liao was not my intention. Normally, I would have arranged for you to be a slightly weaker Myriad Manifestations God-Demon," Kui Mu Zhenren explained. "However, after I gave the immortals a video of you fighting that late-stage Purple Mansion God-Demon, Mo Zheng Immortal asked me to send out Shi Liao."

Ok?

Upon hearing Kui Mu Zhenren's words, Qiao Lin's eyebrows furrowed as he pondered whether he had any connection with this Mo Zheng Xianren.

The result was no.

He didn't stay in the Desolate Era for very long, nor did he encounter any special people.

"Not long ago, Immortal Mo Zheng asked me to take you to see her. You can talk to Immortal Mo Zheng about the 640 merits later. She might be in a good mood and reward you with several thousand merits!" Master Kui Mu suddenly laughed.

A look of panic crossed Qiao Lin's face, and he quickly waved his hands, saying, "Even if you gave me a thousand lives, I wouldn't dare to bargain with an immortal!"

At this point, Qiao Lin suddenly realized that he didn't dare to bargain with an immortal, nor was he qualified to chat and laugh with a Nascent Soul True Person.

Just now, Master Kui Mu's tone was a bit too intimate, and he even joked with him.

This was completely different from when he had met Master Kui Mu before. When Master Kui Mu brought him into the Yinglong Guard, it was all very businesslike. His tone was neither distant nor intimate. But just now, in just a few words, Master Kui Mu acted as if he had known him for a long time.

Qiao Lin immediately became wary. What was Kui Mu Zhenren trying to do by suddenly acting so intimately?

Did he think he was strong enough, became interested in his secrets, and planned to take action against him?

One should always be wary of others; he had been tripped up by other geniuses in the world of Swallowing the Stars.

Qiao Lin didn't think that being fellow members of the Yinglong Guard meant everyone was on good terms with each other; conflict was everywhere, especially since the two of them weren't that close.

As Qiao Lin was pondering whether Master Kui Mu had ulterior motives towards him, Master Kui Mu suddenly said, "Immortal Mo Zheng is the head of our Yinglong branch. She is extremely powerful, surpassing ordinary Earth Immortals. However, she is capable and efficient. As long as you are respectful, you will be fine."

Hearing Master Kui Mu's reminder, Qiao Lin's vigilance did not disappear, but he still smiled and said, "Thank you for the reminder, Master Kui Mu."

"Well, we are both Yinglong Guards, so we can visit each other more often. Of course, if it's about borrowing merit, then forget it, after all, I'm quite poor too," Master Kuimu said with a smile again.

Qiao Lin felt increasingly uneasy. Was this a gesture of goodwill? Did he really think she had a bright future?

Perhaps! Only time will tell!

"You flatter me, Master. The path of cultivation is fraught with difficulties, it's not that easy!" Qiao Lin shook his head, seemingly lacking confidence in himself.

Master Kui Mu smiled and then pointed to the palace in front of him: "That is Immortal Mo Zheng's residence. Go in quickly, don't keep Immortal Mo Zheng waiting."

"Thank you, Master!" Qiao Lin bowed to Master Kui Mu in thanks, then turned and walked towards the palace in front of him.

The palace had no gate, only a barrier of light. But when Qiao Lin approached, the barrier actually sucked him in.

Qiao Lin felt dizzy and disoriented, completely losing control of himself. It was as if he had traveled through endless space and time, making it difficult for him to regain his senses.

After an unknown amount of time, Qiao Lin suddenly woke up and looked around in horror at everything.

"Your spirit and will are quite good; you managed to break free from the restriction in just a breath!" A female voice rang out. Her voice was strong and resolute, carrying a heroic air, as if she had cultivated a noble demeanor from her long-term position of power.

Qiao Lin immediately knelt on one knee, not even daring to look at the source of the voice, and shouted, "Qiao Lin greets the immortal."

"Yes, stand up and talk!" the voice rang out again.

At this moment, Qiao Lin stood up, raised his head, and glanced at the Immortal Mo Zheng at the head of the table, seemingly unintentionally.

Immortal Mo Zheng was dressed in a green palace gown. His attire was not extravagant, but his aura was incredibly profound. Qiao Lin could see traces of several Daos, such as flames and lightning, at just one glance.

Upon seeing this, Qiao Lin was secretly shocked. There was actually a domain of the Great Dao of Lightning? No wonder Immortal Mo Zheng, as an Earth Immortal, was able to overpower a Loose Immortal and become the head of the Anchan branch.

The Great Dao Domain is even more powerful than controlling a complete Lesser Dao, and it is one of the foundations upon which Earth Immortals can rival Heavenly Immortals.

To some extent, if the Immortal Mo Zheng in front of us is not lacking in other aspects, he is comparable to a wandering immortal who has lived for millions of years.

Cultivators face three calamities and nine tribulations, with one calamity every three hundred years and a great calamity of heaven and earth every nine hundred years. To survive for a million years under such circumstances, one can imagine how powerful one must be. And the Immortal Mo Zheng before us has the foundation to contend with a million-year-old scattered immortal.

"I summoned you today for only one thing!" Immortal Mo Zheng cut to the chase, showing no intention of chatting with Qiao Lin. "The Immortal Affinity Conference, held by the Xia Emperor every three hundred years, will begin in eight years. Each of our branches must send ten geniuses with cultivation levels below the Perfection of the Myriad Manifestations realm to participate in this grand event. I see that your combat strength is quite impressive; perhaps you could represent my Anchan branch in the Treasure Competition!"

Qiao Lin suddenly realized what it was all about. This Immortal Destiny Conference, commonly known as the Treasure Hunt Conference, was extremely important and a grand event that was only seen once in billions of years.

It even attracted the attention of several Dao Ancestors who controlled countless great worlds, and even the Xia Emperor had to deal with it carefully.

The ruler of the entire Great Xia Dynasty was relegated to a supporting role, becoming a tool for many Dao Ancestors and powerful figures to select their disciples. This shows the importance of this conference.

He knew in his heart that this grand event was very important, no less than the Swallowing Star Genius Battle, and Qiao Lin would definitely participate if he had the means. However, since an immortal had brought it up, the nature of the event was different. It was a matter of initiative, and it was also an excellent opportunity to ask for benefits. Qiao Lin was too poor, and he didn't want to miss any opportunity to get even the slightest benefit.

"Imperial Immortal Mo Zheng, I am just a minor cultivator in the late stage of the Innate Realm. The Perfection of All Manifestations is too far beyond my reach!" Qiao Lin frowned, pretending to be distressed.

"I know what you're thinking. You just want some benefits. My Yinglong Guard never starves its soldiers. As long as you can satisfy me, all resources are at your disposal!" Immortal Mo Zheng was still straightforward and direct, showing no dissatisfaction with Qiao Lin's little scheme.

This seems to be just a common way of managing subordinates.

"Your cultivation level is relatively low. My Yinglong Guard possesses a replica of the supreme treasure, the Myriad Dao Diagram, which can aid in enlightenment. I can grant you three opportunities to study it, each lasting one month. However, you can only use it once now. You will be able to study the Myriad Dao Diagram once each after you have achieved the Purple Mansion and Myriad Manifestations realms!"

The Myriad Paths Diagram? Helping people attain enlightenment?

Qiao Lin's first thought was the Chaos Stele of the Devouring Stars. Could it be something similar?

In any case, this is definitely a treasure.

"Furthermore, I observe that you have not practiced any Qi cultivation methods, so I will bestow upon you the first part of the Pure Yang Cultivation Technique within the treasure vault!"

Pure Yang Technique?

Qiao Lin was overjoyed. He hadn't expected Immortal Mo Zheng to give it to him directly; it was worth 100 merits.

But after thinking about it, he quickly chose to refuse.

"Imperial Immortal Mo Zheng, could this Pure Yang Technique be replaced with a better basic sword technique?"

"Basic sword techniques?" For the first time, Immortal Mo Zheng's tone changed. "Have you thought this through? The Pure Yang Technique is the best foundational method. As long as you cultivate it successfully, it will be enough to instantly increase your strength by two or three times."

Qiao Lin took a deep breath and said firmly, "I've decided to exchange it for the Basic Sword Technique!"