Because of Chen Daozhi's sudden fainting, only Chen Zhenghong and Chen Zhengxin attended the welcome banquet originally planned for Chen Ke.

There was a large table of food, but only three people were eating, and of the three, only Chen Ke was focused on eating.

"Watch your eating. What kind of behavior is this, wolfing down your food like that?"

Chen Ke was enjoying his meal when Chen Zhengxin insisted on making things difficult for him.

"Why are you sitting here if you're not going to see Chen Daozhi?"

"Is this how you talk to your father? You don't even have a basic way of addressing him?" Chen Zhengxin was furious. Chen Ke simply didn't respect him as his father.

Chen Ke was too lazy to argue with this person who had something wrong with his head. He put down his chopsticks and stood up. "Alright, I'm full. Please help yourselves."

"You unfilial son, come back!"

Chen Ke didn't even turn his head; he disappeared outside the door in the blink of an eye.

"evil creature!"

"Alright, don't be angry. The child just got back. Talk to him nicely and he'll listen," Chen Zhenghong comforted him.

"No, brother, look at his arrogant attitude. How can he be even a fraction as good as Dao Yi?"

"Let's not talk about that anymore. In the end, we're the ones who owe him."

“Brother, if it were before, I would have felt guilty every time I thought about him growing up alone in the Taoist temple. But the moment he came back, that guilt was gone. I even feel glad that we chose Daozhi instead of him, a rebellious person with a rebellious nature.”

"Cultivate a righteous mind and be cautious in speech."

"I'm sorry, brother, I got carried away." We really can't let Chen Ke know about this now, otherwise, who knows what kind of trouble this unfilial son will cause with his ruthless attitude towards family.

Chen Ke returned to the guest room where he was temporarily staying at the Chen family's house. After admiring his long list of merits, he lay down on the bed for a short rest.

Chen Zhenghong must have a purpose in trying so hard to keep him here. It's just unknown whether he wants to kill him directly or has his eyes on the merits of his deeds. We'll have to wait and see what happens tonight.

After Chen Zhenghong and Chen Zhengxin parted ways, Chen Zhenghong came to Chen Daozhi's room. Pan Weiyin was extremely anxious. When she saw Chen Zhenghong come in, she immediately went up to him and asked, "Zhenghong, what exactly happened to Daozhi?"

"Dao's protective merits are gone."

"What?... How is this possible? How could this be?" Pan Weiyin's eyes widened in disbelief, utterly shocked.

“I was also surprised, but it is indeed the case. You can tell from Daozhi’s palm lines that his destiny has changed.” Chen Zhenghong looked grave, his mind flashing to Chen Ke’s face, but then he shook his head in denial.

It couldn't be Chen Ke. How old is Chen Ke? He probably hasn't even heard of the secret technique of stealing other people's merits. Besides, he's always been in a Taoist temple. Master Wudao couldn't possibly have taught him these things.

“It must be Chen Ke! It must be him! He stole the merit back!” Pan Weiyin said with absolute certainty.

Seeing Chen Zhenghong remain silent, Pan Weiyin said again, "Zhenghong, you have to think of something quickly! Without merit, our Dao will definitely be killed by Chen Ke!"

"What are you saying! Can't you say something nice?"

"Pah, pah, pah! I misspoke, but what do we do now? Should we... should we use the secret technique again?"

Chen Zhenghong glared at Pan Weiyin, "Do you know what price I paid for using this secret technique?"

Pan Weiyin wiped away her tears with grievance, "I, I know, but, but look at Daozhi, he can't even get out of bed, how can he participate in the Xuandao Competition? How can he make the Chen family the leader of all families in one fell swoop?"

"Jung-hong, since we chose to do this from the beginning, we have no choice but to grit our teeth and continue. Otherwise, how will we explain ourselves to Father a hundred years from now? Will he say we did it for selfish reasons—"

"Shut up! You really dare to say anything!"

Pan Weiyin's tears flowed even more fiercely, and she turned away, sobbing softly.

After a long while, Chen Zhenghong's slightly tired voice rang out from inside the room, "Open the secret room."

Upon hearing this, Pan Weiyin's eyes lit up, knowing that Chen Zhenghong had agreed. "Okay, I'll go right away."

Perhaps due to his overly excited tone, Chen Zhenghong looked at Pan Weiyin with complicated emotions. Pan Weiyin's expression changed instantly, and she awkwardly explained, "I... I was just too worried about Daozhi. The thought of him getting better soon made me excited. Zhenghong, I... I didn't mean anything by it. If I could, I would gladly give up all my lifespan to do it!"

Does that mean he's not worried about his son because he doesn't use his entire lifespan to exchange for merit? Listening to Pan Weiyin's disheartening explanation, Chen Zhenghong waved his hand irritably, telling Pan Weiyin to leave quickly.

Pan Weiyin hurriedly walked out, taking two steps at a time.

Chen Zhenghong came to Chen Daozhi's bedside and felt a pang of sadness seeing his once spirited son lying pale and lifeless on the bed.

"Don't worry, Daozhi. Your grandfather said that our Chen family will produce a peerless genius with extraordinary talent in this generation, leading the Chen family back to the glory of a hundred years ago. You are born with a pure yang destiny, and evil spirits cannot invade you. This person will definitely be you... Your father will remove all obstacles for you."

Even if Chen Ke was born amidst auspicious omens and countless rays of light, so what? He was able to steal his merits back then, and this time will be no exception.

Moreover, he will use his life to become a stepping stone for Dao to reach a higher level!

There can only be one prodigy in the Chen family, and that is Chen Daozhi, his son!

······

The moon hangs high in the sky, a few crows fly by.

Chen Ke, lying on the bed, suddenly opened his eyes from his sleep. Ah, the same old trick again?

Knowing what Chen Zhenghong was going to do, Chen Ke remained calm and waited patiently on the bed.

Here, Chen Zhenghong, covered in strange runes, sat upright in the middle of the formation, a human skin talisman between his fingers, chanting incantations. In front of him was a talisman plate filled with blood, which seemed to have a life force, constantly surging and churning into a red line that was almost invisible to the naked eye, enveloping Chen Zhenghong.

"Take it!"

One word was uttered.

!!

Chen Ke, who was in his guest room, suddenly sat up, and after a moment of surprise, he became furious.

"System, come out here! Why can he steal a thousand merits from me with just one spell, while I have to painstakingly tap a thousand times!"

System: "Master, he risked his life for this..."

Chen Ke: ""

"Let's see this time whether his life will last longer, or my hand will last longer!"

Chen Ke took out his wooden fish, and raised the wooden fish stick with great momentum...

"Tap, tap, tap tap tap tap tap—" The hand had already left afterimages as it tapped.

Inside the secret room, Chen Zhenghong curled his lips into a smirk. "Hmph! This merit has actually returned to Chen Ke."

As he felt the profound and wondrous merit rapidly transferring from Chen Ke to Chen Daozhi, Chen Zhenghong's smile widened.

But before he could be happy for long, his half-raised smile suddenly stopped.

? ? ?

How is that possible?

Why is the merit transferred to the Dao gradually slipping away?

impossible!

Chen Zhenghong refused to believe in superstition and continued to perform the spell.

He wanted to transfer all of Chen Ke's merits to Dao Zhi!

Chen Ke, on the other hand, used the speed of someone who had been single for 89 million years, determined to send Chen Zhenghong to report to the King of Hell tonight!