Filthy Cultivation: I Pierced the Heavens with the Merit System

Although I don't know what the little guy is trying to do, at least he got me out of a tight spot.

Li Fuyao didn't contradict him, but went along with it, saying:

"Elder Li, Elder Ye also knows that my brother has a special bloodline. He just told me that he sensed something behind this door."

"By the way, that Nightmare also mentioned to the demonic cultivators that they planned to let out that Lord of Filth behind the door, and then use that thing to conquer the entire cultivation world or something."

Seeing that the elders all had their lips tightly pressed together and their brows furrowed, Li Fuyao couldn't help but feel anxious as she glanced at the dwindling mission time. Just as she was about to say something to urge the elders on, a deafening roar was followed by an even more powerful energy fluctuation that suddenly emanated from the depths of the altar.

Like a heavy burp, thick, inky filth erupted from the gate, rising into the shape of a mushroom cloud.

The roaring sound even caused the elders who were closing the door to stumble back several steps. The entire illusion shook violently, and the cultivators who were queuing to leave immediately cried out in alarm.

"Oh no! This filth is far too pure!"

Upon seeing this, Li Tianqing shouted, rushing to the door to help the other elders use the light net to block the pollution, while immediately issuing orders to all the black-clad deacons:

"All disciples of the Obsidian Division, heed my command!"

"At all costs, get the children out of the illusion as quickly as possible! Once they're out of the Bewitching Illusion, immediately send someone to report this situation directly to the Sect Leader. At that time, all actions will be decided by the Sect Leader!"

Upon hearing this, the black-clad deacons immediately sprang into action. They seized whoever they could and sent them away, without having to spend time healing the distortions caused by the filth. The deacons' efficiency more than doubled as they moved through the air, and soon the entire area was empty.

"And these two little babies!"

Despite his busy schedule, Li Tianqing took a moment to nod to Li Fuyao and Bai Suifeng, then instructed the black-clad stewards:

"Take them both with you, and remember not to let the brother and sister get hurt in the slightest!"

Li Fuyao became anxious upon hearing this:

What a joke! This mission is a matter of life and death for me. How can I feel at ease letting her go out now without seeing it completed with my own eyes?

Bai Suifeng glanced at her. Although he didn't know why his sister wanted to take the risk, he figured she must have her reasons. So he quickly shielded Li Fuyao behind him and moved towards the elders.

Seeing that black-clad deacons were already flying over to grab him, he suddenly spoke in a deep voice:

"Elders, please let us stay. We have ways to protect ourselves. If we stay, we won't be a burden. We might even be able to help you."

"Nonsense! The situation is so dangerous right now, this is not the time for you to act recklessly!"

At this moment, Li Tianqing was supporting the light net with one hand and exerting his soul power to close the door with the other. Upon hearing Bai Suifeng's words, the old man's full white goatee stood up in anger:

"What help can two Qi Refining stage kids provide?"

"Stop causing trouble here! Leave with the deacons immediately! That's an order!"

He saw Bai Suifeng pull Li Fuyao away from the black-clad steward's hand, and he closed his eyes tightly, intending to use his power to force them away, when suddenly he heard a loud bang from the door!

Upon hearing the sound, Li Fuyao abandoned her argument and quickly turned around with Bai Suifeng to look.

"boom!"

The door-shaped altar, which was already half-closed, shuddered violently with the second loud bang, as if it had been slammed by some enormous thing. Unable to withstand the impact, some damaged fragments began to fall from the corners and gaps of the altar.

Li Fuyao and Bai Suifeng were the weakest in cultivation here. Although they both had special souls, they could not withstand the shock and immediately lost their footing and swayed to the side.

Fortunately, the black-clad butler was nearby. He quickly grabbed the two children by the back of their collars and lifted them up, thus saving the siblings from a miserable tumble.

The crimson demonic eye shone brightly with the vibration, casting an ominous crimson hue over the already misty circular arena.

The black mist, which had been drifting aimlessly, came alive as soon as it was illuminated by the red light. It began to twist and writhe, abandoning its previous fearful and evasive behavior. Instead, it frantically coiled around the light net, sizzling as it corroded it.

"Elder! The connection has failed again!"

Just then, the black-clad steward responsible for taking Li Fuyao and the other person away raised his head, his face pale, and said in a trembling voice:

"We can't go back! The connection to the Heartless Stone has been severed again, and none of us can get out!"

"what?!"

Upon hearing this, the elders' expressions changed. After they tried it out of disbelief, their expressions became even more unpleasant.

"What exactly is inside? It only leaked a little bit of its aura, yet it caused the Bewildering Heart Stone to lose control and sever its connection again. If it were to actually come out, what would become of it?!"

"Look, only a few of you kids are left!"

Li Tianqing glared at the chuckling brother and sister, and lightly scolded them:

"Everyone else has gone out but you guys can't. Are you happy now?"

With things having come to this point, there was no other way. Despite his cursing, Li Tianqing ultimately sighed helplessly.

These are all rare and promising talents. Losing any one of them would be a loss of vital strength for the Yanjian Domain. Since these three young ones are trapped here, Li Tianqing simply beckoned them to come to him. That way, he could keep an eye on them if they were in any danger, so as not to let these three tender seedlings perish here.

"I'm so sorry, Senior Brother Zhao. I never expected that you would be implicated and unable to leave as well."

As Li Fuyao pulled Bai Suifeng toward the elders, she chuckled sheepishly, looking somewhat guilty.

"Why don't we wait until this matter is settled, and then my brother and I will host a dinner at Wenhelou to express our sincere apologies to Senior Brother Zhao?"

Indeed, the unfortunate black-clad steward who was trapped was none other than Zhao Xiuming, who had witnessed the gambling game. His face was a mixture of paleness and ecstasy, quite a sight to behold. Upon hearing this, he coldly snorted, refusing to even glance at Li Fuyao, and simply stated in a sharp tone:

"No need to apologize. Performing official duties is simply my job. Being trapped here is just bad weather and has nothing to do with you."

Bai Suifeng frowned upon hearing this, and was about to rebuke him for his rudeness, but Li Fuyao grabbed his wrist and pinched it.

He looked at Li Fuyao with slightly reddened ears, only to hear Li Fuyao secretly wink and chuckle as she transmitted her voice through the soul seed:

"Silly brother, although saving people is indeed his duty, if we hadn't dodged and refused to comply, he wouldn't have been trapped here. It's only right that I apologize, and it's only right that I get a few mild retorts. Don't take it to heart."

Seeing Bai Suifeng's look of sudden realization, and a hint of guilt in his eyes as he looked at Zhao Xiuming, Li Fuyao, fearing she had taught the child too rigidly, squeezed his wrist again and continued to chuckle softly within the soul seed:

"Besides, what I said was just to create the image of a sensible person; it was mainly for the elders to hear."

"The spiritual food at Wenhe Tower is so expensive, it's good that he doesn't agree. I'm very stingy, the good stuff is enough for the two of us, Fuyao won't share it with outsiders!"