Chapter 22: The Sixth Merit

“Shameless, utterly shameless!” Even Sanqing, a master whose cultivation focuses on tempering the mind, found it disgraceful—let alone the rough warriors of the Wu tribe. Upon hearing the words of Emperor Jun and Eastern Emperor Taiyi, the Twelve Ancestor Witches erupted in fury. Some, overwhelmed with emotion, even drew their bone weapons, intent on storming the Heavenly Court.

Yet, Emperor Cang stepped forward, halting everyone.

Emperor Cang spoke gravely, “When the Wu tribe establishes a faith, it is inevitable that successors or imitators will arise. This cannot be avoided. But the Great Dao is impartial. The original founder should be entitled to extraordinary fortune.”

As Emperor Cang finished, all present looked upward and saw, in that instant, an endless, radiant cloud of seven-colored merit forming high above the Nine Heavens.

“A seven-colored merit cloud?” Even Emperor Cang could not suppress his astonishment. He knew that the seven-colored merit cloud was the mark of sainthood in the Prehistoric World; only at the creation of humanity by Nuwa, the establishment of reincarnation by Houtu, the founding of the Three Teachings by Sanqing, and the rise of the Western Faith had the seven-colored merit cloud appeared. It was otherwise unseen. If one at the pinnacle of quasi-sainthood merged with such a cloud, they would instantly unite with the Dao, resonating with a facet of the world’s heavenly law, thus becoming a saint of the Prehistoric World.

Unexpectedly, the Ancestral Faith, not founded by Sanqing nor by the Confucian or Buddhist schools, could also receive such great merit. In truth, Emperor Cang had been misled by Hongjun and the Six Saints. In the Prehistoric World, not only the teachings established by Sanqing or the Western Faith could gather saintly merit. The Great Dao is impartial. The merit a faith receives depends first on its doctrine: the more it benefits the beings of the world, the greater its merit. Next is its potential—if a faith gains universal trust, its future is limitless.

The Ancestral Faith’s doctrine is beneficial, embracing the entirety of the Prehistoric World and promoting stability.

Secondly, it is recognized by countless beings, possessing immense potential. Though the Wu tribe’s congenital flaws may hinder lasting prosperity, their doctrine and potential nonetheless meet the standard for saintly merit.

The seven-colored merit cloud, just formed, suddenly split into a dozen portions. Each of the thirteen—the Twelve Ancestor Witches and Emperor Cang—received a three-colored merit cloud. The one hundred and eight Great Witches each gained a beam of golden merit light.

At the same time, above the Solar Palace of the Ninefold Heavens, a three-colored merit cloud also slowly formed. Though a three-colored merit cloud, it faintly showed a weaker fourth color, hovering between the three-colored and seven-colored merit clouds.

Emperor Jun and Eastern Emperor Taiyi, filled with delight, sought items to collect the cloud. Yet before they could act, the merit cloud divided: two portions transformed into three-colored merit clouds, falling to Emperor Jun and Eastern Emperor Taiyi; one three-colored merit cloud descended to Emperor Cang of the Wu tribe; the remaining twelve beams of golden merit light shot into the bodies of the Twelve Ancestor Witches.

“What is happening?” Eastern Emperor Taiyi was bewildered.

“The Great Dao is impartial,” Emperor Jun said, though somewhat unwilling, “We were a step late. The Dao deems that the Heavenly Court’s doctrine is influenced by the Wu tribe, so the Wu tribe deserves a share of the merit.”

“So that’s how it is…” Eastern Emperor Taiyi sighed, resigned. He and his brother understood well: the Heavenly Court’s current doctrines were indeed shaped by the Wu tribe, leaving nothing to contest.

Still, two three-colored merit clouds were enough to forge two exceptional merit treasures and enhance their cultivation. Thus, it was not without reward.

The Wu tribe members, upon receiving multiple shares of merit power, were overjoyed.

“The Great Dao is impartial!” Emperor Jiang exclaimed in delight, “It truly is impartial! Even Emperor Jun and Eastern Emperor Taiyi, in founding the Heavenly Court, have a portion of merit belonging to us. Does this mean that anyone who establishes a similar faith will always grant us a share?”

“However,” Emperor Jiang said with regret, “If we possessed primordial spirits and innate gods who cultivated them, this merit power would allow us all to advance by leaps and bounds. But we are the Wu tribe. Absorbing merit power is useless, merely wasting celestial treasures.”

“Fortunately, with our acquisition of the Immortal Thunder Apricot and Pure Yang Vermilion Fruit, it is better to use them to cultivate innate spiritual roots. Perhaps we can elevate both to supreme innate roots.”

“Your words are wise!” the Ancestor Witches agreed, “These treasures are of no benefit to us—it is better to merge them with the innate spiritual roots.”

The Twelve Ancestor Witches eagerly prepared to retrieve the Immortal Thunder Apricot and Pure Yang Vermilion Fruit, intending to enact their cultivation method.

Yet, to their surprise, Emperor Cang, who had previous experience with the Four Symbols Banana Tree and the Thunder Divine Wood, intervened and stopped them.

“Fellow Ancestor Witches need not rush,” Emperor Cang said respectfully. “To be frank, among the Eight Methods that steady the Prehistoric World I speak of, the sixth is merit.”

“What is meant by merit?” the Twelve Ancestor Witches asked.

Emperor Cang replied with deference, “Do you recall why, upon the birth of the Wu tribe, we differed from the other races? At our creation, we could only cultivate turbid energy and could not develop primordial spirit power.”

Emperor Jiang said, “That is known to all. Father Pangu, in creating the world, gained great merit and great karmic burden. Merit went to the primordial spirit, giving rise to Sanqing; burden fell to the Wu tribe, hence the Twelve Ancestor Witches.”

“We were born inheriting Father Pangu’s great karmic burden for opening the heavens and slaying three thousand chaotic demons. With karma entwined, we could not cultivate primordial spirit power.”

Emperor Cang smiled, “Since you understand, you should know that karmic power and merit power are opposed. In the Prehistoric World, even a mighty being who, by chance, acquires great karma, can, by wholeheartedly pursuing good, use merit to cleanse karma.”

“If others can, so can the Wu tribe! You say the Wu tribe cannot absorb merit; I disagree. It is simply that our karmic burden is so vast that the merit gained cannot offset it for each Wu tribe member.”