Chapter 100: The Five Commanders
Jiang Li felt his luck was pretty good this time. He had casually chosen a Soul Formation cultivator’s tomb to explore, which just so happened to be the location mentioned in the system mission, saving him a lot of trouble.
“Konghu, no need to look for a Soul Formation cultivator’s tomb anymore. Let the other commanders know.”
Returning to the inn, Jiang Li found Zhang Konghu just waking up, still in a daze, caught between sleep and wakefulness.
The moment he heard there was no work to do, Zhang Konghu, who had been about to get up, flopped back onto the bed and fell asleep again, completely missing the second half of Jiang Li’s sentence.
Sometimes, Jiang Li wondered if Zhang Konghu had Wu Clan blood running through his veins or if he was secretly a pig demon.
Eat well, sleep well, work well.
Since Zhang Konghu was unreliable, Jiang Li had to contact the other commanders himself.
“Old Ma, you and your wife don’t need to—wait, what the hell are you two doing?”
Jiang Li couldn’t help but curse. Through the Remote Communication Talisman, he saw Ma Zhuo and his wife locked in battle with a white snake in a dark, sunless place. The couple’s eyes were bloodshot, making them look less like righteous commanders of the Human Sovereign Hall and more like crazed bandits driven by greed, as if slaying this white snake would bring them some unimaginable fortune.
Ma Zhuo and his wife were both commanders of the Human Sovereign Hall. They had grown up together and shared a deep bond. In battle, they fought in perfect sync, their coordination seamless.
However, the couple had one regret—they had never been able to conceive a child.
The higher a cultivator’s level, the harder it was to produce offspring with exceptional talent. Take Li Nian’er, for example. She became an envoy of the Dharma Body Sect not because her sect master father poured resources into her but because she was naturally outstanding.
Cultivators who relied purely on resources to reach their level could never compare to those who used resources as a supplement to their own growth. The former might achieve high realms, but their combat ability, control over power, foundation, and mental state would always be inferior to the latter. They would never qualify to become envoys of the Six Great Sects.
It seemed like some kind of restriction—higher cultivation made it harder to have children.
For two peak Soul Formation cultivators, it was even more difficult.
Ma Zhuo and his wife were deeply interested in methods of conception. As far as Jiang Li knew, they had practiced Dual Cultivation Techniques, drunk Tiger Bone Wine, researched positions with the highest probability of pregnancy, and even written a series of books on reproductive health—under pen names, of course.
“Brother Jiang, I heard that consuming snake gall can enhance virility, and we just happened to come across one,” Commander Ma laughed heartily, looking as excited as if he had taken a stimulant. He chatted with Jiang Li while fighting the white snake.
“While searching for a Soul Formation cultivator’s tomb, we happened to find a white snake’s corpse buried at the bottom of a cliff. It looks ancient—probably the very snake that was slain when the Great Han Dynasty was founded. Though its body died, its obsession lingers. Watch as we dispel its obsession and retrieve its gallbladder!”
“Brother Jiang, don’t worry about us. Once we get the snake gall, we’ll resume searching for the tomb.”
Commander Zhuo was a beautiful woman, but in Jiang Li’s eyes, she looked more like a ferocious tigress at the moment.
No, I’m not worried about you two at all, Jiang Li thought to himself. “I’m telling you, you don’t need to search for a Soul Formation cultivator’s tomb anymore.”
“Oh? That’s great. I was worried I’d accidentally destroy an important tomb while fighting.”
With their concerns lifted, Ma Zhuo and his wife attacked even more ferociously. Jiang Li shut off the communication talisman and didn’t bother checking what happened next.
“Old Huang, you don’t need to look for a tomb—wait, why are you crying?”
Through the Remote Communication Talisman, Jiang Li saw Commander Huang sitting alone on the edge of a cliff, drinking heavily, gazing at the starry sky. A single tear slid down his handsome face, dripping off his chin into the abyss below.
“It’s you, Brother Jiang.” Commander Huang forced a weak smile, sighing. “After seeing so many graves, I can’t help but think—no matter how one lives, in the end, we all die. Even immortals face the Five Decays of Heaven and Man one day. What are we working so hard for? Everyone dies eventually. Live gloriously, die miserably—isn’t it all just a joke?”
“Soul Formation cultivators are already considered incredibly powerful in the Nine Provinces. Maybe they once had great legends and were renowned in Great Wei. But in the end, they all died in forgotten places, with no family or friends to mourn them, no eternal glory—only eternal death…”
Jiang Li decisively shut off the communication talisman.
Commander Huang didn’t have any real issues—he just had a habit of spiraling into existential dread. Unfortunately, his cultivation method was tied to his emotions. When he got too melancholic, it would influence those around him, making them melancholic too. People avoided him because of this, which only made him more lonely and depressed, creating a vicious cycle.
“Old Mu, you don’t need to look for a tomb—wait, why are you sneaking around?”
Jiang Li saw Commander Mu huddled in a corner, speaking to him in hushed tones. Judging by the surroundings, it looked like he was in a tunnel.
“Mu, hurry up!” A young voice called from afar—clearly a rookie adventurer.
“Coming! Be right there!” Commander Mu shouted back.
“Brother Jiang, I’m currently pretending to be a Qi Refining cultivator, teaming up with some kids to explore a Soul Formation cultivator’s tomb,” Commander Mu grinned mischievously. “Once they run into danger, I’ll reveal my Soul Formation strength. It’s going to be amazing.”
“Ah! What is that?!” Cries for help rang out in the distance.
“Oh no, they’re in trouble!” Commander Mu’s expression changed as he rushed over. “Don’t be afraid, I’ll save you!”
“Mu, run! These vines are at the Foundation Establishment Stage—you can’t beat them!” The young man, seeing Mu arrive, immediately urged him to flee.
“No! I won’t leave! We swore to live and die together! Do you expect me to just watch you all die and run away like a coward? Never!” Commander Mu shouted as he charged forward, looking ready to fight the Foundation Establishment vines to the death.
“Mu!”
“Demon, stay away from my brothers!” Commander Mu’s eyes gleamed with tears. He had already calculated that the current situation wasn’t too dangerous. It wasn’t yet time to reveal his true strength—he would wait until they encountered a Golden Core enemy before unveiling his identity.
“…As long as you’re having fun.” Jiang Li silently shut off the communication talisman.
After notifying all five commanders, Jiang Li felt exhausted.
Five peak Soul Formation commanders—not a single one made things easy.
Since the system could keep the Baize Blood fresh, Jiang Li decided to stay with Red Dust Fairy for a few more days.
After finishing Illustrated Compendium of Immortal Beasts, Red Dust Fairy passed it to Li Nian’er. Since it was rare to meet the Human Sovereign, Li Nian’er also stayed by Jiang Li’s side for a few days.
A few days later, Li Nian’er bid farewell to Jiang Li and set off to explore other places.
Jiang Li escorted Red Dust Fairy back to the Pure Land of the Mortal World. “If you ever want to go out and have fun, just tell me.”
Red Dust Fairy obediently nodded.
“I’ve found the Baize Blood. Now I can refine the pill.”