Chapter 173: # Chapter 159 Open Human Souls: Guarding the Best Senior Brother Wang Xiu!_4
When they saw the message in the mining group, they dropped everything without exception and rushed back with all their might. If they couldn’t simply drop their tasks, they resolved them with haste.
Merit! It was, without a doubt, one of the most precious opportunities in the world. It could strengthen one’s fate, transform their sinews and cleanse their marrow, and amplify their cultivation level. As long as one acquired a sufficient amount, they could become a Child of Destiny or an unrivaled supreme talent. No one would ever complain about having too little merit. What’s more, this was free merit! If they missed out, they would hate themselves for a lifetime!
「...」
「Inside Jiuli Hall.」
Jiang Yourong looked at Wang Xiu with her arms akimbo and said angrily, "You kid, you’re really generous... So many human souls, so much merit, and you just give it all away? Truly magnanimous!"
Wang Xiu said, "We are all fellow disciples from the same sect, after all!"
Jiang Yourong said sourly, "Yes, they are *your* fellow disciples, but our Ling’er is an outsider... Sigh, Ling’er, your auntie is sorry. She isn’t capable enough, and this senior brother I found for you has no conscience!"
As she spoke, she began to cry, her voice thick with sorrow. Her previously fiery and sexy image instantly became pitiful and wronged.
A helpless expression filled Jiang Ling’er’s adorable little face. "Auntie~ Senior Brother isn’t like that!"
Wang Xiu was caught between laughter and tears. "Senior, you’re wronging me. When have I ever stopped Ling’er from liberating human souls?"
Jiang Yourong shot him a glare and huffed, "You said it yourself! Only those who borrowed money from you get to liberate the human souls!"
Wang Xiu pressed a hand to his forehead. "That’s for other people. Ling’er is my junior sister and a part of the Divination Sect! This blessed land was originally our Divination Sect’s. Everything within it naturally includes her share..."
Upon hearing this, Jiang Yourong’s eyes lit up. "Really?"
Wang Xiu chuckled. "Of course!"
Jiang Yourong’s face immediately blossomed into a broad grin, her previous tearful despair vanishing in an instant. She was a true drama queen.
She patted Jiang Ling’er. "Ling’er, did you hear that? Why are you still standing there? Hurry and liberate the human souls!"
Jiang Ling’er hesitated, then looked at Wang Xiu. "Senior Brother, shall I go then?"
Wang Xiu nodded and smiled. "Go on. It would be a shame if you were too late and the others snatched them all!"
Jiang Ling’er nodded. "Mhm!"
「...」
Jiang Ling’er had just stepped outside when she suddenly got a fright.
She saw seven or eight human souls with terrified expressions fleeing toward her, pursued by several disciples from the Sanqing Immortal Sect.
"Old man, don’t run! I’m a good person, here to liberate you!"
"Ma’am, up ahead! Don’t be afraid! I’m really quick; it’ll be over in a flash!"
"Hold on! My technique is excellent. I promise it won’t hurt a bit! HEH HEH HEH..."
"..."
Jiang Ling’er didn’t want to snatch the fruits of others’ labor, so she stepped aside and turned to look for human souls to liberate elsewhere.
However, after she crossed a small hill, a sudden breeze swept by, and several human souls instantly drifted before her. They were the very same ones that had been chased earlier, having somehow escaped the pursuit of those Sanqing disciples.
"How terrifying! Those Taoists... are too scary!" one of the human souls muttered, patting its chest.
When one of them turned, it found itself facing a pair of clear and pure eyes. As they met her gaze, the atmosphere grew quiet.
Jiang Ling’er thought for a moment, then said, "I feel like we were fated to meet. Don’t you think?"
The human souls: "..."
In their state as wandering souls, they possessed no clear will. They could only feel an instinctual fear from the aura of the Sanqing disciples, which made them want to flee. However, the youthful and lovely girl before them emanated an aura that put them at ease. Her very presence was enough to pacify their unstable soul forms, and from the depths of their beings, they felt a desire to draw closer to her.
And so, they lined up in a row before Jiang Ling’er, as if presenting themselves to be liberated.
Seeing this, Jiang Ling’er’s expression turned solemn as she immediately formed a series of hand seals and began chanting the Rebirth Mantra.
"By the Supreme Imperial Decree, I deliver you, lonely souls. All ghosts and specters, may the four realms of life receive grace. Let those with heads be transcended, let the headless ascend. Those slain by spear and blade, those who drowned or hanged... This decree saves the masses. Ascend swiftly to rebirth!"
As the Rebirth Mantra echoed, streaks of mystic light descended from the void, landing precisely on the wandering souls.
In an instant, the disoriented human souls began to shine with a green light. Their resentment and yin energy rapidly dissolved, and their eyes slowly filled with awareness, as if they had been reborn.