Chapter 720
5 Merits in Exchange for a Favor
This was not a reward, nor a tribute; it was a transaction, a profound "support" from this trusted minister to the Heavenly Court and to him, the Heavenly Emperor.
He must acknowledge and give equal respect.
Lin Zhu stood upright below the steps. Upon hearing this, there was no hesitation on his face, nor any feigned pain. Instead, he responded with a matter-of-fact indifference and decisiveness.
"Your Majesty, it is absolutely true. This gourd contains exactly 500,000 units of merit-based divine water, without the slightest error. I have already taken it out, which is my sincerity. If Your Majesty needs it, please take it. There is no need to talk about selling it. Consider it my humble contribution to the Heavenly Court."
Despite being mentally prepared, hearing Lin Zhu's unwavering confirmation still caused another collective gasp in the hall!
Five hundred thousand! A full five hundred thousand units of merit-based divine water! Not five thousand, not fifty thousand, but five hundred thousand!
Many celestial officials felt their heads buzzing, and it seemed as if countless golden lights of merit were dancing before their eyes.
What does 500,000 units of merit-based divine water mean? It means that if used properly, it is enough to create several newly promoted Grand Luo Golden Immortals in a short period of time!
Or it could allow several veteran immortals who have been stuck at the peak of the Golden Immortal realm for countless years to break through that insurmountable barrier in one fell swoop! Even for an existence like the Jade Emperor, this is a huge strategic resource that could influence the power structure of the Heavenly Court for tens of thousands of years to come!
"Five...five hundred thousand...my Dao Ancestor!"
An elderly celestial official with white hair, who was in charge of part of the Heavenly Treasury, pointed at the large gourd with trembling fingers, his lips shaking, and he almost fainted on the spot.
He devoted his entire life to managing the treasury, and the merit-making water he had seen combined probably didn't even amount to a fraction of what was in this gourd!
"Lord Lin... no, Lord Lin! This... this is too much..."
Even a military general known for his forthrightness was speechless at this moment. After struggling for a long time, he finally managed to utter a sentence with his face flushed red.
"This is fucking... incredibly extravagant! Inhumanly extravagant! Extravagant beyond belief!"
"No wonder the Nine-Story Heavenly Prison is now at its zenith, brimming with talent! With Lord Lin's... such good fortune and magnanimity, what great things cannot be accomplished?"
Another official, a celestial minister, was filled with emotion, his eyes brimming with undisguised envy and admiration, and even a hint of fervent longing.
"I don't know... I don't know when the Nine-Layered Heavenly Prison will recruit new members next time? What are the requirements? I... I have a good-for-nothing grand-nephew who has decent cultivation, a pure heart, and has always admired the righteous path of the Heavenly Prison..."
His words seemed to open a floodgate, and several more celestial officials couldn't help but speak up, their words filled with longing to join the Nine Heavens Prison.
"Yes, yes! Lord Lin, does the Heavenly Prison need any celestial officials who can handle documents and are familiar with the laws? This humble immortal is willing to go!"
"Lin Yushen! This humble god excels at tracking and capturing, and has some knowledge of the habits and tracks of various demons and monsters in the Three Realms. I wonder if you would be willing to..."
"My lord! Look at me! My cultivation is solid, and I know a simplified version of the Seventy-Two Transformations!"
For a moment, the solemn Lingxiao Palace resembled a recruitment presentation for the Nine-Layered Heavenly Prison. The immortals' gazes towards Lin Zhu were no longer just filled with awe, but also with a burning desire and longing for "following this boss will bring them wealth."
The fact that someone would give away 500,000 units of merit-based divine water so readily demonstrates such confidence and magnanimity. Which other powerful figure in the Three Realms could match that?
The Jade Emperor witnessed all of this, and his heart was filled with complex emotions.
He was both pleased with Lin Zhu's prestige and appeal, and subtly felt a sense of pressure—this minister had already established himself as a force to be reckoned with. But he quickly composed himself; now was not the time to dwell on such thoughts.
His expression turned solemn, regaining the majesty and gravity of the Heavenly Emperor. His voice was deep and powerful, resounding throughout the hall.
"Minister Lin, you are a man of great wisdom and understanding, who puts the overall situation first and the Heavenly Court first. I am very pleased and deeply grateful to you."
He paused, his gaze sweeping over the enormous gourd, a resolute glint in his eyes.
"This 500,000 units of merit-based divine water is of paramount importance to the stability of the Heavenly Court and the Three Realms. I cannot accept such a precious treasure from you for nothing. Although the Heavenly Court does not have an equivalent amount of merit-based divine water in reserve, I have accumulated some merit and power over the years by ruling the Three Realms."
The Jade Emperor's voice became exceptionally solemn, even carrying a hint of unquestionable sacrifice.
"I am willing to sacrifice myself...700,000 units of merit and virtue to exchange for this 500,000 units of merit-based divine water. What do you think, my dear minister?"
Seven hundred thousand vows of merit can be exchanged for five hundred thousand merits of divine water!
Upon hearing this, the immortals were once again startled. The power of vows and the divine water of merit are essentially of the same origin, both being a combination of faith and divine merit, but their forms differ slightly. The divine water of merit is more of a "liquid" resource that can be directly absorbed and utilized, while the power of vows is more of a more essential form, a "luck" or "origin" more deeply bound to the cultivator.
The Jade Emperor exchanged 700,000 merits of his own vows for this, which seemed to be 200,000 more in terms of quantity. However, the word "extracted" sent a chill down the spines of everyone who knew the truth!
"Your Majesty! You mustn't!"
An extremely senior immortal who had served several Heavenly Emperors immediately stepped forward and offered his advice in a trembling voice.
"Your Majesty's vows and merits are the foundation of Your Majesty's rule over the Three Realms, and are connected to the origin of your divine soul! Forcibly separating them will at least severely damage your vital energy and injure your divine soul, and at worst, it may shake your imperial status and harm your imperial body! Your Majesty's precious body is related to the stability of the Three Realms, how can you take such a risk!"
"Yes, Your Majesty! The Divine Water of Merit is precious, but Your Majesty's health is of utmost importance!"
"Your Majesty, please reconsider!"
Several other loyal and upright senior officials also offered their advice, their faces showing worry.
Stripping away one's own merits, especially those reaching the level of "merit through vows," is by no means easy. The pain and risks involved are comparable to a mortal having their heart and bones ripped out! The slightest carelessness can lead to a decline in one's cultivation level, damage to one's origin, and even leave behind Dao wounds that are difficult to heal!
Ordinary quasi-saints would never take such a risk unless absolutely necessary. Legend has it that when the Buddha Tathagata was forced to strip away a massive amount of his own merit to fill the hole of the five million merit water, his cultivation almost collapsed and his golden body became unstable. The pain he suffered is unimaginable!
However, the Jade Emperor merely glanced at the assembled immortals offering their advice, his gaze calm yet carrying an undeniable resolve.
"My mind is made up, my beloved ministers need not say more."
Having said that, he no longer hesitated, and directly raised his right hand, palm up, pointing it at his brow.
The imperial purple aura and golden light of merit that were originally vast and majestic around him and were faintly connected with the fortune of the entire Heavenly Court began to fluctuate and surge violently!
Strands of light, condensed to their utmost perfection and displaying a noble purple-gold radiance, were slowly drawn out from his brow and acupoints throughout his body, as if forcibly pulled away by an invisible force, carrying a heart-palpitating sense of "tearing."
The Jade Emperor's face turned pale at a visible speed, and fine beads of sweat even appeared on his forehead, but he gritted his teeth, his expression resolute, and forcibly suppressed the enormous pain and primal shock brought about by the stripping of merit.
The entire process lasted for about ten breaths. Finally, a fist-sized ball of purple-gold light, seemingly containing the prayers of billions of living beings and the approval of the Heavenly Dao, and radiating a heavy and sacred aura, condensed in his palm—that was the condensation of seven hundred thousand wishes and merits!
The Jade Emperor's aura had clearly weakened, but he still steadily held the ball of light and slowly pushed it toward Lin Zhu below the steps.
"Minister Lin... please."
Lin Zhu looked at the ball of light containing the Jade Emperor's sacrifice and sincerity, his expression remained calm, but a hint of solemnity flashed in his eyes.
Without saying another word, he reached out and took the ball of light. The ball of light had no physical feel, yet it seemed to weigh billions of tons. Moreover, a pure and vast power of merit, carrying the majesty of the Heavenly Emperor and the wishes of all living beings, instantly surged into Lin Zhu's body, rapidly merging and settling with his own merit.
Almost simultaneously, the system notification sounded clearly in his mind.
[Ding! Detected that the host has successfully offered 500,000 units of merit-based divine water to the Jade Emperor, in exchange for 700,000 units of merit-based vows.]
【The 'Fair Trade in Heaven' quest is complete!】
[Task reward distributed. 100,000 Merit Waters have been deposited into the system space. Heavenly Court reputation greatly increased.]
[Note: Actual income and expenditure of meritorious deeds.]
The transaction resulted in a net profit of 500,000 units of merit-based holy water spent, 700,000 units of vow-based merit received, and an additional 100,000 units of merit-based holy water as a reward.
This is equivalent to the effect of 800,000 units of merit-based divine water.
"Eight hundred thousand..."
Lin Zhu quickly calculated in her mind, a barely perceptible smile curving her lips.
This deal was worthwhile! Not only did I complete the system task and receive an extra 100,000 rewards and reputation, but the total amount of merit I actually gained far exceeded what I put in.
Most importantly, this 500,000 units of merit-making divine water were originally "found" in the Western Paradise. In essence, it was using money from the Western Paradise to make a very profitable deal with the Jade Emperor, while also gaining a huge favor from him and consolidating its own position. No matter how you look at it, it's a huge win.
He composed himself and bowed to the pale-faced and weak-breathing Jade Emperor.
"Thank you, Your Majesty. The deal is done. I am unworthy to accept your thanks."
When the Jade Emperor saw that Lin Zhu had accepted the gift, it was as if he had completed an extremely important and difficult task. His tense mind relaxed, and the intense weakness and pain after stripping away the merit surged up like a tide, causing his body to sway slightly.
He raised his hand with difficulty and waved, his voice clearly tired and hoarse.
"My lords... today's court assembly is adjourned. All... withdraw."
"Your Majesty, please take care of your health!"
Upon seeing this, the immortals were even more worried, but they knew that the Jade Emperor needed to rest at the moment, so they dared not say anything more. They all bowed and left the Lingxiao Palace one by one with extremely complicated feelings.
As they left, many people couldn't help but turn back to look at the huge gourd still standing in the hall, and at Lin Zhu, whose expression was calm, as if he had just done an ordinary little business. They were filled with emotion.
Before long, only the Jade Emperor, seated on his dragon throne, and Lin Zhu, who had not yet left, remained in the magnificent and spacious Lingxiao Palace... Oh, and the large gourd containing 500,000 merits of divine water.
As the last celestial official's figure disappeared outside the palace gates, the gates slowly closed, isolating the inside from the outside. The Jade Emperor's carefully maintained imperial majesty receded like the tide.
He could no longer hold on, his body went limp, and he slid off the high dragon throne, collapsing onto the cold jade floor without any regard for his image. Leaning against the base of the throne, he gasped for breath, his face as pale as paper, his forehead covered in fine beads of cold sweat.
"Hoo... Hah..."
The Jade Emperor gasped for breath, feeling waves of emptiness and stinging pain emanating from the depths of his soul—the aftereffects of forcibly stripping away a large amount of vows and merits.
He smiled bitterly and muttered to himself, his voice echoing in the empty hall, carrying a weariness and self-mockery that came from shedding all pretense.
"Stripping away merit...it's fucking...it hurts...it hurts even more than taking the Heaven-Piercing Sword head-on back then..."
He wiped away non-existent sweat from his forehead, and then, as if finding some kind of comfort, he twitched the corners of his mouth.
"However... compared to that bald monk Tathagata, who had to patch up a hole of five million and almost destroyed his golden body... my seven hundred thousand doesn't seem... doesn't seem too bad? At least I got five hundred thousand in real merit water in return, so it's not a loss... not a loss..."
He seemed to be comforting himself. Stripping away merit was indeed outrageous and extremely risky. Unless one was forced to a certain point, or had a compelling reason like him, who would be willing to do it? Buddha had no choice; his wealth had been emptied, and if he didn't pay his employees, they would all leave. He had to cut his own flesh to patch the wound.
The Jade Emperor chose this method to repay Lin Zhu at this moment, partly because he was unwilling and could not let Lin Zhu suffer a loss and chill the heart of his most important minister; on the other hand, it was also because the Heavenly Court had nothing else of equal value that Lin Zhu might appreciate, except for merit.
The Heavenly Court's treasure trove? Lin Zhu had just emptied a mountain of treasures from the Western Paradise. He already possessed items of the caliber of the Measuring Ruler and the Azure Lotus Banner. Why would he care about ordinary treasures? Even if there were better ones, the Jade Emperor wouldn't be willing to give them to him, and even if he did, they might not be worth as much as 500,000 merit points of divine water.
Therefore, exchanging one's own merits is the most direct and sincere way to do so.
Even if he exchanged 700,000 for 500,000, the Jade Emperor would still see it as a huge profit. This was because the 500,000 units of merit-based divine water could solve his immediate crisis!
This would give him the confidence to cultivate and promote a group of loyal, capable, and promising direct subordinates, thus changing the current embarrassing situation in Heaven where "high-ranking deities obey orders but not summons, and there is a lack of successors among the middle and lower ranks."
"The Dao Ancestor has not appeared in the world for a long time... All the saints reside high in the heavens... I, the ruler of the three realms, am quite lonely."
The Jade Emperor leaned back on his dragon throne, gazing at the murals on the ceiling depicting the stars and the vast universe. His eyes were somewhat unfocused, carrying a hint of melancholy and determination.
"Fortunately...fortunately there is a minister like Lin Zhu. Although he acts unconventionally and sometimes even gives me a headache, he is truly dedicated to the Heavenly Court and has given me great confidence and...prestige."
Thinking of Lin Zhu's endless tricks, formidable strength, and increasingly illustrious reputation, a complex smile appeared on the Jade Emperor's pale face.
He clenched his fist secretly and made a vow in his heart.
"Now that the position of Gouchen is in his hands, it must never be relinquished in the future. The Heavenly Court needs such a sharp and incomparable sword that it can hold in its own hands."
Meanwhile, Lin Zhu left the Lingxiao Palace and rode a cloud towards the Nine-Story Heavenly Prison, in a rather pleasant mood. This treasure hunt in the Western Paradise had yielded far more fruit than he had expected. (End of Chapter)