The Good Person Reward System: An Isekai LitRPG Progression Fantasy: The Good Person Reward System, #5

By Sima Tiao Liu Yi

Ordinary man Li Shengdai leads a mundane and difficult life. As a poor but good man, he donates his only savings to those in need. However, one day, a beautiful girl, Hu Xuedie, suddenly appears at his door with a strange contract, marking the beginning of an unknown and mysterious turn in this ordinary story...

One merit point can be exchanged for one minute of life. Doing a good deed earns one merit point. Committing a bad deed deducts one hundred merit points. Saving a mortal earns ten merit points. Killing a mortal deducts one thousand merit points. Saving a good person earns fifty merit points. Killing a good person deducts five thousand merit points. If you have enough merit points, then congratulations, immortality is no longer just a dream!
 

 

 

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Having a Saint Peak-level senior sister by his side, though recently acknowledged, meant that she wouldn't ignore his affairs. Thus, to some extent, Li Shengdai now had the foundation to directly confront powerhouses like the Great Qian Royal Family, Flying Immortal Sect, and Heavenly Sophora Sect.

 After all, the top combatants within these forces were merely at the Saint Peak level.
 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Zhou Yan
• Release date: Apr 8, 2024
• ISBN: 9798224908622

Book preview

Chapter 313: Another Sweet Date

Having a Saint Peak-level senior sister by his side, though recently acknowledged, meant that she wouldn’t ignore his affairs. Thus, to some extent, Li Shengdai now had the foundation to directly confront powerhouses like the Great Qian Royal Family, Flying Immortal Sect, and Heavenly Sophora Sect.

After all, the top combatants within these forces were merely at the Saint Peak level.

You two, Li Shengdai turned to Shi Long and Lu Rong, speaking in a calm tone that even carried a hint of disdain, are somewhat lacking in cultivation level.

Shi Long’s eyes widened.

Lu Rong was equally stunned.

Out of the blue, they, the Demi-Saints, were being looked down upon by someone whose cultivation was not even on par with a Soul Cultivation Apprentice.

This was utterly preposterous!

Seeing their disbelief, Li Shengdai leisurely said, In about twenty more days, assassins from Ascend to the Heavens will inevitably come down.

Last time, they sent five Demi-Saints who returned empty-handed. Now, do you think they will send Demi-Saints again?

Shi Long and Lu Rong shook their heads in unison. Unless those from Ascend to the Heavens were fools, they wouldn’t send agents of the same strength without understanding the situation.

I’ve heard that the cultivation conditions in Ascend to the Heavens are over ten times better than in the Heavenly Soul Continent. Saint-Level Powerhouses are as common as dogs, and Divine Soul Masters are everywhere.

When Wang Qingshan was banished here, he only spent a thousand Soul Coins to hire a Soul Saint to bolster his courage through the void Domain Gate, threatening the local powerhouses with his voice and scaring them into not provoking him. Now, do you think the Wang family from Ascend to the Heavens would lack this thousand Soul Coins?

Shi Long and Lu Rong were silently contemplative.

The Saint-Level Powerhouses from Ascend to the Heavens couldn’t possibly be as common as dogs, but it was true that the cultivation conditions there were far superior to those of the Heavenly Soul Continent. Otherwise, the Saint-Level Powerhouses of the Heavenly Soul Continent wouldn’t have continuously tried to break through the Domain Gate, aiming to fully step into Ascend to the Heavens generation after generation.

Therefore, Ascend to the Heavens definitely has far more Saint-Level Powerhouses than the Heavenly Soul Continent, so if the Wang family from Ascend to the Heavens were to send reinforcements, they would undoubtedly send a Soul Saint.

Comparing themselves to Soul Saints, Shi Long and Lu Rong could not deny that their cultivations were lacking.

We are ashamed! Shi Long and Lu Rong hung their heads and put on a pitiful act.

As my guardians, yet you are unable to fully protect my well-being, you certainly should feel ashamed.

But... Li Shengdai glanced at them and understood their intentions. Thus, he indifferently said, Don’t say that I do not provide you with opportunities. The saying goes, ‘Still waters run deep.’ Since I have the ability to illuminate the Fated Stars for others, I naturally will not mistreat those who are close to me.

The two of you, one of you is 1,705 years old, and the other is 1,811 years old. If you cannot achieve a breakthrough, both of your lifespans are nearing their ends. It is unknown whether you will manage to outlive me, let alone protect me.

In order to increase your cultivations, and for my personal safety, I have decided to grant you the privilege of having your Fated Stars illuminated for free. So long as your cultivation foundations are sufficient, I will not be miserly and will satisfy all your requests, no matter how many Fated Stars you wish to light!

Shi Long and Lu Rong’s hearts both skipped a beat. They subconsciously took a large step back and looked at Li Shengdai with vigilant expressions. What was this boy up to?

Contrary to what Li Shengdai had imagined, the two of them were not overjoyed. They had followed Li Shengdai long enough to see countless people end up in Li Shengdai’s clutches after coveting his possessions. They knew well that nothing from Li Shengdai came without a price.

If Li Shengdai were to show unprovoked favor to someone, that person would indubitably come to no good end. He would surely be schemed against and fleeced, not even left with a strand of hair.

Do you have any requests, Li Shi? Shi Long cautiously asked. Lu Rong also perked up her ears attentively.

They were on guard, but the offer that Li Shengdai presented was simply too tempting to outright refuse.

All they could do now was stubbornly resist.

It’s very simple. Li Shengdai looked at them with a smile, as though looking at two plump and delicious lambs, If you become Saints, you must continue to protect me for another thousand years! Of course, if you are unable to become Saints, then consider my actions charitable, voluntary labor. I will not expect anything in return!

One thousand years?

Shi Long and Lu Rong could not help but look at each other. They both saw endless yearning in each other’s eyes.

One thousand years was indeed a very long time, but when compared to the ten thousand year lifespan they would gain after becoming Saints, one thousand years seemed like a bargain.

After all, their lifespans were now nearing their ends, and without external assistance, it would be impossible for them to make any breakthroughs within the remaining time they had.

Therefore, the condition that Li Shengdai had proposed was akin to a life-saving straw, compelling them to seize it tightly.

I will give you one day to think it over. Call Huangfu Tianlang later and, if you are willing, swear an oath on your Divine Souls again. I will do my utmost to help you increase your cultivations as quickly as possible.

After speaking, he left Shi Long and Lu Rong in the courtyard to ponder. Li Shengdai then walked to the void imprint that had been set up and, with a move of his mind, stepped into the Hu family’s Spirit Spring Secret Realm.

Inside the secret realm, Hu Buwei was instructing Hu Shan and the Hu Ren brothers. Although Hu Buwei’s speech was somewhat slurred, instructing juniors did not necessarily rely on speaking.

Seeing the bruised faces of Hu Shan, Hu Li, Hu Yi, and Hu Zhi, Li Shengdai knew that they must have benefited greatly.

Within the thatched hut, Lan Jing was sitting alone on the giant Soul Stone bed, wholeheartedly absorbing the Demi-Saint level Soul Crystal Relic. Her expression was solemn and her aura stable.

After absorbing and transforming for nearly a week, Lan Jing had already successfully entered the peak of the Soul Sect realm. With a little effort, it would not be difficult for her to break through to become a Soul King.

When he had handed the Soul Crystal Relic to Lan Jing, Li Shengdai had personally taken action to illuminate and light up the first star within her Destiny Palace. With her Destiny Palace opened, she was destined to become a Soul King.

With the support of a Demi-Saint level Soul Crystal Relic, Lan Jing’s cultivation had advanced by leaps and bounds these past few days. Once every other day, Li Shengdai would also illuminate one or two stars for her. By now, there were already twelve stars lit up within Lan Jing.

In the peak of the Soul Sect realm, Soul Cultivators who could light up twelve stars were not unheard of, but they were also few and far between.

Without looking too far, just take Hu Shan for example. Even after spending over two decades at the Soul Sect level, he had only lit up two stars.

Then there was Lu Rong. When she was still at the Soul Sect realm, she had lit up eight stars and was hailed as a rare prodigy of her time.

Sensing Li Shengdai’s arrival, Lan Jing slowly retracted the Soul Crystal Relic floating before her forehead. She calmed her mind, collected her spirit, and gradually awakened from her meditation.

Son!

Lan Jing smiled, raised her arms, and waved to Li Shengdai, gesturing for him to sit beside her.

Empress Dowager, how do you feel? Li Shengdai walked to the bedside and sat down. He asked Lan Jing softly, Your cultivation has advanced too quickly. Do you feel any discomfort?

Lan Jing shook her head with a smile. With you conditioning my body every day, how could I feel any discomfort? However, you look thinner. You must have been very busy these past few days.

If all is well, I am relieved. Li Shengdai swept his divine consciousness across Lan Jing. Her qi and blood were abundant, and her Divine Soul was stable. There were no signs of any instability or illness resulting from her rapid increase in cultivation.

Needless to say, the medicinal concoctions that Li Shengdai had brewed for Lan Jing during these few days to strengthen her body and stabilize her Divine Soul had taken effect.

Of course, the vast amounts of life force that Li Shengdai had infused into Lan Jing by expending large amounts of spiritual power each time had also played a significant role.

Otherwise, the rapid increase in her cultivation and Divine Soul would have rapidly depleted her own qi and blood potential. If it had not been replenished in time, it was not impossible that Lan Jing would have been drained dry.

Li Shengdai skillfully took out a Golden Needle and was about to illuminate a star within Lan Jing’s Destiny Palace once more, helping Lan Jing achieve another breakthrough and reach the Soul King realm in one go.

Wait! Lan Jing’s brows knitted together as she spoke to stop Li Shengdai. She looked at him with worry in her eyes and asked softly, Son, tell me the truth. Has something happened?

Li Shengdai was taken aback and shook his head in denial. No, why would you ask that, Empress Dowager?

Has the poison in your body worsened again? Or have you encountered some insurmountable difficulty outside? Lan Jing continued to ask, seemingly not hearing Li Shengdai’s reply.

Li Shengdai smiled gently. Mother, don’t let your imagination run wild. I am very well now. I eat and sleep well. What difficulties could I encounter?

Lan Jing did not believe him. Really? If that is the case, why are you so eager to increase my cultivation? Why do you always come and go in such a hurry?

It is not just me. You have also been doing everything you can to increase the cultivations of Hu Buwei, Hu Shan, and the four brothers of the Hu family. What are you doing this for?

I am not a fool. I can sense that something is wrong.

Chapter 314: A Big Fat Sheep

Sometimes, a woman’s intuition is really accurate.

Furthermore, who could know her son better than his mother? After all, Li Shengdai was the flesh and blood of Lan Jing, so it was not strange that she could see through some of his thoughts.

I have encountered a powerful foe.

Seeing that he could not conceal it any longer, Li Shengdai gave a vague explanation. Therefore, I want to seize the time to make everyone around me as strong as possible. Otherwise, I might not be able to resist my enemy when they arrive. I will need helpers—powerful helpers.

Furthermore, if we really end up fighting, I might have no time to care about anything else, and I will be unable to protect the Empress Dowager. Therefore, I hope that by the time my foe arrives, the Empress Dowager will possess the ability to protect herself.

Lan Jing suddenly realized. I knew it. There’s no way you would be so anxious without a reason. Rest assured, I understand what to do. If a powerful foe really does come, I promise I will not become a burden to you!

Lan Jing did not continue to ask. She knew that even if she asked further, Li Shengdai would not tell her the details. He was afraid of worrying her.

However, Lan Jing was no longer the young and sheltered woman from Heavenly Threshold City. With three Demi-Saints protecting Li Shengdai, it could be said that below the level of Saints, he was unstoppable throughout the entire Heavenly Soul Continent.

Especially after passing the seven-star healer exam of the Soul Healer Association and officially registering within the association, receiving their powerful protection, there were not many in this world who were willing to become his enemies.

As long as Li Shengdai did not seek death himself, the four great empires of the Heavenly Soul Continent, along with various sects and aristocratic families, would all treat him with great courtesy.

However, at this moment, Li Shengdai said that he had encountered a formidable opponent.

Apart from Saints, who else could be a formidable opponent who did not fear the Soul Healer Association or even three Demi-Saints?

Come on! Lan Jing suppressed the worry and shock in her heart and said to Li Shengdai, I am ready, this time, I am going to break through to the Soul King realm in one go!

Li Shengdai let out a gentle breath. He had finally managed to fool her.

In fact, the reason why Li Shengdai was so anxious was just in case. What if the Soul Saint sent by the Ascend to the Heavens Royal Family was too powerful? And what if his Merit Value ran out and he lost the protection of the golden light, what if he were to die?

Regarding anyone else, whether they lived or died, Li Shengdai was indifferent.

In this world, the only one Li Shengdai was worried about was Lan Jing.

This was why Li Shengdai wanted to light up as many stars within Lan Jing’s Destiny Palace as possible while he was still alive, to do everything he could to help Lan Jing increase her cultivation.

It was not that he expected her cultivation to directly skyrocket to the Demi-Saint realm and reach the ranks of the top experts of the Heavenly Soul Continent.

As long as one surpasses the Emperor level, they would possess a certain ability to protect themselves. Even without Li Shengdai’s care, Lan Jing would still be able to live well.

Hu Buwei and the five siblings of the Hu family were also considered helpers that Li Shengdai had prepared for Lan Jing, just in case.

With a flash of golden light, Li Shengdai tapped twice on Lan Jing, leaving two bundles of spiritual power at the corresponding acupoints.

Illuminating two destiny stars at once, supported by the immense soul power of the Soul Crystal Relic, it would be utterly unreasonable if this did not result in a breakthrough to the Soul King realm.

Lan Jing closed her eyes and fully concentrated on breaking through to the Soul King realm.

After staying in the room for a while and seeing that Lan Jing’s breathing was as stable as a mountain, indicating that there would be no problems, Li Shengdai then turned and left, heading towards Hu Buwei and his descendants.

Master!

Grandmaster!

Junior Uncle!

Hu Buwei, Hu Shan, and the others came forward to greet Li Shengdai. The six people used three different titles, which sounded quite amusing, especially with Hu Shan addressing him as Junior Uncle, which placed her at the highest rank in terms of seniority.

All of them looked at Li Shengdai eagerly. During this time, every visit from Li Shengdai meant generous guidance for them, and their cultivation levels had been growing by leaps and bounds.

Now, Hu Buwei had reached the peak of the Emperor level, and Hu Shan was close to reaching level nine of the Soul Sect.

Before receiving guidance from Li Shengdai, among the four brothers - Li, Yi, Ren, and Zhi, except for Hu Li who was at the first level of the Soul King, the rest were at levels eight and nine of the Soul Sect.

Now, all four brothers had reached the King level, and Hu Li had even risen three levels, now being a level four Soul King.

The usual rule, Li Shengdai glanced at them and spoke in a calm tone. Still one destiny star per person. Whether you can illuminate it depends on yourselves.

Thank you, Grandmaster!

Thank you, Junior Uncle!

Hu Shan and the others were all visibly delighted, even somewhat impatient.

Li Shengdai raised his eyebrows, something seemed a little unusual.

In the past, whenever Li Shengdai uttered these words, he would be met with a mix of joyous and mournful howls. Illuminating a destiny star required an enormous amount of soul power, and the more destiny stars that were illuminated, the greater the consumption for the next one.

In order to seize this opportunity for a breakthrough, the Hu Mansion had almost sold everything they had in the past few days, just to purchase some precious treasures that could quickly restore their soul power and cultivation.

For the Hu siblings, illuminating each destiny star meant spending millions, even tens of millions of soul stones.

Therefore, their feelings toward Li Shengdai’s guidance were a mix of love and hate, anticipation, and heartache.

However, today, something was amiss. The faces of these people were all filled with smiles.

What’s wrong, did you all strike it rich today? Li Shengdai inquired. In the past, you were always the ones who cried the poorest. Are you not going to borrow money from me today?

Hu Shan smiled awkwardly. In the past, she had always been the one who borrowed the most soul stones from Li Shengdai. She had no choice; she was poor, and among her acquaintances, Li Shengdai was the richest.

Oh, Junior Uncle, you’d be surprised, but we really did get rich! Just look at this, what is it?

As she spoke, Hu Shan took out a circular stone that shimmered with seven-colored light from her pocket and waved it in front of Li Shengdai.

A Soul Crystal Relic! And a Demi-Saint level one at that!

Li Shengdai immediately recognized the origin of this stone. If he had not just come from Lan Jing’s room, he would have almost suspected that Hu Shan and the others had robbed his Empress Dowager’s Soul Crystal Relic.

Damn, wasn’t it said that this thing was very rare? Not even one in a hundred Demi-Saints would possess one, so how come two of them had suddenly popped up?

Where did you get it?

Hu Shan proudly said, Xiaowan gave it to me! She said that some old man from the outer realm used this thing to exchange for one of Xiaowan’s game items. Xiaowan didn’t know what this was, she just thought it was pretty, so she gave it to me!

Shangguan Haoran? Li Shengdai was taken aback. He had not expected Shangguan Haoran to have such a good thing in his possession.

But then again, it was not hard to understand. Legend had it that Ascend to the Heavens was a vast region where Saints were as common as dogs, and Demi-Saints must be as numerous as cows.

No matter how rare Soul Crystal Relics were, they could not withstand the massive number of Demi-Saints. With so many dead Demi-Saints, naturally there would be many Demi-Saint level Soul Crystal Relics.

Originally, my little sister wanted to give this Soul Crystal Relic to Great-Grandfather to use, but Great-Grandfather said he wanted to break through on his own, without external help. So, it became ours! Hu Li explained.

Great-Grandfather doesn’t need it, and we can’t use it either, so we can’t let it go to waste. Hu Yi added.

Hu Ren stated, In reality, we were against it.

Hu Zhi added, Yeah, we couldn’t refuse, so we had to passively accept it.

The four of them went back and forth, basking in their unmerited fortune with an endless display of smugness, which was quite infuriating.

Li Shengdai, understanding their dilemma, suggested, If you really feel compelled, why not hand the Soul Crystal Relic over to me? I’d be more than willing to help you out with this problem.

Hu Li: ...

Hu Yi: ...

Hu Ren: ...

Hu Zhi: ...

All four were rendered speechless, at a loss for words against Li Shengdai’s direct and shameless request, completely bewildered on how to respond.

Just when they thought their own lack of shame was unparalleled, they met their match in Li Shengdai, their Grandmaster, who proved to be even more shameless.

Never again would they try to show off in front of their Grandmaster!

The four exchanged looks, unanimously deciding this in their hearts.

Smack! Smack! Smack! Smack!

Hu Shan, without any courtesy, knocked each of their heads, causing them to yelp in pain.

Look at you guys, making snide remarks here. Now that you’ve been outsmarted, you’re at a loss, aren’t you?

This is something Xiaowan gave me. No one begged you to use it, hmph!

Hu Shan, with her intelligence fully displayed, settled the ownership of the Soul Crystal Relic in one sentence, leaving no room for Li Shengdai to make any claims.

Li Shengdai gave a sheepish smile, but his thoughts had already drifted far away, beyond the secret realm, to Shangguan Ziyi and Shangguan Haoran.

The ease with which a Demi-Saint level Soul Crystal Relic was used to trade for a mere toy suggested that Shangguan Haoran must have more than one of such items in his possession.

What a fat sheep this is!

Chapter 315: Kidnapped in the Dead of Night

What exactly is a Soul Crystal Relic?

In terms of online games on Earth, it’s akin to an experience pill, an ultimate tool for leveling up!

So, when Li Shengdai heard that Shangguan Haoran and Shangguan Ziyi might possess many Soul Crystal Relics, he became a bit too eager to hold back.

With Soul Crystal Relics and the illumination of destiny stars combined, it’s practically a cheat code for Soul Cultivators to break through their cultivation bottlenecks. With enough Soul Crystal Relics, Li Shengdai could even create a batch of Demi-Saints or even Saints in a very short period of time.

Such an incredible opportunity was not to be missed.

After quickly identifying a destiny star for Hu Shan and the others, Li Shengdai promptly exited the Spirit Spring Secret Realm and rushed towards the courtyard where Shangguan Ziyi and Shangguan Haoran were located.

Just as he entered the courtyard, before he could even speak, Li Shengdai felt something was amiss above him. Suddenly looking up, he was shocked.

A gigantic hand, appearing to be over thirty feet in length, descended from the sky. Its shadow was so vast that it covered the moon and stars, aiming directly for Li Shengdai’s head.

Villain, cease your harm!

Shangguan Ziyi, with a fierce cry, dashed out like lightning and raised her hand to strike the giant palm, attempting to disperse it and prevent the lethal harm to Li Shengdai.

Nosy little woman, stay out of this and scram!

A commanding male voice echoed through the void, followed by another giant hand swooping down towards Shangguan Ziyi.

The two massive palms covered the sky, their momentum staggering.

Saint Peak! Who are you?!

Sensing the intruder’s approximate level of cultivation, Shangguan Ziyi’s expression drastically changed. She had no choice but to exert her full strength to counter the sudden attack by the massive palms, while she could only watch helplessly as Li Shengdai was completely engulfed by the other giant hand of the attacker.

My newly acknowledged junior brother is done for!

You old thief, dare to kill my junior brother, I’ll fight you with everything I have! Shangguan Ziyi screamed at the top of her lungs.

Both being at the Saint Peak level of cultivation, Shangguan Ziyi’s combat experience was clearly inferior to that of the attacker in the void. Whether it was the timing or angle of her attacks, Shangguan Ziyi was always a step slower.

In the battles among experts, even a delay of a few tenths of a second could determine life or death.

In Shangguan Ziyi’s eyes, Li Shengdai was in an inescapable predicament. Normally, this palm strike would undoubtedly turn Li Shengdai into a puddle of flesh.

While engaging in combat with the palm above her, Shangguan Ziyi’s divine consciousness constantly monitored Li Shengdai’s every move.

This is a dead-end. If Li Shengdai really has a master powerful enough to achieve Ascension, he would not stand idly by. He would surely be able to easily resolve this crisis.

If nobody comes to help, then Li Shengdai is indeed doomed! Filled with lies, deceiving and swindling, even if he isn’t killed by this palm strike, I won’t let him off!

Even though she had taken Li Shengdai as her junior brother, which involved some inexplicable restrictions in her body, Shangguan Ziyi still harbored some doubts. She wanted to take this opportunity to verify the truthfulness of Li Shengdai’s words.

Meanwhile, before Shangguan Ziyi rushed out of the house, her Martial Soul had already quietly positioned itself behind Li Shengdai. If Li Shengdai was in mortal danger with no one to save him, Shangguan Ziyi would ensure his safety.

In a critical moment, Shangguan Ziyi’s Martial Soul could perform a soul switch, replacing Li Shengdai directly from a fatal situation.

After all, Shangguan Haoran’s illness still depended on Li Shengdai.

Even if Li Shengdai had deceived her before, Shangguan Ziyi would not trouble him now, let alone allow someone to kill him.

Thus, Shangguan Ziyi watched, as the giant hand descended rapidly with a formidable momentum.

She observed Li Shengdai facing danger, yet remaining calm, without a trace of panic, as if completely ignoring this deadly strike.

Just when Shangguan Ziyi could not help but switch Li Shengdai out, she saw the momentum of the giant hand suddenly slow down, changing from a strike to a grab. The giant palm gently closed, wrapping up Li Shengdai in its grip.

Whoosh!

Both hands simultaneously retracted. Before the gaping Shangguan Ziyi, Li Shengdai was just like that, directly taken away before her eyes!

In the sky, the bright moon still shone.

In the courtyard, even if the previous battle had been extremely dangerous, not even a single leaf or tile was harmed. Evidently, that secretive Saint Peak expert, who had never even shown their face, did not seem to have ill intentions or any desire to hurt Li Shengdai.

Once everything returned to tranquility, only then did Shi Long and Lu Rong sense anything amiss and quickly appeared next to Shangguan Ziyi.

Senior Shangguan, what happened just now? Did assassins come? Shi Long asked with concern.

Shangguan Ziyi turned her head and looked at the two of them. Seeing their bewildered expressions, it was clear that these two Demi-Saint had not perceived anything of what had happened in the courtyard just now.

That mysterious person had actually managed to stealthily block all perception around him before the moment of attack. If the incident had not taken place right before the door to Shangguan Ziyi’s courtyard, even she might have failed to detect it.

Truly ingenious means.

Just now... my newly acknowledged junior brother was taken away!

Shangguan Ziyi did not conceal it. Moreover, there was no way to hide such a thing. Even if she did not say it, they would very soon notice that Li Shengdai had vanished.

Shi Long and Lu Rong were both shocked. Shangguan Ziyi’s recently acknowledged junior brother - wasn’t that Li Shengdai? Back when Li Shengdai accepted disciples on behalf of his master, Shi Long and Lu Rong had stood by, well-aware of the relationship between Li Shengdai and Shangguan Ziyi.

Li Shi was actually taken? Could it be that even senior Shangguan was unable to stop it? Lu Rong asked in astonishment.

Shangguan Ziyi was a Saint Peak expert. If not even she could stop it, wouldn’t the two of them, mere Demi-Saints, be even more helpless?

A bad look was present on Shangguan Ziyi’s face. That man’s cultivation was just slightly higher than mine. However, fortunately, it seems as if his intentions are not lethal - or perhaps he has some other goal in mind, so my junior brother should be out of danger for now.

And I think I already have an idea of who that person might be. You two stay home and don’t act recklessly. I’m going to confront them and demand our people back!

Having said that, Shangguan Ziyi leaped up and vanished into thin air, leaving Shi Long and Lu Rong staring at each other in confusion.

This woman, leaving just like that, at least you could have left some information about the assassin before you went, right? If it’s someone we can’t afford to offend, we’d at least be prepared to flee, right?

Li Shi was right; we really are too weak.

Shi Long looked up at the sky and sighed deeply: The opponents Li Shi is facing now are easily Saint-Level cultivators. Us two Demi-Saints are simply not in the same league.

I’ve never felt as weak as I do now. Not reaching the Saint level, one remains an ant; this saying couldn’t be more accurate.

Lu Rong nodded in agreement: Even Shangguan Ziyi admits her inferiority. The assassin is most likely a Saint Peak, and compared to these Saint-Level Powerhouses, our cultivation is indeed insignificant.

However, when we initially agreed to protect Li Shi, nobody expected him to cause such a stir. A single Life Star Chart has disturbed the peace of the entire Heavenly Soul Continent, prompting many Saint-Level cultivators who were close to death to come out of seclusion.

Back when we first set out to make our mark in the world, did you ever see a Soul Saint make a move? Many Saint-Level Powerhouses couldn’t be bothered to stir for a thousand years, and the world was ruled by Demi-Saints.

And look at us now? It’s only been a few days, and we’ve already encountered three Saint Peak experts. This is definitely not normal!

In my opinion, Lu Rong said with a bitter expression, being kidnapped like today is just the beginning. I think we need to start getting used to it.

Shi Long: ...

Get used to what?

Get used to being bullied? Get used to Li Shengdai being kidnapped? Or get used to acting subservient in front of stronger powers, resenting it but being powerless to change anything?

Shi Long felt a bitter taste in his heart. The feeling of being weak was truly unbearable.

Chapter 316: Carefree Palace

Li Shengdai opened his eyes once more, greeted by a blinding display of extravagance, so bright and dazzling that it was almost enough to render him blind.

There were no candles, no enchanted lamps, yet the grand hall he found himself in was as bright as day, every detail clearly visible, with even his own shadow all but dissolved by the light radiating from all directions.

The floor was paved with golden bricks, the surrounding walls were constructed entirely of Soul Stones, and the ceiling was covered in a transparent protective enchantments. Along the walls, inlaid into lines connecting their corners, were rows of luminous gemstones, all of uniform size, resembling Night-Illuminating Pearls.

Hu Buwei’s Soul Stone bed was nothing compared to this magnificent hall.

The walls here were made of Soul Stones, and the entire hall was permeated with Soul Power. The concentration of Soul Power was not inferior to that of the Spirit Spring Secret Realm in the Hu Mansion.

Golden-brick floors, Soul Stone walls - this is what true luxury looks like!

Li Shengdai exclaimed inwardly. Tens of thousands of tons of gold, hundreds of millions of Soul Stones, and thousands of precious Night-Illuminating Pearls - the construction of this hall must have cost at least three to five hundred million Soul Stones.

And the stone chair Li Shengdai was sitting on now... Just now, Li Shengdai had sensed something odd about it, so he had probed it with his Perception and discovered that this seemingly unremarkable stone chair was actually carved from a raw Divine Soul Jade!

Wasn’t it said that Divine Soul Jade was extremely rare, with even the entire Great Qian Imperial Clan possessing only a few pieces?

Yet now, someone was extravagant enough to use Divine Soul Jade as a chair to sit on. Did that sound like something rare?

Li Shi, you’re awake? Are you feeling better?

Sensing Li Shengdai’s movement, the person who had been waiting by his side hurriedly approached and asked softly.

The voice sounded familiar. Li Shengdai looked up and saw Huangfu Tianlang’s old face instantly appear before his eyes.

So it’s Senior Tianlang. Li Shengdai straightened up, gathering his energy and looking up at Huangfu Tianlang. What happened to me? Where is this place?

Huangfu Tianlang gave Li Shengdai a deep look and asked softly, Li Shi, don’t pretend to be confused. Do you really not know where this is?

When he was captured, Li Shengdai had been calm and composed, without showing any hint of fear. Furthermore, Li Shengdai had not activated his most commonly used Golden Body-Protecting Talisman. This showed that, from the very beginning, Li Shengdai had been certain that he was not in any danger.

Moreover, this is Holy Capital City. Given Li Shengdai’s intelligence, it’s impossible for him not to realize that unless with the consent of the Great Qian Royal Family, no other forces’ Saint-Level powerhouses could commit acts of violence in Holy Capital City.

How am I pretending to be confused? Li Shengdai still looked utterly bewildered. I only remember being attacked by an assassin. Could it be that Senior Tianlang intervened to save me?

Li Shi gives me too much credit. I don’t possess the capability to snatch you back from the hands of a Saint Peak powerhouse.

Li Shengdai refused to admit it, and Huangfu Tianlang didn’t press further, simply responding: "The one who took