Immortality by Merit and Sin Coins

Chapter 82: Chapter 74: Placate Him?

[Committing murder and arson earns you a golden belt; building bridges and mending roads leaves you a nameless corpse. For killing one mortal, you are awarded one string of Sin Coins.]

[Life and death are ruled by fate, but to snatch a life from Yama’s grasp and save one mortal soul is to be granted one string of Merit Coins.]

First, the notification for the Sin Coins from the Sea-Covering Dragon appeared, followed closely by the one for Gu Nanzhi.

To be honest, the life of a Foundation Establishment Cultivator was certainly valuable.

But Lin Shu’s expression remained unchanged, his heart unusually calm. He was silently waiting for something.

He gazed into the void.

Soon, jade coins began to materialize one after another. Though they appeared sporadically at first, the stream was endless, and they quickly piled up like a small mountain.

Countless notifications finally converged into a single line.

[Life and death are ruled by fate, but to snatch lives from Yama’s grasp and save over ten thousand wretched souls is to be granted ten thousand Merit Coins.]

"Ten thousand coins" was just a figurative number; the situation in Black Water City was clearly not as optimistic as Gu Nanzhi had thought.

Each coin represented a living soul.

These people were the most insignificant dregs of Black Water City. Trapped for years in the chaotic city, they were powerless against Cultivators, and even against the ordinary gentry and wealthy merchants.

Just as the County Captain had said, even if most people could endure, there would always be some who couldn’t.

Now that the city was open, all they needed was a small boat to leave this place and travel to somewhere relatively normal.

The smooth, white jade coins gradually strung themselves together—eighteen thousand of them—finally forming eighteen full strings of Merit Coins that floated in the air around him.

Including the string for County Captain Gu, that made nineteen in total.

Lin Shu let out a soft sigh.

A look of lazy satisfaction appeared on his face as he stretched his arms wide.

’What a haul!’

The Filthy Moon Wolf Lord’s magical power gradually receded, and the wildly dancing black flames dissipated into thin air.

Lin Shu bent down and swiftly snatched the white jade-colored cloth pouch from Cheng Yi’s waist.

’Almost forgot my Storage Bag.’

He tried to force the bag open, tugging at it a few times, but then a faint voice came from behind him.

"Infuse it with your Spiritual Power..."

"That’s what I was thinking."

Lin Shu stopped his attempt to brute-force it open, his expression unchanging.

He channeled a wisp of Spiritual Power into the bag.

After a careful inspection, Lin Shu found that there wasn’t much inside.

There was a pile of strange-looking weeds, a mere seven or eight tattered pieces of paper, and a few bottles of elixirs.

The former were likely the medicinal herbs for refining Awakening Pills.

Those tattered papers, however, were rather interesting. They could glow and manifest forms, and they had even blocked his Howling Moon Soul-Eroding Curse.

"You barely did anything but watch from the sidelines. Here."

Lin Shu turned, pulled out one of the tattered papers covered in what looked like ghost talismans, and handed it to her.

’Distributing the spoils based on contribution. Perfectly reasonable.’

"..."

Gu Nanzhi stared at the Immortal Talisman. Even though it was an incredibly valuable item to her, she didn’t reach out to take it.

She looked back at the young man before her, the dazed expression on her face deepening.

’No Immortal Descendant made a move.’

’He really passed the trial of Black Water City all by himself.’

’Even a veteran Cultivator like the Overseas Dragon would have nearly lost his life to that soul curse without an Immortal Talisman for protection.’

’What was even more terrifying... this young man had sat by the riverbank for half the night and actually managed to snatch the Magical Artifact of an Immortal Descendant!’

Every single thing defied Gu Nanzhi’s understanding.

Her mind was a complete blank.

’Is this the courage and strength of a Mountain Master Disciple?!’

’The Chang Family had been worried he would lead Yi’er astray, and I even presumed to guide him with the attitude of a senior.’

’Little did we know that in his eyes, all of Black Water City was nothing more than a shallow ditch.’

She was truly curious. In less than two days, he had consecutively slain three Chenlongs of the Black Water Gang.

When he returned to the city, she wondered what expressions would be on the faces of that pack of tigers and fierce wolves who were so certain he had fallen into a fatal trap.

"Hey?"

Lin Shu waved the Immortal Talisman in his hand, a little confused.

"I don’t want this... May I ask a favor of you?" Gu Nanzhi forced herself to snap out of her daze, suddenly adopting an extremely humble posture.

"Hm?"

A hint of vigilance appeared in Lin Shu’s eyes.

’I’ve thought this woman was strange for a while. So enthusiastic... of course she’s after something.’

Considering she had indeed risked her life and helped him quite a bit, he pondered for a moment before saying, "Let’s hear it first."

"Now that the Magical Artifact has been taken and the city is open, my brother-in-law will immediately report to the Court and contact the State Mansion..."

Gu Nanzhi’s face was filled with gratitude.

Clearly, she hadn’t become a County Captain just because of her relatives; she truly didn’t want to see Black Water City descend into chaotic slaughter.

Otherwise, why would she have worked so hard without receiving a single grain of Imperial Grain as salary?

The city was now open, but the matter was far from over.

When the County Magistrate reported to the Court, he would be going through official channels.

After all, while that Immortal Descendant had the connections to claim the city from some high official, the deal itself likely couldn’t stand the light of day. It was probably a clandestine arrangement.

As long as the memorial could be submitted, the other party would be at least somewhat wary.

But that wasn’t a sure thing.

In the end, Great Liang was still the Great Liang of the Immortal Families.

Gu Nanzhi bowed deeply. "I must be bold and ask: could I trouble your Master to speak a word for Black Water City in the Court, and ask that Immortal Family to quell their anger..."

If another Immortal Family could step in to resolve the grievance, this would no longer be a case of mortals angering an Immortal Sect, which would make it much easier to handle.

Sometimes, for an Upper Immortal, it’s merely a matter of face. They just need a graceful way to back down.

But for mortals, it means a river of blood.

"..."

Lin Shu’s expression grew complicated.

In this world, Cultivators had to comprehend Formulas from the Immortal Aura to practice their Cultivation.

The "Master" she spoke of most likely referred to an Immortal Descendant.

So, this woman had indeed discovered Yu Sheng’s existence. She just hadn’t said anything, and had mistaken the little one for his Master.

That would explain the County Captain’s strange behavior earlier.

But that wasn’t what truly made Lin Shu fall silent.

What he couldn’t understand was this: he had assumed some Immortal Descendant had grown brazenly malicious, intending to use the city’s entire population for personal gain.

Shouldn’t that kind of thing be kept secret from others?

Why was it that now that the city was open, the ones panicking weren’t the Immortal Family, but the Government Office?

’And they even have to... ask the other party to quell their anger?!’

Seeing the young man’s silence, Gu Nanzhi’s expression immediately became anxious.

It was already a great fortune for Black Water City that he had managed to break the blockade. How could she dare to hope for more?

Just then, Lin Shu finally moved.

He still tossed the Immortal Talisman to Gu Nanzhi. Business was business.

"When you see her, you can ask her yourself."

Although that little thing was always puffing out her chest and boasting about how respected the Yu Family was, and Yan Jin had indirectly confirmed it...

...Lin Shu didn’t know much about these matters, so he couldn’t make any promises.

The most he could do was arrange a meeting for the two of them.

"Thank you, Daoist Brother!"

That simple promise alone made Gu Nanzhi so excited she was at a loss for words.

Given Lin Shu’s astonishing performance over the past two days, her reverence for the Immortal Family behind him had reached its peak.

If not for an expert with great Divine Techniques, how could such an outstanding disciple be cultivated?

And now, she actually had the chance to meet this Immortal Descendant in person...

Gu Nanzhi’s breath suddenly hitched. She turned back and asked nervously, "Are we going right now?"

"Wait a little longer. I need to recuperate for a bit."

Lin Shu stepped into the dense forest.

He had finally obtained the long-awaited Merit Coins, and of course, he had to absorb them as quickly as possible.

Although it hadn’t been long since he’d transmigrated...

...everything he had seen and heard inexplicably made him wary of this world. He just didn’t feel safe.

’It’s too bizarre!’

Besides, killing a disciple who had come bearing an Immortal Order would inevitably lead to a lot of trouble.

Even if they didn’t seek revenge for the disciple, the Immortal Descendant would most likely come looking for the treasure.

Whether it was to escape in the future or to join a more powerful Immortal Sect, he needed greater strength to protect himself!

Lin Shu calmed his thoughts, sat down cross-legged, and looked at the Ink Flood Dragon Sword Bracelet on his wrist.

The power of this Magical Artifact was truly satisfying.

It was a pity it couldn’t see the light of day.

If the status of Immortal Families here was as lofty as he imagined, even surpassing the Court, then this thing was undeniably stolen goods.

The kind that might get a wanted poster issued for it.

Still, it was a powerful tool for self-defense. If he truly faced a life-or-death crisis, he would have to use it.

Lin Shu shook his head and summoned the Merit and Sin Coins.

The moment he was about to mobilize the coins, the bracelet on his wrist unexpectedly began to tremble slightly.

"You can eat them too?"

Lin Shu’s expression was odd. He was all too familiar with this kind of reaction from the bracelet; it was as if it had jumped out of the same nest as the Filthy Moon Wolf Lord.

So his ability actually had nothing to do with the little wolf. It was purely about the Merit and Sin Coins, and it was just a coincidence that he saw the illusion of a White Wolf when he first opened his eyes.

That’s why he had mistakenly thought the two were connected.

After a few moments of thought, Lin Shu tried moving a string of Sin Coins toward the bracelet.

He instantly felt an intense hunger from the inanimate object, as if an entire string of Sin Coins would barely be enough to pick its teeth.

"That’s not happening."

Lin Shu decisively withdrew the string of Sin Coins.

He had a rough idea that this thing wanted to ascend to the ranks of a Magical Treasure.

But given the terrifying appetite he had just sensed, his three strings of Sin Coins wouldn’t even make a splash if he threw them in.

He had plenty of Merit Coins, so he could give it a try with those.

But that would come at the expense of his own Cultivation.

How could an external object be more important than his Realm? Especially when it was something that couldn’t see the light of day.

Taking a huge step back, with his current foundation, he couldn’t even utilize half the power of a Top Grade Magical Artifact.

It would be a joke if it became a Magical Treasure and he couldn’t even control it.

"You can stay hungry for now."

Lin Shu decisively took off the bracelet and put it into his Storage Bag.

He once again mobilized his Merit Coins, summoned the Cyan Feather, and poured all the white jade coins into it.

[Qi Cultivation Third Grade. Spirit Sparrow Foundation Establishment Method: Minor Success]

Driven by a full nineteen thousand coins, the Spiritual Sparrow Entering the Clouds Painting instantly expanded several dozen times.

Lin Shu felt as if he were in a realm of clouds, all agitation gone, leaving only a feeling of complete comfort.

If the agitation from the Sin Coins came from the grievances of Wandering Souls...

...then the lives he had personally snatched back from the hands of Yama were filled with blessings and reverence.

[Qi Cultivation Second Grade. Spirit Sparrow Foundation Establishment Method: Perfection]

[Qi Cultivation First Grade. Spirit Sparrow Foundation Establishment Method: Perfection]

Three hundred strands of pure, azure-green Spiritual Qi intertwined, swiftly forging the most perfect Dao Foundation at the very end of the Qi Cultivation path!

The Formulas, personally rewritten by the Merit Coins, were like a solid and stable Great Dao.

It was as if they were obsessive-compulsive, not seeking rapid progress but demanding a flawless path.

Foundation Establishment was complete!

And by this point, he had only spent three and a half strings of Merit Coins.

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