Chapter 154: Beauty Trap

This tournament was massive in scale, and as the most elite intelligence organization in the Nine Provinces, Tianji Tower certainly wouldn’t miss this opportunity.
The Tower Master of Tianji Tower even wanted to pull off something big—compile a ranking list of cultivators from all levels across the Nine Provinces. This tournament was the perfect chance to gather intelligence.
As such, disciples of Tianji Tower were stationed throughout the Great Zhou Imperial City, observing the movements of participating cultivators.
One disciple of Tianji Tower noticed Jiang Li’s group. A few Nascent Soul rogue cultivators joining the tournament—definitely a hot topic. If he could get an interview, maybe he could even get featured in the Tianji News. That would earn him some Contribution Points.
With that in mind, he quickly walked over.
“Greetings, Realms Masters. I’m Lü Kai, a disciple of Tianji Tower,” he introduced himself. “May I take a moment of your time to ask a few questions?”
“Of course. Go ahead,” Bai Hongtu replied.
“May I ask what your goals are for participating in the tournament?”
That was a standard question—Lü Kai didn’t expect any surprising answers. It was always the same: seeking fame, hoping for the favor of powerful sects, aiming for rich rewards, or wanting to prove oneself.
“To reclaim the title of the number one sword cultivator in the Nine Provinces.”
“To keep the title of the number one sword cultivator in the Nine Provinces.”
Sword Sovereign and Bai Hongtu spoke at the same time. Lü Kai’s mouth twitched. Bold words—two Nascent Soul cultivators joining the tournament and thinking they could fight over who was the top sword cultivator in the Nine Provinces?
“Such…ambitious goals,” Lü Kai managed to squeeze out after a pause. Then he turned his gaze toward Yu Yin.
Even with her altered appearance, Yu Yin was still an exceptionally beautiful woman. Lü Kai figured she’d probably give a more normal answer.
“Fight to the death,” Yu Yin replied coldly. With four Tribulation Stage cultivators participating, what else would they do? Of course they were going to stir things up.
Of course, when she said “fight to the death,” it didn’t mean actual life-and-death.
Among Tribulation Stage cultivators, distinguishing who was stronger wasn’t hard. The hard part was killing the other—unless the difference in power was huge, even a year-long battle wouldn’t necessarily end in death.
“To give Ji Zhi a headache,” Li Er said bluntly.
Li Er was plainly dressed, had a simple, honest look, and tanned skin—he looked like a farmer. No one would believe he was a Tribulation Stage cultivator.
If Jiang Li hadn’t confirmed that Dragon Girl Li Nian’er carried Li Er’s bloodline, no one would’ve believed he had such a beautiful daughter.
Just had to be said—she clearly took after her mom.
“You’re all…quite interesting,” Lü Kai said dryly, then turned to Jiang Li.
“According to our information, you’re a Soul Formation Realm Master. May I ask, what are your goals in leading this team into the tournament?”
“As long as we don’t blow up the imperial city, it’s a win.”
Lü Kai chuckled to himself. From what he knew, there were formations set up around the arena. Not even Soul Formation cultivators could break them.
He could only conclude—these cultivators had their heads in the clouds.
“The theme of this tournament is to encourage the use of Spiritual Treasures. Will any of you be using intelligent Spirit Treasures?” Lü Kai followed up.
Yu Yin patted her gourd without a word. Instead, the gourd swayed on its own, trying to show off.
Bai Hongtu and Sword Sovereign didn’t answer.
Bai Hongtu’s Falling Rain Sword had developed intelligence and learned sword techniques at an impressive rate, but it still couldn’t fully keep up with him.
After five hundred years immersed in the Sword Dao, Bai Hongtu couldn’t expect the sword to catch up in just a few short years.
So, he had Artifact Refining Peak make him another spiritual sword to use for now, setting the Falling Rain Sword aside.
Sword Sovereign, after being revived, found the idea of sentient Spirit Treasures fascinating—but like Bai Hongtu, he didn’t have a suitable one. So he stuck with his original sword.
Li Er scratched the back of his head with a goofy smile. “Unless someone gives me an Immortal Artifact, the other Spirit Treasures aren’t as tough as my body. I’ll pass.”
Lü Kai was now seriously intrigued by this group.
No one who reached the Nascent Soul Stage was a fool. These Realm Masters spoke so boldly—they had to have something special.
His instincts told him: stick with these people until the tournament ends, and he’d hit the jackpot.
When Lü Kai asked if he could follow them around, no one refused.
“I’ll step out for a bit. I’ll find you later,” Jiang Li said, then vanished on the spot.
…
In the Imperial City’s VIP Guest Hall, many faction representatives were gathered.
“Four Dragon Kings, long time no see.”
“Holy Maiden Jingxin, you’re here on behalf of the Pure Land of the Mortal World?”
“Wuzhi the Enlightened is at a critical moment in comprehending Buddhist arts and can’t leave. The Xiangxiang Bodhisattva will represent the Buddhist sect in the tournament.”
Xiangxiang Bodhisattva was a beautiful woman with a red dot on her forehead, fair-skinned, barefoot in a white dress, eyes closed, and few words.
It was said she aimed to master one of the six great divine abilities of Buddhism—Heavenly Eye.
“Wei Emperor, Mengjiang Emperor, you two came too. I’ve been meaning to ask—rumor has it you fought over Mengjiang Imperial City a few years back. What was that about?”
“Can’t say, can’t say.” Of course Wei Emperor and Mengjiang Emperor couldn’t mention the matter of the Mortal World Celestial.
“Oh come on, indulge my curiosity,” said the Sect Master of Hehuan Sect, resting her left arm over her chest, finger on her lips in a flirtatious pose. “I’m thinking of opening a branch sect in either Great Wei or Mengjiang Dynasty.”
Holy Maiden Jingxin spat in disgust, clearly looking down on the Hehuan Sect Master’s behavior.
Just two useless lumps.
Wei Emperor and Mengjiang Emperor, being men of great willpower, naturally started getting tempted by the beauty trap.
“Sect Master Meng, you really do like to dig for gossip.”
A soft laugh interrupted their thoughts—Holy Maiden Jingxin was present, after all. She had to stop them from saying anything.
Otherwise, how could the Pure Land of the Mortal World ever know peace?
Wei Emperor and Mengjiang Emperor snapped back to reality, remembering how the two of them fought for love and got hammered to the ground in three blows by Jiang Li, and how he warned them not to reveal anything about the Mortal World Celestial. They clammed up instantly. No matter how many beauty tricks the Hehuan Sect Master used, it was useless.
“Holy Maiden Jingxin really is meddling,” said the Hehuan Sect Master, named Meng Youyou. Yet she wasn’t annoyed at being interrupted—she just smiled sweetly. “But I wonder, can you manage to keep Jiang the Human Sovereign in check?”
“Why would I care what Jiang Li does?” Holy Maiden Jingxin snorted coldly.
“Oh? I thought you liked him,” Meng Youyou feigned surprise. “Looks like I misunderstood.”
“Who would like him?” Holy Maiden Jingxin turned her head away, suddenly all sulky for no reason.
As the ruler of Great Zhou, Ji Zhi was naturally present too. Hearing her response, he rubbed his forehead in frustration. With that attitude, how are you ever going to catch up to Jiang Li?
“I won’t steal someone else’s beloved. So, if I pursue Jiang the Human Sovereign, I’m sure the Holy Maiden won’t object.” Meng Youyou gracefully stepped closer to Holy Maiden Jingxin, leaned down, and gently blew into her pink ear. “Someone as powerful as Jiang the Human Sovereign—dual cultivation with him must be something else. I’m not joking.”
“You…” Holy Maiden Jingxin gritted her teeth. “Do whatever you want.”
“Then why are you trying to seduce me and lecture me at the same time, Sect Master Meng?” Jiang Li suddenly appeared beside them and asked with a straight face, “Did your spiritual platform crack or something?”