Merit-based card draws, quickly become a Heavenly Emperor

Nourished by the moonlight of the night-blooming cereus, Liu Qingyu's cultivation has advanced from the Lesser Completion of the Eighth Grade Cursed Ghost to the Greater Completion.

Fang Zheng was full of confidence. With Liu Qingyu by his side, he was not afraid of any dangers in the inheritance process.

He gathered up the remaining merits, glanced at the progress bar of the Ghost Gate Tour card pool, and realized that he was only one step away from getting the guaranteed [Soul-Guiding Banner].

He had been waiting for this peerless card for a long time. If he drew it, his strength would definitely rise to another level.

Fang Zheng stepped out of the marching tent. The sun was shining brightly, and even Qinghe Valley, located in the north, had a hint of spring.

Two days ago, Lü Zhengfeng and Lu Qingyun led a team to escort a group of criminals to the prefectural capital. Before leaving, Lü Zhengfeng was afraid that there might be an ambush in the secret realm, so he specially prepared a few life-saving items for Fang Zheng.

A protective jade pendant can block a fatal attack at a critical moment.

A talisman for officialdom, personally written by Lü Zhengfeng, can be activated to release a perfect eighth-grade officialdom-locking technique once.

There is also a talisman for escaping to the ground; if crushed in a crisis, it can allow one to escape ten miles away.

Fang Zheng carefully put these things away on his person, and led a team of soldiers into Qinghe Valley as soon as the appointed time arrived.

Since ancient times, these great repaired burrows have always been like a cunning rabbit with multiple burrows, and the tokens left behind are never just one.

The ancient painting in Wu Gui's possession is indeed a token, but it cannot be ruled out that others also possess tokens.

To avoid any unforeseen complications, it would be best to acquire the inheritance as soon as possible.

The plum trees in the valley are of varying heights, their branches adorned with white and pink blossoms, their fragrance so strong it's almost overwhelming.

Fang Zheng walked through the flower forest and, following the map left by Granny Gui, found a huge stone pillar at the bottom of the valley.

The stone pillar is bluish-gray in color, with a smooth surface, no inscriptions or patterns, and looks quite ordinary.

But the ancient painting he had seized from Granny Gui was now burning hot in his arms.

He took out the ancient painting, unfolded it, and found that it was still the same yellowed landscape painting from before.

However, there is a blank space in the center of the image.

Fang Zheng compared the description with that of Granny Gui and was overjoyed; it was indeed the place.

He took out his judge's pen and lightly left a stroke of dark ink in the blank space of the painting.

Like the finishing touch on a painting, he pointed out the gray stone pillar in front of him, with simple and unadorned strokes and deep ink.

In that instant, ripples spread across the surface of the stone pillar, as if the stone had turned into water.

Fang Zheng took a deep breath, turned around and ordered, "You all stay here and don't let any outsiders in!"

The team leader, Constable Chen, bowed and accepted the order, saying, "Rest assured, Lord Fang!"

Wishing you a fruitful journey!

Fang Zheng nodded slightly, and without further hesitation, stepped into the ripples.

His vision went dark for a moment, then brightened again, and he found himself standing in a stone chamber.

The stone chamber was small, with smooth, polished stone walls on all four sides, and several luminous pearls embedded in the ceiling, emitting a soft, cool light.

In the center of the stone chamber was a stone table with a bamboo scroll, a jade box, and a bronze oil lamp on it. The wick had long since burned out, leaving only a wisp of ashes.

Fang Zheng looked around, a strange excitement welling up inside him.

The legacy of Wu Baopu, the master painter, is passed down right here.

Before he could examine the items on the stone table closely, he heard footsteps behind him.

Fang Zheng turned around abruptly, and ripples appeared on the walls of the stone chamber again. Three figures emerged from the ripples.

The man in the lead was burly, with a face full of menacing features, and his fists were a size larger than average, with calluses covering his knuckles.

The second one was thin, with two short knives hanging from his waist, and had a sinister look in his eyes.

The third one was a woman with heavy makeup, exuding a charming aura.

Fang Zheng narrowed his eyes. There were two eighth-grade martial artists and one eighth-grade Daoist cultivator.

He had met this female Taoist cultivator once before, in particular.

It turned out to be Qin Ruyi, the top courtesan at Zuixianlou, who had caused two纨绔子弟 (playboys) like Zhu Hongcai and Ma Chengfeng to fight over her.

It was truly unexpected that such a small county as Yongqing was full of hidden talents, even the most popular courtesan had a different identity, and she didn't reveal any flaws under his nose.

Qin Ruyi glanced around the stone chamber, her gaze settling on the stone table, a smile playing on her lips.

"It's better to arrive at the right time than to arrive early, Master Fang. You can't possibly consume all these inheritances by yourself, so why not share some with us?"

Fang Zheng was incredibly clever; in the blink of an eye, he had already guessed the identity of the newcomer.

The government has access to basic information about the hermits in Yongqing County, so it's impossible for them to be allowed into Qinghe Valley, and it's also unlikely that they would possess any inheritance tokens.

However, it cannot be ruled out that other experts may have bypassed the guards, carrying tokens, and entered this place of inheritance from other places.

What power in Yongqing County could easily mobilize three eighth-rank cultivators?

Fang Zheng had his left hand behind his back, secretly gripping the official seal, but his face remained calm.

"The White Lotus Temple's reach is quite extensive."

Qin Ruyi laughed and did not deny it.

"Make it quick and easy, don't break anything."

With a wave of her hand, the two eighth-rank martial artists approached Fang Zheng from the left and right.

The burly warrior stepped forward, his fist whistling through the air as it aimed straight for Fang Zheng's chest.

The wiry warrior's short sword also came up from the other side.

Both of them held back some of their strength when they attacked.

In their view, a ninth-rank Daoist cultivator, even if he has an official seal, is not worth going all out for.

Fang Zheng dodged the punch by sidestepping, but instead of counterattacking directly, he first drew a black circle under the feet of the burly martial artist using the "Drawing a Circle on the Ground" technique.

The burly warrior looked down and saw that his ankle was already wrapped in an ink line, and the relaxed smile on his face faded slightly.

"They've got quite a few tricks up their sleeve."

At this moment, with a sharp ghostly howl, Liu Qingyu burst out from Fang Zheng's palm, her red clothes fluttering, and rushed straight at the thin martial artist.

The gaunt martial artist's expression changed, and he hurriedly raised his sword to parry.

clang!

The ghost claw struck the blade, producing a piercing metallic scraping sound.

"Grand Mastery of the Eighth Rank?"

He was jolted back two steps, and the smile on his face vanished completely.

At the same time, Fang Zheng had already torn open four talismans and summoned four ink soldiers at the ninth rank of perfection.

The burly warrior smashed a black soldier away with a single punch, but the black soldier quickly reformed after shattering into ink.

He smashed one body, and another came, as if he could never finish fighting them all.

His breathing became rapid, his punches went astray, and he muttered under his breath, "What the hell is that?"

Qin Ruyi stood by the stone table, watching the situation take a sharp turn for the worse, and the smile on her face finally disappeared completely.

She raised her hand and made a hand seal, and a gray ghost face shot out from her fingertips, heading straight for Fang Zheng.

Fang Zheng did not take the hit head-on; instead, a shield of Yin energy unfolded in front of him.

The ghost face slammed into the shield, causing it to vibrate and crack in several rings, but it didn't break.

Qin Ruyi's lips tightened slightly. Although this attack was not at full strength, it should have broken through the defense of a ninth-grade cultivator.

She hadn't expected this young man's Taoist skills to be so formidable.

She unleashed another gray ghost face, followed by another, both striking Fang Zheng simultaneously.