Secular world: My destiny has no taboos

Chapter 572-582: Exchange Area Level

Exchange Treasure Vault?

No, it should be called an exchange space.

As he looked, he saw a world completely different from the normal mundane world.

In the strange world before them, hundreds of floating islands floated, shrouded in mist and clouds. From time to time, streaks of light from cranes could be seen breaking through the air and disappearing into the clouds.

As Zhong Kui was marveling at the sight, a figure suddenly appeared not far from him.

It was a rat about half the height of a person with golden fur.

It sat behind a table, holding a pen, with its legs crossed like a human, glancing sideways at Zhong Kui.

"Zhong Kui, with 4,838 merits, has beheaded three demon-level ghost generals, seventeen ghost-level soldiers, and numerous low-ranking soldiers. His achievements are outstanding..."

Zhong Kui lowered his head and felt that the number plate on his waist was slightly red and hot, shimmering with starlight.

During this battle to stop the evil army, he did encounter many ghosts of the demonic level, but they were basically all killed by Li Ping'an, so it had little to do with him. Unexpectedly, the credit for the final settlement was attributed to him.

"This sir..."

Zhong Kui saw that the golden-haired rat in front of him had an extraordinary aura and assumed that it was a great figure among the immortals, so he spoke to it with some respect.

Before he could even finish speaking, the golden-haired rat glared at Zhong Kui, waving its brush and urging him, "Hey, you up ahead, the verification is complete! Hurry up and cross the bridge, don't delay everyone!"

Upon hearing this, Zhong Kui turned around and noticed that someone had been following him.

He sighed helplessly and was about to pass by the golden rat when Li Ping'an emerged from his body and slapped the golden rat on the forehead.

The golden rat, in pain, looked furious and glared at Zhong Kui, only to turn around and see a familiar face.

"You've gotten quite bold, you Wealthy Rat, you don't even give me face anymore?" Li Ping'an sneered, arms crossed, staring at the Wealthy Rat.
If we're talking about the old men who've been with Lin Beixuan from the very beginning, besides Li Ping'an, it's the Five Rats of Floating Life.

Since Lin Beixuan's body entered the mortal world, he brought the Five Rats with him and sent them to cultivate under different mortal gods. Now, their strength has greatly increased, and they each hold different positions in the Beiming Army.

The Wealth-Welcoming Rat is a little fairy who assists the Turtle God in managing and exchanging treasures.

Li Ping'an and the Five Rats had not seen each other for a long time, and their meeting now felt somewhat like meeting old friends in a foreign land.

The money-welcoming rat stared with its round, black bean-like eyes, and its calligraphy brush fell to the table with a 'thud,' its whiskers trembling like weeds in the wind.

"Hey! I didn't expect to see you here. Shouldn't you be in the underworld? What are you doing in our mortal realm?"

As he spoke, the Wealth-Bringing Rat looked Zhong Kui up and down and said, "And it's possessing a little guy."

Zhong Kui watched the two spirits and the ghost reminisce like old friends, his expression indifferent.

After all, Li Ping'an already calls the Prefectural Lord "Father," so it's not surprising that he knows some high-ranking officials in the Northern Underworld Army.

This is truly a second-generation official, and the most outstanding one at that.

As Zhong Kui was thinking this, he saw Li Ping'an walk up to him with the Wealth-Welcoming Rat.

The Wealth-Welcoming Rat first took a closer look at Zhong Kui, then looked at Li Ping'an with a strange expression, as if to say something.

"Is this the person the master values?" Li Ping'an shrugged, making a strange expression that said, "What you see is what you think."

The Wealth-Welcoming Rat understood perfectly. It waved to summon a few underlings, letting them temporarily take over its position and arrange for the rest of the group to board the island in an orderly fashion. The rat itself then led Zhong Kui onto a suspension bridge that resembled a white cloud, arriving at the very center of the archipelago.

The Wealth-Welcoming Rat walked in front of Zhong Kui, hands behind its back, and said calmly, "Since this is your first time here, you may not be familiar with the rules. Let me explain them to you in general, so you don't break the rules and get thrown out."

Zhong Kui nodded seriously upon hearing this.

The Wealth-Bringing Rat greatly appreciated this attitude, as if recalling its own youthful days.

"This exchange space is divided into three realms. The Flowing Cloud Island beneath our feet is the outermost one, which is quite convenient for exchanging ordinary magic artifacts and pills."

The Wealth-Bringing Rat led Zhong Kui to a treasure pavilion. After verifying their identities in front of a ball of light at the entrance, the rat's claws swept across the air, revealing dense text listing various items and their corresponding merit prices.

"These ordinary magical artifacts and elixirs don't require many merit points. Of course, you can also exchange them for some gold and silver treasures, or fertile land, or even become a disciple of a certain immortal."

"However, the rules become stricter the further you go in."

As it spoke, a cloud gathered beneath the Wealth-Welcoming Rat's feet, dragging Zhong Kui and Li Ping'an into the air, flying from Liuyun Island to another island.

This island looked more luxurious than Liuyun Island, and of course, the number of people visiting it dropped drastically. Most of the people coming and going had a powerful aura, and even when they saw Zhong Kui and Li Ping'an, they only glanced at them with surprise and then paid no more attention to them.

The Wealth-Welcoming Rat said, "The intermediate exchange area 'Lingxiao Island' requires at least 5,000 merit points to enter and exchange for items inside. Your merit points are not enough, so this time I'm using my privileges to bring you in."

The Wealth-Bringing Rat led Zhong Kui across a long covered bridge, surrounded by beautiful scenery.

In the hazy mist, Zhong Kui saw graceful Hu fairies carrying treasures into the pavilion at the end of the covered bridge.

The river flowing gently beneath the bridge seemed to shimmer with starlight, and lotus buds, about to bloom, peeked out from among the lotus leaves, exuding an inexplicable charm. Taking a gentle breath, Zhong Kui felt as if his entire body was immersed in warm spring water.

Hearing the Wealth-Welcoming Rat's words, Zhong Kui was somewhat surprised and said, "Five thousand merits are needed to qualify for landing on the island? How many battles must one go through and how many powerful enemies must one kill to achieve that!"

He narrowly escaped death several times in the battle to stop the evil army, and with Li Ping'an's help, he barely managed to obtain more than four thousand merits, but he didn't even qualify to enter the intermediate exchange area.

The Wealth-Welcoming Rat chuckled, seemingly unfazed by Zhong Kui's expression: "Or do you want everyone to be able to take a look at the mid-to-high-level exchange area?"

"That was the old system. Later, the master felt that the original system was only suitable for establishing morale and setting an example when the number of Beiming Army was small. When the number of people increased, the rules became more important."

He said that humans are emotional creatures. The more unattainable something is, the more they covet it and the more they want to climb and explore it.

"On the contrary, if they are exposed to treasures that require a lot of merit points to exchange for a long time, and they know that they cannot exchange for them, their expectations will gradually decrease. In the end, they will only be attached to the present and dare not think about the more beautiful and powerful things ahead."

The Wealth-Welcoming Rat spoke eloquently, like a qualified tour guide.

Since this exchange space was opened up, it has seen too many hesitant soldiers of the Northern Underworld Army coming and going.

Sometimes, during the opening hours of the exchange space, the soldiers of the Northern Underworld Army would gather together and sit at the far end of Flowing Cloud Island, gazing at the mid-to-high-level exchange area.

It was at that time that the Wealth-Welcoming Rat gradually understood Lin Beixuan's intentions.

Sometimes, what we can't see is far more captivating than what we can. Zhong Kui frowned slightly: "But if this continues, won't those soldiers who don't have enough merit to go to the mid-to-high-level exchange areas be unable to find out what attractive treasures they can exchange for there?"

"Wouldn't that make things even less hopeful?"

The Wealth-Welcoming Rat gave Zhong Kui an approving look: "The fact that you thought of this shows you're not completely stupid."

"This is the beauty of the new system implemented by the Prefect."

As he spoke, the Wealth-Welcoming Rat pointed to a general from the Northern Underworld Army who had just brushed past Zhong Kui.

"Have you seen that general?"

Zhong Kui nodded blankly, not understanding what the Wealth-Welcoming Rat meant.

The Wealth-Welcoming Rat said calmly, "Those with low merit points naturally wouldn't know what good items can be exchanged for with high merit points in the mid-to-high-level exchange area, but some people do know!"

The money-welcoming rat's eyes darted around.

"Within the Northern Underworld Army, it is not forbidden to spread information about what items can be exchanged within the exchange space."

"We don't need to intervene. Those who have exchanged treasures from the mid-to-high-level exchange spaces will reveal this information under various circumstances."

"So you don't need to worry at all that those ordinary soldiers will lack expectations. Their expectations are kept high every day, and they dream of one day being able to take something away from the mid-to-high-level exchange area!"

As they were talking, the Wealth-Welcoming Rat had already led Zhong Kui to the treasure pavilion in the center of Lingxiao Island.

It was the same ball of light as the one on Liuyun Island. The Wealth-Welcoming Rat reached out and grabbed it. A ray of golden light flashed, and characters flickered in the air.

"You can preview the items inside the pavilion by looking at the text list in front of the door. After selecting the treasures you like, you will be guided to the pavilion to help you find them faster."

"By the way, I must remind you here that you must never take any treasures that you have not exchanged for merits out of the treasure pavilion, let alone out of the exchange space. This is a strict order and the basis for the military merit exchange system established by the Merit Lord."

"Anyone who dares to disobey, except for the Prefect, will be severely punished."

The Wealth-Welcoming Rat stared intently at Zhong Kui and said solemnly, "You are someone the Lord values. Although I know you wouldn't do something so foolish, I will still remind you as is customary."

"Those who should have violated this prohibition have not survived to this day; even their souls have been annihilated, preventing them from entering the underworld."

Upon hearing the Wealth-Welcoming Rat's cold words, Zhong Kui felt a chill run down his spine, as if something was watching him, and he increasingly felt that this was not an illusion.

The Wealth-Welcoming Rat resumed its playful expression: "This exchange space is guarded by the Turtle God and the Kitchen God, and is also connected to the Master's consciousness. Any movement here will be known to the two mortal gods and the Master."

"It can be said that this place is even safer than Lord Fox Spirit God's Sheshan Mountain."

Seeing Zhong Kui standing there dumbfounded, the Wealth-Welcoming Rat gestured for him to look at the exchange list floating in mid-air.

"Although it takes 5,000 merit points to enter the Lingxiao Island exchange area, it doesn't mean that all the treasures inside are worth more than 5,000 merit points. In fact, there are quite a few affordable and good items inside."

"The reason it's placed in the intermediate exchange area is because the items are relatively rare."

Zhong Kui looked up and saw that the list of text in front of him was flowing like a galaxy, with lines of small golden characters floating in the halo. Upon closer inspection, they were divided into several categories.

Cultivation techniques, specialized martial arts, methods, precious medicines...

Looking at these categories, Zhong Kui felt a surge of excitement. He extended his spirit and connected with the ball of light in front of the Lingxiao Pavilion.

The Wealth-Bringing Rat watched quietly from the side, ceasing to speak.

Zhong Kui glanced at each category, and finally his gaze fell on the pathways and special weapons.

He naturally knew that he was now at the Opening Realm and, at Li Ping'an's suggestion, had begun to come into contact with the power of the Tonglu lineage.

If one can master several paths before advancing to the Divine Realm, it will not only give him an absolute advantage in battles against opponents of the same realm, but also solidify his foundation, which will greatly help him in his future attempt to become a Human Immortal.

"I heard that when the Lord was still in the Opening Realm, he had already mastered several paths of power, and after summoning the gods, he was invincible in the same realm."

Zhong Kui thought to himself, opened the list of routes, and then a series of route information appeared in front of him.

Name: Yin Lei Path
Introduction: Lightning is divided into Yin and Yang. Yang lightning is dazzlingly powerful; those struck by it feel as if their whole body is burning with heat. Yin lightning is dirty and impure; it suppresses Yang energy, yet it penetrates everywhere, corroding the bones and leaving the body heavy and turbid...

Required Merit Points: 9010
Name: Fire Calamity Path
Description: Once, a fire spirit flew by, and its fallen fire feathers landed on the ground, igniting a raging fire. Thick black smoke rose from under its wings, symbolizing fire and calamity.

Required Merit Points: 7,800
Name: Birth Date and Astrological Influences - Yang Blade Path
Introduction: The Birth Date and Time Gods are one of the paths of the Mourning God. The birth date and time reveal one's fate, but fortune and misfortune are unknown. The Yang Blade is inauspicious. It can help the weak and bring disaster to the strong.

Required Merit Points: 6,000
……

Zhong Kui stared at the paths flashing before his eyes, feeling utterly disheartened, because with his current merit points, he couldn't even afford the path that required the fewest merit points.

Seeing Zhong Kui's gaze lingering on the path of the Yang Blade, the Wealth-Welcoming Rat smiled and explained.

"The Yang Blade path is no less powerful than the previous paths. The reason why it requires less merit is because the Yang Blade is a double-edged sword. If one's own birth chart is not strong enough, it is easy to hurt oneself and others by taking this path."

"But if your birth chart is strong enough, then choosing the Yang Blade is perfectly fine."

Zhong Kui thought to himself, "My birth chart should be strong enough, right?"

He recalled his journey and realized that he shouldn't be one of those people with unfavorable birth charts.

The problem he faces right now is that his merits are simply not enough to exchange for the Yang Blade.

So he carefully reviewed the exchange list again, and indeed, as the Wealth-Welcoming Rat had said, there were quite a few treasures worth less than 8,000 merit points. However, Zhong Kui only glanced at them and then skipped over them.

In the end, he decided to focus on the channels through which he wanted to exchange for what he wanted.

The Yang Blade requires 6,000 merit points, which is exactly what's best for him right now.

Upon seeing this, the Wealth-Welcoming Rat immediately coughed, its expression resembling that of a shining savior.

"We are destined to meet. If you really want this Sheep Blade, I can lend you two thousand merit points."

"Of course, I want to take two percent of the profit."

(End of this chapter)