Chapter 497: Gift of Merit

Xiao Shou immediately became worried and transmitted his divine sense to Little Baibei.

"Little Baibei, why isn’t Young’er here? Did something happen to him?"

"Master, Little Baibei doesn’t know either. I only remember seeing Young Master seven days ago. He was perfectly fine at the time. After that, I could no longer sense Young Master’s aura."

After receiving Xiao Shou’s divine sense transmission, Little Baibei was extremely excited. However, upon hearing Xiao Shou’s question, it replied somewhat uneasily.

Sensing the fluctuations of Xiao Shou’s divine sense, the Gou brothers, Gou Guangyan and Gou Guangming, spoke in unison.

"Sect Master, it is truly wonderful that you are safe and sound."

"So Sect Master Xiao is here as well."

"Sect Master Xiao is safe and sound. We are truly relieved."

"Sect Master Xiao, do you know where this immortal came from?"

Everyone who had experienced the battle in the Holy City was familiar with Xiao Shou’s divine sense fluctuations because of the Dharma Form shield he had created himself. Therefore, the moment he transmitted his voice through divine sense, everyone sensed his presence and immediately began greeting him or asking him questions.

Seeing this, although Xiao Shou was still worried about the safety of his beloved disciple, he hurriedly transmitted his voice to everyone aboard the Frostheart Fleeting Battleship.

"Thank you all for your concern, fellow Daoists. However, this is not the time for idle conversation. The enemy is far too powerful. Even with my ancestor doing everything he can to help, we may still be unable to turn the situation around. Everyone should think carefully and see if there are any other effective methods."

What did he mean by doing everything he could to help?

Most likely, Tushan Qing had no choice but to help. That immortal clearly intended to silence everyone who knew too much. Even if Tushan Qing chose not to fight and attempted to escape, the immortal would still pursue him.

Still, this child finally showed some traces of the Tushan bloodline. He had become slightly more cunning.

Tushan Qing’s enormous black beast pupils reflected Xiao Shou’s figure.

Meanwhile, the immortal who was still entangled by the Terrestrial Fox Black Flame suddenly released an aura that made everyone tremble.

He had watched as the Terrestrial Fox Black Flame, Tushan Shanhe, the Frostheart Fleeting Battleship, and the others emerged one after another from the Heaven Origin Realm sphere.

The terrifying aura spread through the void, leaving every cultivator feeling utterly powerless. They could only stand there numbly.

"Hmph!" 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ

Only then did the immortal coldly snort.

His protective immortal light trembled, and his figure finally broke free from the entanglement of the pitch-black flames.

The golden radiance surrounding him had become noticeably thinner.

He stood opposite the group of cultivators, completely ignoring everyone except Tushan Shanhe.

"Such a troublesome strange flame. Your Supreme Star Peak certainly knows how to hide its treasures. Since you call it a sacred flame, surely its only ability isn’t being troublesome to deal with, is it?"

After saying this, he casually reached out and grabbed.

The Terrestrial Fox Black Flame that was still desperately burning away the layer of protective immortal light separated from the immortal, along with the endless pitch-black flames continuously flying out from the crack in the Heaven Origin Realm sphere, were all forcibly gathered into a tiny ball.

Without making any further movement, a cage condensed from golden immortal energy appeared beside him.

It looked as though he was about to stuff the small ball of flames inside.

"Little Black, come back."

Seeing this, Xiao Shou pursed his lips and hurriedly summoned the Terrestrial Fox Black Flame.

He did not know whether the immortal had some method capable of truly trapping the Terrestrial Fox Black Flame. It was better not to give him the opportunity in the first place.

Following Xiao Shou’s summons, the Terrestrial Fox Black Flame stopped stubbornly burning the sinful existence before it.

The flames paused for an instant before transforming into a streak of fire.

Right in front of the immortal, it instantly flew to Xiao Shou and entered his body, merging with the source of his Terrestrial Fox Black Flame, which had already advanced to the seventh rank.

The newly advanced Tier 7 Terrestrial Fox Black Flame immediately received a tremendous amount of additional flame power.

Its unstable state instantly stabilized and advanced into the middle stage of the Tier 7.

At the very moment the flame returned to Xiao Shou’s body, a gigantic golden vortex suddenly appeared above his head within the previously pitch-black void.

The vortex continuously rotated as a pillar of golden light descended from it and enveloped Xiao Shou.

At the same time, an impartial consciousness seemingly devoid of any emotion entered the minds of everyone present.

"Descendant of the Ancient God, Xiao Shou. You have purified the evil and filth of the entire Heaven Origin Realm. Your merit benefits Heaven and Earth, and your virtue contributes to creation. You are hereby bestowed one hundred thousand merit points. Please receive them."

As this consciousness descended, Xiao Shou felt a tremendous amount of merit enveloping him. It was completely different from the merit he had received after purifying the Eternal Prosperity Mountain Range and instead resembled the way the Demon Dao had bestowed merit upon him in the Star Demon Realm.

Xiao Shou had no time to consider just how enormous one hundred thousand merit points were. His only thought was that, given the current crisis, the most important thing was to increase their combat strength.

"Grandfather, absorb this merit..."

Xiao Shou immediately intended to let Tushan Qing absorb the merit.

However, at that moment, the immortal wrapped in golden radiance rushed toward the merit without saying a word and reached out to grab it.

The pillar of light descending from the vortex blocked him, but cracks had already spread throughout the pillar.

Seeing this, Xiao Shou had no time to think. He immediately struck out with his palm, sending the merit before him directly into Tushan Qing’s body.