In the vast central plains of the continent stood the Azure Sky Sect, one of the oldest legacies of human cultivation.
Its towering mountains pierced the clouds, its countless halls hummed with spiritual energy — yet in the highest pavilion, a man sat in silence.
His name was Daoist Shen Mu, and he was known across kingdoms as one of the three peak Golden Core experts of the world.
For nearly three hundred years, he had pursued the path of ascension.
Now, at the edge of his lifespan, his Golden Core pulsed weakly, its radiance dimming.
But then — the world changed.
---
The Descent of the Heavenly System
The moment the status windows appeared, the heavens trembled faintly.
Every cultivator — from wandering rogue to imperial grandmaster — could now see lines of light before their eyes,
showing their name, realm, merit, and karma.
Daoist Shen Mu's eyes widened as he read the floating runes.
> [Name: Shen Mu]
[Realm: Peak Golden Core]
[Merit: 0] [Karma: 0]
[Notice: New Law Established — The Law of Merit and Karma. Slay the Fallen. Purify the Dungeons. Earn Merit to Refine Talent and Advance Realm.]
He rose slowly from his meditation seat, his heart pounding for the first time in decades.
"Merit that can increase cultivation… even break bottlenecks."
His aged voice trembled slightly. "Heaven has given me… one final chance."
---
The Hunt Begins
Within hours, the Azure Sky Sect's Intelligence Hall was in motion.
Thousands of scouts, disciples, and elders poured through data revealed by the new system.
By nightfall, they presented their findings before Shen Mu.
> "Sect Master, these are the locations of known Fallen gatherings and newly formed Dungeons in the surrounding thousand li."
He nodded, his calm authority returning.
"Good. Prepare no escort. I shall handle this myself."
"But Sect Master—"
He waved his hand. "If I cannot even face a few Fallen, I am not worthy to touch the heavens."
A single streak of azure light tore across the sky — Daoist Shen Mu departed.
---
Cleansing the Fallen
The first battle was almost laughable.
The Fallen — mortals and low-level cultivators whose eyes glowed faintly with alien light — gathered around their false idols and chanted corrupted hymns.
Shen Mu descended like a storm.
He didn't waste time speaking. His spiritual pressure alone crushed half their number, and with a flick of his sleeve,
azure flames swept across the valley, erasing all traces of their taint.
> [Merit +12,000]
A faint golden light coiled around his body, purifying his meridians. He could feel it — the sluggish flow of Qi was awakening again.
"Truly miraculous…" he murmured.
"But these insects are too weak. The true test lies within the Dungeons."
---
The Minor Dungeon
His next destination was a nearby Dungeon.
From the outside, it looked like a cracked mountain range — yet when he stepped in, the world shifted.
He found himself standing beneath a crimson sky, on land made of shattered crystals.
In the distance, grotesque creatures roamed, exuding terrifying killing intent.
From his perception, they were monsters.
From Arin's perspective, they were merely projections of corrupted Dao, formed from the alien artifacts' leaking power.
Shen Mu's lips curved slightly. "Then let us see how much merit your deaths will grant."
He raised his sword.
With each swing, a new world of azure light burst forth —
creatures screamed, shadows shattered, and streams of golden motes flowed into his body.
Hours passed.
When the final guardian — a beast at the peak of Foundation Establishment — fell, he could feel the bottleneck loosening within him.
> [Merit +108,000]
[Minor Dungeon Purified — 73%]
But even after scouring every corner, the Dungeon refused to collapse.
He frowned. "So they regenerate… A clever system. Waiting is meaningless."
---
The Major Dungeon
The following dawn, he arrived at a vast abyss — one of the major Dungeons identified by his scouts.
The moment he entered, the air thickened. The pressure was suffocating, and the creatures inside radiated terrifying strength.
He moved like lightning, cutting through endless waves of monsters.
Their numbers were uncountable; their power, overwhelming.
Yet his sword never wavered.
Finally, deep within the Dungeon's core, he met it —
a being equal to himself, exuding the might of a peak Golden Core realm.
For hours they fought, shaking the Dungeon itself.
The ground split, the air burned, and energy storms ravaged the domain.
When the final strike fell, the creature's form shattered into countless motes of gold.
> [Merit +1,200,000]
[Dungeon Core Severely Weakened]
Shen Mu fell to one knee, breathing heavily.
He could feel the tide of power within him. His core trembled, ready to evolve.
---
The Final Step
But he did not rush.
Returning to the Azure Sky Sect, he sealed himself within the Heavenly Ascension Chamber.
For an entire month, he cultivated — refining his Qi, balancing his spirit, preparing his body for the inevitable storm.
When the day came, he sat cross-legged atop the mountain peak.
Merit energy surged around him like a golden tempest.