After I Became a Divine Monarch, the Sect Wants Me to Marry In-Chapter 271 - 225: The Strange Request from Merit Hall_2

By status, Direct Disciples already stand above countless others.

Apart from Peak Masters and some highly influential elders, they rank just below the True Inheritors.

"Are there any Direct Disciples at just the Golden Core Early Stage?" Gu An asked.

Hearing this, Duanmu Qing smiled and said, "Our Heavenly Suspension Peak doesn’t have any, let alone Golden Core, Primordial Spirits are also very rare."

Gu An shook his head, "What about the second option?"

Being a Direct Disciple is not a good choice if one lacks strength.

It’s too obvious.

And it makes one an easy target.

What cultivation level, and being counted among them as Direct Disciples?

Unworthy of the position.

It would likely lead to endless troubles.

Even if the master is willing to protect you once or twice, what if it happens more frequently?

It would become irritating.

That would be even more dangerous.

And if all Merits are exchanged for position, you can’t acquire the Returning to Void Skill.

There are not enough advantages seen.

But there is a heap of disadvantages.

So, it’s better to consider the second option.

"The second option is to hand over the Bamboo Rice to the Sect, and specifically designate it for Heavenly Suspension Peak," said Duanmu Qing seriously:

"You must personally designate it, which might reduce some Merit, but Heavenly Suspension Peak plants the Sword Immortal Bamboo Forest, and this will count towards the writing junior’s achievements.

Everyone will know that this bamboo forest was brought by the junior.

Thus, the junior’s reputation will spread throughout Heavenly Suspension Peak.

As long as those in the Sect who rely on the Sword Immortal Bamboo Forest for cultivation, they will all remember a favor from the junior.

There’s no obvious benefit, but subtly,

The negative impressions the junior previously made in the Sect will be wiped clean by this merit.

Of course, while some will remember this favor, others may be discontent.

The junior will still face troubles, but they will definitely be greatly reduced.

As long as the junior does nothing to harm the major interests of Heavenly Suspension Peak, this favor will remain.

This will make many things more convenient.

Additionally, the Merit Hall will also record the junior’s name.

If anything happens, and it angers the Law Enforcement Hall, the Merit Hall will try to protect the junior as much as possible.

Baseless accusations will definitely not settle on the junior’s head.

Within the Sect, if someone secretly acts against the junior causing trouble, the Merit Hall will provide an explanation for the junior.

Not for any other reason,

But because the junior’s name hangs high in the Merit Hall.

Those whose names are listed on the Merit Hall within the Sect are not easy to provoke.

Even if those who act against you are some elders or Direct Disciples, as long as your Merit is high enough.

They will dare to intervene.

Otherwise, wouldn’t the Merit Hall seem useless?"

Gu An had heard this theory about the Merit Hall many times.

Meaning, once you’re on the list, others will hesitate to provoke you.

And if you take action against those above, it equates to provoking the Merit Hall.

Then.

If two people are on the Merit Hall’s list.

Who will the Merit Hall support?

Gu An asked this question.

"It depends on whose name is higher, plus whether there are other backgrounds.

If it’s really equal, they might not help either," Duanmu Qing said with a smile: "This scenario has never happened, I’m not quite sure."

Gu An nodded, then asked again: "What if I use Merit to exchange for items?"

"That depends on whether your name is still on the list after the assessment," said Duanmu Qing.

Gu An nodded.

Meaning, Merit should not be used carelessly, using it reduces protection.

And to avoid being pursued, one must continue to establish Merits.

So, does it turn into working for free and still reluctant to exchange Merits?

And the help from the Merit Hall, comes only when in trouble.

If nothing happens for decades, what’s the use of having a name hanging there?

Just in case?

Isn’t that a waste of Merits?

Merit can be exchanged for Cultivation Techniques, Magic Treasures, Elixir Pills, almost any resource.

After thinking for a moment, Gu An said, "So it seems, should I choose the latter?"

"Not necessarily," Lu Ruan suddenly spoke: "If you have enough confidence, choosing the first isn’t bad either, sometimes becoming a Direct Disciple is more difficult.

It’s not certain you can be listed in the Merit Hall, and even if listed, new entries can surpass you.

And the things that can be exchanged with Merits aren’t necessarily useful."

Gu An paused for a moment.

And it took him a long while to understand the other’s implication.

Lu Ruan knew he was that woman’s man and must have analyzed his cultivation issue.

Her conclusion must be that he had hidden his cultivation.

Perhaps a formidable individual.

He himself is strong, plus he has that woman’s support.

So, the Merits from the Merit Hall are optional for him.

Thus, becoming a Direct Disciple is better.

After all, once you become a Direct Disciple, it’s almost impossible to fall from that status, it’s a permanent identity.

The Merit Hall list was not relevant.

Yet, he was quite clear about his own role.

Direct Discipleship was not within his grasp.

Too noticeable, once targeted and threatened, who could he rely on?

Chu Meng?

Or that woman?

Even if it was indeed possible, where could he obtain the Returning to Void Skill?

Directly exchanging with the Merit Hall for the subsequent Golden Core Cultivation Techniques was the least suspicious route.

"Don’t rush, Junior Brother, take your time to think, you still need to consider the pros and cons," Duanmu Qing said with a smile. "Whatever choice Junior Brother makes, it doesn’t result in any loss for Master.

So there’s no need to consider Master’s position."

Gu An nodded.

Without much thought, he said, "I choose the second option."

His current pace of advancement was too slow, and the goal of becoming a Direct Disciple was too far.

He feared he couldn’t withstand it.

If his cultivation exploded, he would indeed become a target.

What if someone used a Magic Treasure to learn his real age—a forty-nine-year-old Late-stage Primordial Spirit—how should he respond?

Could that woman protect him?

Would she be the first one to dig out his secrets?

The risk was too high.

Just a slight slip could make him the second Zuo Youyan.

Still, too weak.

"Option two?" Duanmu Qing was unsurprised. "Then, Junior Brother, follow me to the Merit Hall, get to know some people; there might be times when you’ll need to trouble them."

Gu An nodded.

Lu Ruan did not follow.

She pondered; Gu An not choosing Direct Discipleship might signify deeper intentions.

Perhaps the time had not yet come.

The person behind her surely had other plans.

Indeed, becoming a Direct Disciple was too ostentatious.

Merit Hall.

The Merit Hall was like a tower.

One could go to each level to view what they desire and eventually exchange them using Merit.

However, Gu An did not enter the tower but went to the buildings at the back.

Upon reaching a separate house, Duanmu Qing then knocked on the door.

"Come in." A cheerful voice responded.

Once inside, Gu An saw a young man taking notes, who without lifting his head asked, "What’s the matter?"

"Here to offer something," Duanmu Qing smiled.

Hearing this, the young man slightly raised his eyebrows and smiled, "Ah, Junior Brother Duanmu."

Then he looked at Gu An and said, "Is this Junior Brother offering something?"

"Yes," Gu An responded respectfully.

"What is it?" the young man casually asked.

Duanmu Qing took out some Bamboo Rice and a Jade Scroll and handed them over.

The young man examined them briefly and then looked at the summary.

His initially casual expression turned serious.

Then he looked at Gu An and said, "Just go through the process, right?"

"Yes," Duanmu Qing nodded.

"Then I’ll ask this Junior Brother a few questions," said the young man, turning to Gu An. "Did you acquire this?"

Gu An nodded.

"Do you want to specifically dedicate it to Heavenly Suspension Peak? Once specified, the Merit is halved since it’s tied to Heavenly Suspension Peak.

The Sect cannot dispose of it freely, which causes a drastic drop in Merit.

It might not even make the list," the young man seriously asked.

Gu An did not seem to care much, but asked, "Can it be directly exchanged for Cultivation Techniques?"

Huh?

The young man was slightly surprised.

It seemed the other party wasn’t interested in making the list.

"What Cultivation Technique?" he asked.

"All the Cultivation Techniques of the Innate Longevity Technique following the Golden Core stage, exchange as much as possible," Gu An stated.

This way, no one would suspect his cultivation level.

The young man pondered for a moment and said:

"You can only exchange up to Returning to Void, not because Junior Brother’s Merit is insufficient, but because the Sect only has the Returning to Void level of the Innate Longevity Technique."

Hearing this, Gu An was slightly surprised.

For a moment, he was stunned.

Just up to Returning to Void.

What about the techniques beyond that?

Gu An did not think too much about it, it was still far away.

"If Junior Brother is not in a hurry, he could wait a month or two to exchange, perhaps then his name could reach the top twenty recently. With the appearance of the Sword Immortal Bamboo Forest of Heavenly Suspension Peak, someone will always question Junior Brother. If he makes the list, no one will question it.

It will save a lot of trouble in the future.

In case of issues, our Merit Hall can also help.

Of course, our Merit Hall isn’t intentionally trying to obstruct Junior Brother," noticing Gu An’s indifference, the man pondered for a bit and added:

"Let’s do this, as long as Junior Brother isn’t in a rush to exchange, I can give Junior Brother some items on behalf of the Merit Hall."

Hearing this, Gu An was slightly puzzled.

Why?

Can having his name up there also benefit the Merit Hall?