"That Lady Bao Sheng must be very close to you, otherwise, she wouldn’t have entrusted this treasure to you."

True Monarch Xiansheng pondered aloud.

Xu Qing chuckled, completely unconcerned.

He and the God Bao Sheng are like wearing the same pair of pants every day; how could their relationship not be close!

Seeing Xu Qing’s cheerful expression, entirely oblivious to potential dangers, True Monarch Xiansheng couldn’t help but remind him:

"The status of a Goddess disciple is not much inferior to a Celestial Maiden. You must remain vigilant; a great calamity is approaching, and now is not the time to delve into romantic affairs. If you don’t stay on guard, beware of the Red Luan star’s movement turning into a Peach Flower disaster."

"When that time comes, not even your brother, the Victorious Buddha, nor the Buddha himself, could save you!"

"..."

Xu Qing suddenly snapped back to reality.

Seems True Monarch Xiansheng is treating him as some kind of player with his feet on two boats!

Regardless of how much truth there is to him being involved with a Celestial Maiden, even if something did happen, he would never sabotage himself.

"True Monarch, what are you thinking! I am wholeheartedly focused on my path, without any distractions."

True Monarch Xiansheng nodded approvingly: "It’s good not to have distractions. Although the Celestial Maiden has fallen to this point, her divine nature remains intact. By living here in seclusion with her, she certainly wouldn’t bring dishonor to you."

What nonsense!

It’s as if saying he’s the one marrying into it.

Does he seem like someone with poor taste!

True Monarch stopped there, refraining from discussing Xu Qing’s emotional affairs further.

"This is the treasure left behind by the Goddess, now given to you to pass on to the Goddess’s disciple, which counts as returning it to its rightful owner."

Xu Qing accepted the lotus treasure lamp handed over by True Monarch Xiansheng, and without a hint of emotion, asked: "What is this magical artifact?"

"This treasure is called the Wisdom Lamp, also known as the Heart Lamp, and can only be wielded by those full of merit."

Through True Monarch Xiansheng’s explanation, Xu Qing roughly understood the function of the treasure lamp before him.

The lotus treasure lamp uses the incense of merits as its wick, and when the lamp shines brightly, it can purify the impurities of a region or even a world based on the amount of merit, and also transform merit into divine power cultivation.

The more incense of merit the lamp holder invests, the more divine power cultivation the wick can transform.

"Why isn’t the lamp lighting up?"

Xu Qing attempted to activate the treasure lamp without investing incense, but to no avail.

True Monarch Xiansheng, with a blank expression, said: "The lamp chooses its master; if you have no merit, the lamp will naturally dim."

Xu Qing questioned with doubt: "Hasn’t this lamp, having existed for so many years, ever had a wick?"

True Monarch Xiansheng couldn’t admit that the wick inside had been used up, could he? Certainly not!

The Goddess’s accumulated merits were kept in various places, and this lamp had millions of incense sticks. If he admitted his side had used up the incense while guarding the lamp, what if the Goddess’s disciple demanded repayment?

Millions of incense sticks are no trivial amount!

True Monarch, skirting the issue, added: "This lamp can gather a clump of thousand-year wick from a million incense sticks; one can increase their magical power by a thousand years upon wearing it. If utilized by the lamp, it can protect a region or be used as protection to counter other attacks."

"If invested with ten million incense sticks, it can condense a clump of ten-thousand-year wick; one can increase their magical power by ten thousand years by wearing it. Even those who have died, just a single illumination from the lamp can resurrect them immediately!"

Xu Qing’s eyes lit up; incense is the one thing he’s not lacking.

"I dare ask True Monarch, how many resurrections can ten million incense sticks facilitate? If used as armor or shield, what kind of attacks can it withstand?"

"That depends on who you’re resurrecting," True Monarch Xiansheng explained: "If you’re resurrecting ordinary mortals, as long as you don’t fear disrupting the Six Paths of reincarnation and inciting the heavenly law’s punishment, you can use this lamp to revive a hundred people."

A thousand people would require ten million incense sticks for one resurrection.

Xu Qing’s employees from the Three Teachings with notable ranks could probably achieve a resurrection every two years; if performance bonuses were included, once a year wouldn’t be difficult either.

Currently, with the combined incense from the Three Teachings, he could likely revive thousands at once.

And this hasn’t even taken into account the more refined incense of Bao Sheng.

"How much attack can ten million incense sticks resist?"

True Monarch Xiansheng jested: "With ten million incense sticks, even if you practiced the Celestial Spirit Axe Technique to the thirtieth level, you could withstand a hundred ax strikes."

"To say something quite irreverent, if the Buddha or Celestial Emperor came, it could counteract their full-powered strike."

Xu Qing calculated the incense in hand and shook his head.

This lamp clearly leans more towards defense, purification, and healing in its auxiliary functions.

Trying to rely on this magical artifact to contend with the potential grievances against the Celestial Emperor or the Gods and Buddhas is not feasible.

Unless his merit reached an inexhaustible level.

But that level is infinitely close to divine, achievable only by beings like the Goddess or Primordial Masters.

Seeing Xu Qing’s headshake, True Monarch Xiansheng laughed: "That Lady Bao Sheng, whom I’ve heard of, is a deity with considerable merits. Giving the lamp to the Goddess’s disciple is indeed making good use of it. You find it unsuitable only because the treasure doesn’t fit your command."

"Not even me; when I wish to wield it, I must ponder carefully."

Xu Qing felt speechless inside.

The rise of darkness dampens virtue; righteous immortals and gods find it difficult to accumulate merits. Plus, with the Celestial Emperor cutting off heavenly connections for years, this lamp can’t help but become a decorative vase!

"I haven’t asked you, how many levels have you achieved in the Celestial Spirit Axe Technique I taught you?"

"Twenty-nine levels, still shy of reaching the thirtieth level..."

Xu Qing, lying through his teeth, unwilling to reveal his capability to wield thirty-three levels yet.

"You’re quite perceptive! But with your current progress, striving to transcend disasters and save the world is far from enough."

True Monarch Xiansheng sighed.

He and the monkey were too idealistic; they themselves feel powerless, and can mere mortals they enlisted act as those to transcend disasters and save the world?