Filthy Cultivation: I Pierced the Heavens with the Merit System

"I want to see..."

Li Fuyao's big eyes darted around, then she raised her hand and pointed at the mutated cultivators surrounding the crowd, then pointed at the filthy demonic core, demanding in a righteous and unreasonable manner, like a child throwing a tantrum:

"I want you to put those corrupted cultivators back in their original positions first. I also want to see you control this!"

Upon hearing this, Yan stared at her without speaking. Just when Li Fuyao thought he would refuse, he suddenly let out a soft chuckle:

"I know you want to give those good-for-nothings a chance to survive, right?"

"Although it's just a waste of time, it's okay for the young lady to be a little greedy. Of course, your request is no problem for me."

As he spoke, he slowly raised his hands. After all the mutated cultivators dispersed from the encirclement and returned to their original positions to continue singing, Yan raised his hands again, making a gesture as if he were about to play the zither.

As Leng Bai's fingertips lightly tapped the air like plucking a string, several dark beams of light shot from his fingertips toward the tainted demon core.

As the dark light penetrated, the filthy demon core immediately emitted a bright, eerie glow.

Countless tiny black lines materialized, one wrapped around his fingertip and swaying gently like a living thing, while the rest were taut and straight, all disappearing like cables into the door-shaped altar that was beginning to overflow with billowing black mist, as if the altar was being pulled open by these black threads.

Just as Li Fuyao was about to open her eyes wide to take a closer look, Yan suddenly stopped and stared at her with ill intent, saying:

"Now that I've shown my sincerity, shouldn't this young lady also show hers?"

The rescued cultivators all looked over, but Li Fuyao didn't even spare a glance for the people behind her. Upon hearing this, a mixture of curiosity and fear flashed across her face. Like a spoiled and arrogant young fool, she bit her lower lip and strode towards the altar.

"Look closely, this is my sincerity towards you!"

"Fuyao!"

Bai Suifeng, who had transformed back into human form, struggled to squeeze through the crowd. Seeing Li Fuyao turn around, he disregarded everything else and quickly stepped forward to tightly grab Li Fuyao's wrist:

"Fuyao, it's dangerous there, you mustn't go!"

Of course I know it's dangerous!

But I am the only anchor point for the elders to teleport to this illusion. If I don't go up to this altar, how can the elders teleport over to launch a sneak attack?

If the elders don't kill the Nightmare, how am I supposed to find a way to destroy this filthy demon core?

There are only six minutes left in the mission countdown. If you don't complete the mission, you're doomed anyway. Rather than lying low and waiting to die, you might as well fight for it!

These words could not be spoken aloud, so Li Fuyao simply withdrew her hand gently and then turned to leave.

But her wrist was grabbed again. Seeing her turn around, Bai Suifeng stepped forward without flinching and said seriously:

"Fuyao, if you really want to go, then take me with you!"

"I'm your older brother. There's no reason for me to cower in the back while my younger sister takes risks!"

At a time like this, what is this little brat doing, making such a mess?!

Bai Suifeng doesn't want to be a spineless coward hiding behind his younger sister, so does Li Fuyao think she can be a useless good-for-nothing hiding behind her child?

What a joke!

To be honest, she's the oldest in this group, and besides, there's a task pressing them on. If she doesn't do it, who will?

Bai Suifeng heard her heartfelt words clearly, yet he still refused to let go.

He remained silent, only staring stubbornly at Li Fuyao.

Looking into Bai Suifeng's worried, puppy-dog eyes, Li Fuyao felt a warmth in her heart, but she still firmly pried his hand away, speaking not only to him but also to the panicked young cultivators:

“Brother, a great scholar in my hometown once said, ‘Death is inevitable for everyone, but it can be as weighty as Mount Tai or as light as a feather, depending on the purpose for which it is used.’”

"This sentence is very appropriate here."

She patted Bai Suifeng's shoulder reassuringly and asked in a gentle voice:

"I know it's dangerous, but since the outcome can't be worse than it is now, why not take the risk and give it a try?"

"I won't stop you, but you have to take me with you!"

Bai Suifeng stubbornly repeated his request.

Why is this little brat so disobedient?!

Watching the mission time tick away, Li Fuyao sighed and rubbed her forehead in exasperation. Just as she was wondering whether to say something hurtful to him, she heard the Nightmare on the altar suddenly speak:

"Little girl, since this young man is so worried, let him come along."

"I see that his soul quality is quite extraordinary. If he can also join my clan, then you'll have another companion!"

His voice was gentle and considerate, but Li Fuyao detected a hint of greed and cunning in it. She glanced at Bai Suifeng, who still refused to let go, and then at the four minutes left of the mission. She decided to go with the flow and, as if persuaded, pulled Bai Suifeng forward with long strides.

"That's true. In that case, I'll drag my brother along to see how you control this thing!"

The altar was neither too close nor too far.

Li Fuyao quickly pulled Bai Suifeng closer.

The sliding door on the altar had been almost completely pushed open, and Li Fuyao glanced at it carefully, discovering that behind the door was a dark abyss.

There was not a single ray of light in that abyss, so oppressive that it seemed to be the end of all despair in the world.

Strangely, although it was a void of darkness where time seemed to stand still, if you glanced at it by chance, you would feel as if you were staring at some indescribable creature, as if the void was filled with living things that were invisible to the human eye.

"Are you scared? This door leads to my house~"

Nightmare stood by the altar, smiling as she looked at the brother and sister. A hint of amusement flashed in her eyes, hidden behind her mask, as she invited them with a smile:

"Once you become one of my kind, would you like to come to my house for a visit?"

Li Fuyao ignored him. At that moment, Bai Suifeng was forcibly pushing her behind him as she stepped onto the steps of the altar.

"Brother, don't be afraid. We'll face whatever comes our way together."

Li Fuyao didn't directly tell Bai Suifeng her plan, but to prevent her little wolf cub from getting hurt in the upcoming fight, she used her soul seed to reveal most of the elders' upcoming actions to him:

"If a fight breaks out, stand with me and be careful not to get hurt. After this is over, I'll go out and buy you some fried chicken legs."

As soon as he finished speaking, they saw that the stairs had come to an end, and Yan was gently raising his hand to signal them to come forward.

Bai Suifeng, like a protective puppy, still held Li Fuyao tightly behind him. He didn't say much, but simply squeezed Li Fuyao's hand back tightly.

There's just no way to deal with him. Was this little guy incredibly stubborn in his past life?

Oh well, the elders will protect him anyway, so there's no danger for him to act like a hero. Let him have his fun!

Knowing that Bai Suifeng was doing this to protect her, Li Fuyao wasn't angry even though she was pushed to the back. She just took a deep breath with a hint of helplessness, then peeked out from Bai Suifeng's shoulder to look at Yan:

"let us start."