I have to get lucky right away.

Chapter 292 The Merit Pool Really Has Merit
"This is your voucher. To ensure accurate recording, please carry it with you at all times and do not wrap it with sealing spells."

After receiving a wooden plaque from the temple keeper of the City God Temple, Feng Xue glanced at it and immediately understood how it worked.

It's not that he's particularly smart, but rather that this thing is essentially the same as the batch of talismans he created in the previous world.

However, it does not contain a fragment of a divine spirit, so it cannot record every spell cast as accurately as his talismans. But with just a spell similar to the ability to sense evil spirits, it can record the discovery and elimination of evil spirits.

Feng Xue casually hung the spirit tablet on his wrist, but did not set off immediately. He was not familiar with this city, and it was obviously unrealistic to wait and watch before the evil spirits erupted. Rather than getting into work immediately, he preferred to go and see the so-called Merit Pool.

"I see, so this is what they call a 'hidden fee'?"

Standing before the Merit Pool, Feng Xue gazed at the shimmering, canopy-like power of wishes above the water, her brows furrowing slightly. The so-called Merit Pool is actually similar to the Western wishing well; simply put, it's a place where people throw coins into the pool to make their wishes.

However, the peculiar spiritual light emanating from the merit pool here is enough to show that it is not just a place to seek peace of mind.

With a sweep of his Qi-observation technique, distinct clusters of willpower unfolded before his eyes—

[Hope Mom gets better soon!]

I want to get married!

I hope this deal goes well!

[Please, Lord City God, punish that bastard Wang Laohu!]

……

Various wishes floated above the wishing well, carried by tiny copper coins. Without any explanation, Feng Xue understood that as long as she could fulfill the desires of these wishes, she could reap the rewards.

Although not all cultivators need willpower, as the universal currency of the underworld, it is excellent whether used for personal purposes, for one's ancestors, or for trading with other cultivators. It can be considered a general equivalent in the cultivator world.

So in a sense, this really is where the locals put up bounties.

However, most of the common people who made wishes would not know that their wish, which was only for a single copper coin, could actually earn them the help of a cultivator.

Or rather, if one truly harbors this intention, this vow will not be pure enough and will lose its value as a "bonus." In the end, it will only sink to the bottom like many other copper coins in the pool, and then one day be retrieved along with other useless copper coins as part of the incense offerings of the City God Temple. This can also be considered an apology from those who are not sincere for "occupying public resources."

"Interesting! The person who created this merit pool is definitely a genius!"

Looking at the merit pool, which resembled a canopy, Feng Xue couldn't help but nod in approval. This canopy wasn't just made up of the copper coins that carried prayers; even the pool water itself, through years of nurturing, had been imbued with the power of wishes. Over time, it might even give birth to something like a "self-disciplined wish-granting god." As long as one sincerely threw in a coin, the power of wishes would spontaneously condense into a physical form to help fulfill one's desires.

"It's like the agent got a commission."

As Feng Xue pondered this, she suddenly walked over to a young man who appeared to be over 170 years old and politely said:
"Fellow Daoist, may I ask if receiving the hidden reward from the Merit Pool is a straightforward process, or is there some procedure involved? Like retrieving copper coins or something?" "You..." The "young man" seemed surprised that his cultivator identity had been so easily seen through, but after a moment's hesitation, he refrained from asking a humiliating question. Looking at Feng Xue's obviously unusual physique, he politely replied:

"Fellow Daoist, you are too kind. There is no need to accept the request for this Merit Pool. Once you see the request and decide to complete it, you will have formed a karmic bond. You can then follow the connection of the vow to find the person in charge, and return here to collect your reward after you have completed the task."

"This is truly a masterpiece!" Feng Xue exclaimed in admiration, but she was also a little confused. Since the City God Temples are connected to the network, why don't the City God Temples in Lucheng and Ping'an County have this? It can't be because the places are too small, right?
What Feng Xue didn't know was that he had actually guessed correctly. After all, to "nurture" a merit pool, long-term "feeding" was necessary. In a place with a total population of only a few hundred thousand, there weren't many people with strong enough desires or those who could fulfill their wishes. If the merit pool wasn't received in time, it might even become a deficit (for example, if the person who wished for healing died). Naturally, there would be no soil for a merit pool.

After scanning the wishes in the pool and noting down a few related to healing and saving lives, he had Little Bell keep a record of them before leisurely leaving the City God Temple.

The evil spirits haven't fully erupted yet; let's go and heal the sick and save lives first.

"Received!" Little Bell activated immediately upon hearing the keyword. Compared to tracing the power of wishes on her own, Little Bell, the guiding goddess, was much more adept. Following the marked route, Feng Xue returned to Chicken Cage Village.

But thinking about it, it makes sense. If you have money, you can directly seek out famous doctors or Taoist masters. Naturally, you wouldn't place all your hopes on a small copper coin.

But Feng Xue didn't care much about this. He walked through the streets and alleys and came to the place indicated by the wish. Although it was New Year's Eve, the Spring Festival couplets outside the door were only hastily pasted up and looked a bit crooked.

If you listen carefully, you can faintly hear a few coughs. Feng Xue knew what was going on, so she gently knocked on the door. A moment later, a woman who looked quite tired opened the door.

Upon seeing Feng Xue's face, the woman was visibly taken aback, then said somewhat reservedly:
"This...this young master, is there anything I can help you with?"

"Hello, I am a doctor. I run a clinic in the East Alley. Someone told me that you have a patient and asked me to come and take a look..." Feng Xue said gently, even using a little bit of illusion.

Upon hearing this, the woman blushed, but still stammered:

"We have no money..."

“Someone has already paid.” Feng Xue waved her hand, her expression remaining calm.
"Can I see the patient first?"

"Okay, okay!"

The woman, under the influence of Mo Ying's illusion, stepped aside to enter. The room was dimly lit by an oil lamp. After taking only a few steps, she heard a hoarse male voice say:
"Who?"

"A doctor said that someone paid your consultation fee and came to see you."

"Who will help me get a doctor? I'm afraid..." The man struggled to get up, seemingly worried that a swindler had come, but when he saw Feng Xue's appearance, he immediately fell silent. After all, with Feng Xue's "sound, appearance, and smile," even the whole family combined might not be able to make her move.

At this moment, the man also began to wonder if he really had a close friend who was willing to secretly help him find a doctor.

(End of this chapter)