Human Clan Defender
Chapter 70: Merit Points

Chapter 70: Chapter 70: Merit Points

Jiang Zuo spoke calmly, neither hurried nor slow, and Shen Changqing had no intention of rushing him, quietly sitting there and listening to what followed.

"The greatest difference between the Innate and the Grandmaster lies in the understanding of Martial Dao True Intent!"

"A so-called Martial Arts Grandmaster is essentially undergoing a spiritual transformation. To comprehend Martial Dao True Intent, a martial artist must find their own path and then grasp the true essence within. There are many kinds of Martial Dao True Intent, and I’m unable to explain each one in detail to you."

Jiang Zuo shared all his insights about the Grandmaster Realm.

"Martial Dao True Intent!" Shen Changqing repeated in a murmur.

So it was the difference in Martial Dao True Intent that marked the greatest distinction between the Innate and the Grandmaster.

"So, it seems that a Martial Arts Grandmaster has actually advanced to spiritual attacks. The methods of Demon Evils are also mainly manifested at the spiritual level, with the Illusory Realm being the most representative, right?"

"You’re correct," Jiang Zuo acknowledged with approval, patiently explaining. "Martial artists below the Grandmaster Realm don’t have much of an advantage against Demon Evils. Some martial artists have abundant vital energy but weak minds, making them easily trapped in Illusory Realms, unable to free themselves. However, once a martial artist breaks through to the Grandmaster Realm, they gain a significant power to restrain the Illusory Realms of Demon Evils. But as for the specifics, I’m not very clear."

A look of regret appeared on Jiang Zuo’s face. He was only a Profound Rank Demon Hunter, still quite a distance from the Martial Dao Grandmaster Realm.

Shen Changqing carefully digested the information, then respectfully cupped his hands. "Steward Jiang, I have gained many insights from your explanations. However, I still have one question I wish to understand."

"Speak."

"Is there a significant difference between the martial arts recorded on the third and second floors of the Scripture Pavilion? Is there any specific martial art that can help a martial artist break through to the Grandmaster Realm? If so, on which floor would such a martial art be placed?" Shen Changqing inquired.

This matter was of great importance to him, affecting whether he should aim to advance to Profound Rank Demon Hunter as quickly as possible.

Jiang Zuo responded, "Any martial art can lead to the understanding of Martial Dao True Intent, whether it’s the basic martial arts on the first floor or some of the more profound martial arts found later. At their highest levels, all offer a chance to comprehend it. It’s simply that the more profound the martial art, the easier it is to comprehend Martial Dao True Intent. The martial arts on the third floor of the Scripture Pavilion aren’t much different from those on the second. The only unique feature is that the third floor contains some imprints left by Martial Arts Grandmasters. Some people are unable to grasp Martial Dao True Intent on their own, so by borrowing the imprints of predecessors, their likelihood of a breakthrough increases. Your current practice of Heavenly Martial Gang Qi is considered top-tier on the second floor and would be considered just as excellent on the third."

Shen Changqing nodded. According to Jiang Zuo’s explanation, there wasn’t much difference between the second and third floors. The third floor simply offered an additional opportunity to comprehend Martial Dao True Intent.

"Alright, if there’s nothing else, you should return. If you have any questions, as long as I’m not on a mission, you can come to me at any time. If I am on a mission, you can seek out the Deputy Steward of the Huang Department’s Demon Hunting Court."

Jiang Zuo had effectively given him a polite dismissal.

"Then I shall take my leave!" Shen Changqing stood up to depart.

A Demon Hunting Court doesn’t merely have one steward; a chief steward and several deputy stewards ensure management continuity, especially when a steward is out on a mission. Speaking of which, Jiang Zuo himself was formerly a deputy steward. It was only after Liu Chang’s death that he stood out among the several deputies and ultimately became the chief steward.

Leaving the steward’s courtyard, Shen Changqing headed straight for the Demon Slaying Hall.

「Demon Slaying Hall!」

Positioned between the Demon Hunting Court and the Scripture Pavilion, it was where official Demon Hunters accepted tasks and also where they exchanged Merit Values.

The Demon Slaying Hall sounded like a single hall by name, but it was actually a general term for several subdivided subsidiary halls. Above each subsidiary hall hung a plaque inscribed with large characters: Yellow Rank! Profound Rank! Earth Rank! Heaven Rank! Merit Points! Treasure Repository! These six plaques represented six different subsidiary halls.

Shen Changqing took a glance and directly entered the Hall of Merits.

Upon entering the Hall of Merits, his field of vision immediately widened. There were several counters, resembling those from his previous life for conducting business. He approached an unoccupied counter where a middle-aged man sat.

"Please present your Identity Token and the Pure Spirit Jade Pendant," the middle-aged man said smoothly upon seeing the new arrival.

Hearing this, Shen Changqing handed over both his Identity Token and the Pure Spirit Jade Pendant.

The middle-aged man took them, first checking the Identity Token. "Yellow Rank Demon Hunter Shen Changqing?"

"Correct!" Shen Changqing nodded slightly in affirmation.

With confirmation, the middle-aged man then turned his attention to the Pure Spirit Jade Pendant. Instantly, his pupils contracted. He saw that the originally white Jade Pendant had now been completely tainted black. Just how many Demon Evils had been slain!

After his initial shock, the middle-aged man couldn’t help but look at Shen Changqing again, as if trying to discern something about him. It was understandable; a Yellow Rank Demon Hunter slaying so many Demon Evils was truly shocking. But he quickly recovered.

"Are you sure you want to exchange all the Demon Evil aura on the Jade Pendant for Merit Values?" The middle-aged man had to confirm once more.

Gauging by the density of the Demon Evil aura on the Pure Spirit Jade Pendant, he could easily be promoted to Profound Rank Demon Hunter with a substantial surplus. After all, slaying just one Resentment Level Monster would suffice for promotion to Profound Rank Demon Hunter. Judging from the color of the Pure Spirit Jade Pendant, it clearly held the essence of far more than a single Resentment Level Monster.

Shen Changqing nodded. "Exchange it all!"

After his in-depth conversation with Jiang Zuo, he no longer felt the need to be prematurely promoted to Profound Rank Demon Hunter. Exchanging it all for Merit Points, on the other hand, would allow him to further enhance his strength. As for promotion, he could always undertake an assessment task later if he wished.

Hearing this, the middle-aged man said no more. He took out a white jade-like ruler from below the counter, inscribed with calibrations that Shen Changqing couldn’t understand. Immediately after, the middle-aged man placed the white jade ruler onto the Pure Spirit Jade Pendant. Instantly, black lines surged within the Pure Spirit Jade Pendant, and simultaneously, blackness began to creep up the ruler.

Very soon, the black lines halted at a certain calibration mark.

The middle-aged man looked carefully twice, then said, "There is a total of one foot five inches of Yin Evil Aura, amounting to fifteen Merit Values. Do you have any objections?"

"What does one foot five inches mean?" Shen Changqing asked. His understanding of Merit Values was not very extensive.

The middle-aged man explained, "For slaying each Ghostly Level Fiend, you can obtain one to two inches of Yin Evil Aura. As for Resentment Level Monsters, it’s three to five inches. Each inch of Yin Evil Aura corresponds to one Merit Value."

"I see. Then one foot five inches it is!" Shen Changqing understood.

He calculated that, not counting the Pure Spirit Jade Pendant he had previously submitted, three Resentment Level Monsters and Demonfolk had died at his hands. Although Resentment Level Monsters could provide up to five inches of Yin Evil Aura, only those in their later stages could truly yield that much. Ordinary Resentment Level Monsters typically only gave about three to four inches. Factoring in the other Ghostly Level Fiends, the attendant’s measurement of one foot five inches was not far off.

Subsequently, the middle-aged man took out a jade bottle inscribed with some peculiar patterns. He then activated his True Qi, which seemingly brought the patterns to life. In an instant, the Yin Evil Aura from the Pure Spirit Jade Pendant began to flow into the jade bottle. In just a few moments, the once black Pure Spirit Jade Pendant reverted to its white, jade-like color.

The middle-aged man carefully sealed the jade bottle, then took out one silver and five black items from below the counter, which looked no different from ordinary coins.

"These are Demon-Subduing Coins. Silver represents ten Merit Values, while black represents one Merit Value. Please keep them safe," he explained, as if noticing that it was Shen Changqing’s first visit.

The middle-aged man then handed the Identity Token, Pure Spirit Jade Pendant, and Demon-Subduing Coins over to Shen Changqing.

Upon receiving them, he felt a chilly sensation, similar to the Identity Token, yet somewhat different.

Noticing the odd look on Shen Changqing’s face, the middle-aged man smiled and said, "This must be your first encounter with Demon-Subduing Coins. The material used to make these coins is very special; they can even store True Qi inside. Some martial artists use Demon-Subduing Coins to store True Qi, which they can then use when necessary."

"They can store True Qi inside!" Shen Changqing looked surprised and scrutinized the Demon-Subduing Coins in his hands more intently.

It was indeed his first time seeing anything capable of storing True Qi.

The longer he stayed within the Demon-Subduing Division, the more he realized how wondrous this place was. Whether it was the Pure Spirit Jade Pendant used to collect Demon Evil aura, the white jade ruler and jade bottle he had just seen, or the Demon-Subduing Coins he now held, these were all beyond an ordinary person’s comprehension.

After leaving the Hall of Merits, Shen Changqing proceeded to the nearby Treasure Repository Hall. The Hall of Merits was for exchanging Merit Points; the Treasure Repository Hall was for exchanging treasures.

The layout inside the Treasure Repository Hall differed from that of the Hall of Merits. Upon entering, he almost thought he had arrived at a marketplace, with a noisy clamor resounding around him. Looking around, many people were gathered in front of each counter. Some were dressed in the uniform of the Demon-Subduing Division, while others wore plain clothes.

But upon closer inspection, he could discern that all the counters were divided into four areas. After asking around for a bit, Shen Changqing headed towards the Yellow Rank area and finally stopped in front of a less crowded counter.

He presented his Identity Token.

The middle-aged man at the counter handed him a small booklet. It listed all the items available for exchange, along with the required Merit Points for each.

Upon opening the first page, Shen Changqing saw the entry for the Pulse Condensation Pill.

Pulse Condensation Pill (one pill): One Merit Point

Pulse Condensation Pill (one bottle): Six Merit Points fre ewe bnove l.com

The familiar pricing made the corners of his mouth twitch slightly, but he also realized that the bottle of Pulse Condensation Pills he had originally obtained was indeed an additional bonus from the Demon-Subduing Division.

He flipped through the pages. Finally, his gaze came to rest on a particular entry.

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