Chapter 712: Merit Points

Compared to the lower realm, the divine realm's space is more stable and contains a more complete and comprehensive Heavenly Dao.

Martial artists find it relatively easier to comprehend the Heavenly Dao and artistic conceptions here than in the lower realm.

Coupled with the extremely high concentration of primordial energy, the overall strength of martial artists here far surpasses that of the lower realm by more than one level.

Especially for newly ascended martial artists, those of the same realm in the divine realm can basically crush them.

However, this gap will gradually diminish over time.

In fact, ascenders from the lower realm often have greater potential than native martial artists of the divine realm.

Being able to achieve ascension under the conditions of the lower realm means their innate talent is absolutely extraordinary.

Once they adapt to the divine realm, both their cultivation level and artistic conception will experience an explosive surge.

However, such cases are extremely rare because after arriving in the divine realm, they simply lack the conditions to cultivate.

For the vast majority of ascenders, the practical issue they must consider is survival!

“Brother Ye, you have extraordinary talent. But... since you are an ascender, I, Brother Yu, must make things clear to you,” Yu Ming said.

Ye Yuan nodded. “Brother Yu, please go ahead.”

Ye Yuan naturally knew that whichever force the lower realm belonged to, he would have to serve that force after ascension.

“The two of us serve Gufeng City, which belongs to the Chixia Holy Land. According to the rules of the Chixia Holy Land, ascenders from the lower realm must serve the holy land for fifty years or accumulate enough merit points to gain freedom. Since Brother Ye ascended in our Gufeng City, you naturally have to serve here. Of course, if Brother Ye performs outstandingly in Gufeng City and catches the eye of the holy land, that would be a different opportunity. By then, even I, your elder brother, would have to rely on you!”

As Yu Ming spoke, he occasionally observed Ye Yuan's expression.

In his opinion, given Ye Yuan's pride, hearing this news would surely make him furious.

But unexpectedly, Ye Yuan only showed a thoughtful expression, as if he was not surprised by the situation.

After listening, Ye Yuan cupped his hands to Yu Ming. “I am new here; I will need Brother Yu's help in the future.”

Yu Ming quickly waved his hand. “I dare not claim that. I have spent some years in Gufeng City. Though not particularly powerful, I have quite a network here. If Brother Ye needs anything, just say the word.”

Ye Yuan smiled. “Then I'll trouble Brother Yu.”

…

Yu Ming led Ye Yuan and the other three to a magnificent hall in the city, where an old man who looked like a steward received them.

“Steward Lu, these are newly ascended. Please issue them identity tokens,” Yu Ming said.

Steward Lu glanced at Ye Yuan and the others, a hint of disdain in his eyes, then looked at Yu Ming. “Hey, four ascenders at once. You must have gotten quite a haul this time, eh?”

Yu Ming showed no embarrassment. He pulled Steward Lu aside and secretly slipped him something.

“How could I forget Steward Lu when I have good stuff? Hehe, please accept this,” Yu Ming said with a smile.

Steward Lu, sharp-eyed, immediately recognized the value of the item. Satisfied, he patted Yu Ming on the shoulder. “You're a sensible one! I won't forget you when good assignments come up.”

Yu Ming smiled. “Then I thank Steward Lu in advance.”

The two exchanged a knowing smile, understanding each other perfectly.

Yu Ming was never stingy when it came to giving gifts from others.

Steward Lu had close ties with the city lord's mansion and wielded considerable power, so Yu Ming naturally wanted to maintain a good relationship with him.

Every time he brought ascenders to receive their identity tokens, he would give Steward Lu some small gifts. Otherwise, the duty of guarding the ascension pool wouldn't have fallen to them.

Despite Cheng Jiang's earlier complaints, guarding the ascension pool was actually a cushy job, albeit a bit boring.

Not only could they extort ascenders, but there was also no danger, and they had plenty of time to cultivate.

Such a position wasn't something everyone could get.

Steward Lu returned and directly tossed four identity tokens to Ye Yuan and the others, saying impatiently, “Take the tokens and bind them with blood. Keep them safe; if you lose them, you lose your lives. With the tokens, you can report to the north of the city, where someone will arrange for you to mine.”

With that, Steward Lu fell silent, as if speaking another word was too much trouble.

Old Huang, upon hearing this, immediately protested, raising his voice. “Mining? Are you kidding me?”

Steward Lu, like Yu Ming, was long accustomed to such reactions from ascenders. He said flatly, “I'm telling you this for your own good. You don't have to go. But don't say I didn't warn you: if your identity token shows a merit point balance of zero for ten consecutive days, someone will come to kill you! Gufeng City doesn't support idlers.”

Old Huang's face changed color; he clearly hadn't expected such a thing.

In the lower realm, he had been a top-tier martial artist, revered by thousands.

But in the divine realm, he was reduced to mining!

Old Huang thought it over and couldn't accept it.

Yet he knew he couldn't even defeat two soldiers, let alone others.

If he didn't mine, the only option was death.

Seeing Old Huang's expression, Steward Lu sneered. “Now you understand the stakes. Don't think about running; you'll wish you were dead. If you don't believe me, feel free to try.”

“May I ask, Steward Lu, how many merit points can we earn by mining for a day? And how many merit points do we need to gain freedom?” the silent youth suddenly asked.

Along the way, Old Huang and the youth had exchanged a few words with Ye Yuan, and they had become familiar.

The youth's name was Su Cheng, no more than fifty years old. Old Huang's full name was Huang Tao, already over two hundred.

To reach the Boundless Realm in the lower realm in just fifty years, Su Cheng was undoubtedly a prodigy.

Yet even such a genius couldn't escape the fate of mining.

Steward Lu looked at Su Cheng with amusement and smiled. “Depending on your mining efficiency, you can earn one to five merit points per day. To gain freedom, you need... one hundred thousand merit points!”

Su Cheng and Huang Tao gasped in shock.

Mining for a day, at most, they could earn five merit points!

Even at five merit points a day, saving up one hundred thousand merit points would take far more than fifty years!

Did that mean they would have to mine for fifty years?

Su Cheng felt an urge to strike down Steward Lu. In the lower realm, it had taken him just over fifty years to cultivate to ascension.

Now, upon arriving in the divine realm, he was immediately sentenced to fifty years of mining. What had he done to deserve this?

But he couldn't see through Steward Lu's cultivation at all; at the very least, the man was far stronger than him.

Attacking would be suicide.