Chapter Nine, Slaying You, What Benefits Do I Gain (Part One)

"Anything will do, whether it is a cultivation method or something you left behind in the mortal realm, spiritual realm, or celestial realm from your past," Yang Chen replied calmly. "If you provide something of value, I may fulfill your wish in return; it will be a fair transaction, with no deception towards the young or the old."

"What benefits do you seek?" Do not be misled by the fact that he is merely a minor soldier in the heavenly court; in the mortal realm, he was likely a figure of considerable renown, possessing a certain demeanor. Just before his death, he remained exceptionally calm.

"You, a mere mortal, how can you commit such an act of great rebellion?" The old land deity suddenly became indignant and reproached Yang Chen loudly

With a long, deep breath, the technique of the Old Demon once again circulated within his body, swiftly absorbing and dissolving the life essence of the old land. Instantly, a surge of heat rushed to the crown of his head, then it spiraled along the Ren and Du meridians several times before dissipating without a trace. Yet, this single act achieved what Yang Chen could not accomplish even after killing hundreds of mortals.

Outrageous! Outrageous! The old man was so furious that he could not utter anything else.

"What if you take the benefits but cannot fulfill my wish?" Xiao Bing snorted coldly and questioned Yang Chen.

Upon hearing the old man's words, Yang Chen suddenly understood; this old man was clearly a land deity. Not too grand, yet not too humble, he could barely be considered a celestial being.

The heavens have their constants, yet the way of heaven is ever-changing. Yang Chen and the old land deity had nothing to argue about; they merely stated a reason: Over the many years, the important positions in the heavenly court have not seen much change in personnel. Since the way of heaven is ever-changing, why is it that the Jade Emperor remains the same? The Queen Mother of the West also remains unchanged. Many skilled individuals have ascended, yet regardless of their cultivation level, they can only serve as the lowest-ranking heavenly soldiers or palace maids. If it were me, I might also rebel!

With his eyes closed, Yang Chen waited until the heat flow within his body dissipated before finally opening his eyes. He then noticed something unusual about the ring on his hand. With a slight movement of his mind, he discovered that the merit value originally displayed on the ring had changed from zero to over several hundred thousand.

If these rebellious thieves do not include me, perhaps I can assist you with some matters. Yang Chen smiled faintly, ignoring the old landowner's excited demeanor: Of course, you also know that killing is never-ending; there are some I can help you eliminate. However, in the back and forth of killing, fulfilling your wishes, what benefit does it bring to me?

However, several hundred thousand merits are neither particularly large nor small, and Yang Chen did not take them to heart. In this Immortal Slaying Platform, there are densely packed prisoners awaiting judgment, is it not a ground full of merits

So it was you! Yang Chen smiled, yet he did not hasten to wield his knife. After all, he was the only executioner here, and there was no need to consider the time at the Heavenly Court's Execution Platform; when to execute was entirely at Yang Chen's discretion.

"You also know that as a mere mortal, I have no authority to decide on such matters," Yang Chen replied casually while stroking the deadly blade in his hand. To even ask such a question, with such a lack of insight and such stubbornness, it is no wonder he is merely a land steward, and a particularly impoverished one at that.

This was precisely the reason those individuals rebelled against the Heavenly Court, and Yang Chen naturally was not unaware of it. However, when he spoke it aloud, he realized that he was merely playing the lute to a cow.

Yang Chen felt a stir in his heart; this ring was a symbol of identity from the Heavenly Court and simultaneously counted merit points along with the - diagram - book. The increase in merit from slaying the local deity indicated that those rebellious individuals had already taken control of the Heavenly Court and altered the standards for merit. Naturally, killing the enemy would lead to an increase in merit. The amount of merit this immortal had in the old Heavenly Court would now be transferred to Yang Chen.

A few months ago, you dug up an iron box in my temple and even bowed to me, have you forgotten? The old man’s clothes were tattered, which did not match his identity as an immortal: "Few people visit my place, and no one would bow to me, so I remember it quite clearly."

The current sects of cultivation are inextricably linked to both the immortal realm and the mortal realm. I have an unresolved grudge with the Xuantian Sect, and it is imperative that I kill some of their members. Yang Chen, however, was quite serious: "I swear by my heart's demon that I will definitely kill those from the Xuantian Sect. If you have no other last wishes, then you can rest in peace on your journey ahead"

"Is it really you?" A voice emerged from among the awaiting prisoners, surprising Yang Chen greatly. Could it be that someone in the celestial realm recognizes him?

"Grievances have their origins, and debts have their owners. You and I have no past grievances or present enmities. I am merely fulfilling my duty, acting in accordance with the orders of the authorities, and I apologize for any offense!" Yang Chen stood up and recited this statement towards the old landowner. Subsequently, without any hesitation, he struck decisively, and in an instant, the old landowner's head fell to the ground. Blood sprayed everywhere, yet not a drop touched Yang Chen.

"Huh?" The old landowner clearly did not expect Yang Chen to react this way. Struggling to turn his head from the execution platform, he looked at Yang Chen and asked, somewhat incredulously, "Are you serious?"

"Since you dare to swear by the heart demon, I shall trust you this once!" The old land deity did not consider how a mere mortal like Yang Chen could know so many secrets of the heavenly court; he simply listened to Yang Chen's oath and believed him: "If you still have the chance to leave the Immortal Slaying Platform, then go to my dilapidated temple in the mortal realm. Beneath the altar in front of the shrine, there are a few pounds of spirit stones that I hid back in the day. I have lived in poverty for half my life, and everything I left behind before ascending will belong to you! Believe me: if you still have the chance to leave the Immortal Slaying Platform, then go to my dilapidated temple in the mortal realm. Beneath the altar in front of the shrine, there are a few pounds of spirit stones that I hid back in the day. I have lived in poverty for half my life, and everything I left behind before ascending will belong to you! Go ahead!"

The second prisoner was brought up, but he was a minor celestial soldier. Yang Chen did not inquire about his background; instead, following the example of the previous old land deity, he asked, "Before your death and the dissolution of your spirit, do you have any unfulfilled wishes, senior? Perhaps I can help you fulfill them along with some books. Of course, the rules remain the same; what benefits can I gain from assisting you?"

"Wish?" The old man was taken aback for a moment, then immediately shouted in excitement, "My wish is to tear those rebellious scoundrels into pieces!"

"Who?" Yang Chen pointed, identifying the direction of the speaker. In an instant, an old man in gray, securely bound, appeared on the Immortal Execution Platform. As soon as he reached the platform, his body automatically assumed a kneeling position, awaiting Yang Chen's blade. The immortals who entered the Immortal Execution Platform had long been stripped of all their cultivation. Even though Yang Chen was merely a mortal, relying on the power of the Immortal Execution Platform, he could do as he pleased with these immortals

"Whether it is a great rebellion or a minor one, it is of no concern to me, for I am merely a humble mortal and cannot manage such matters. " Yang Chen said with a calm smile, addressing the old land deity who had been fuming, "Before you pass away and your path ceases, do you have any unfulfilled wishes, senior? Perhaps I can help you accomplish one or two of them."

Rebelling against the heavenly court, an act of great treachery! The old land deity continued to mutter to himself, yet the words always circled back to these two phrases, particularly the four characters of great treachery, which he kept repeating without end