Chapter 18: The Pure Land of the Mortal World
“She sleeps all the time. Ever since I brought her to the Golden Chamber three years ago, she has slept for three years. She rarely wakes up, no matter how much noise is outside,” Mengjiang Emperor explained. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have dared to make such a ruckus, as if they were undergoing Lightning Tribulation.
“None of you are allowed to look! The beauty is mine!” Mengjiang Emperor showed signs of losing control again, but Jiang Li grabbed him by the collar and tossed him out of the Golden Chamber. Only then did he regain his senses.
Seeing this, Wei Emperor and Zhang Konghu hurriedly left as well. Just moments ago, they had almost lost control like Mengjiang Emperor.
“Where did you find her?”
“Back when I was hunting in the west, I ventured deep into the jungle alone, intending to hunt a black bear. Instead, I stumbled upon this celestial beauty, sleeping beneath an ancient tree. Seeing myself as nothing but a mortal, unworthy of touching her, I used Void Force to carry her back to the imperial palace and built the Golden Chamber to house her. Human Sovereign Jiang, did you feel nothing upon seeing her?”
“Feeling? She’s very beautiful.”
“That’s it?” Wei Emperor asked.
“She’s the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.”
“That’s it?” Zhang Konghu asked.
“That’s it.”
“You didn’t feel the urge to claim her for yourself, to worship her like a divine relic?”
“No.”
“…Brother Jiang (Human Sovereign Jiang), your willpower is beyond ordinary,” the three men finally said, unable to think of anything else.
“This woman is of great significance. I need to visit the Pure Land of the Mortal World to confirm something. I hope the two emperors will guard their hearts and not be blinded by beauty. Also, Konghu, watch the Golden Chamber—no one is to enter before I return.”
Jiang Li gave his instructions, but still feeling uneasy, he crushed a jade token and set up a grand formation.
Due to investing all his talent into combat and cultivation, Jiang Li was completely clueless when it came to formations, alchemy, and artifact refinement. Now, whenever he needed a formation, he had to rely on the jade tokens given to him by the Dao Sect Master.
It wasn’t that he hadn’t tried to learn—he had, many times. But after countless failed attempts, he had given up on mastering any of the immortal arts beyond combat.
Now, Jiang Li could only hope that he could ascend to the Celestial Realm. He had heard that after becoming a Free and Unfettered Celestial, one could comprehend all techniques effortlessly.
Hopefully, the system would truly allow him to ascend.
In the Western Regions of the Nine Provinces, two great sects stood out—one was the Buddhist Sect, devoted to compassion and accumulating merit for future reincarnations; the other was the Pure Land of the Mortal World, an all-female sect.
The Buddhist Sect was well known for spreading good karma, while the Pure Land of the Mortal World was nearly hidden from the world, with very few disciples venturing outside. Most people had only heard of its name but never seen its members, leading to countless myths and rumors—most of which were false.
Rumor: The women of the Pure Land of the Mortal World believe clothing is impure, so they wear nothing. (False.)
Rumor: If a disciple of the Pure Land of the Mortal World is touched by a man, she must marry him. (False.)
Rumor: The disciples of the Pure Land of the Mortal World are serene and never show anger. (False.)
Rumor: Their sect founder was so beautiful that even the Buddha was tempted. (True.)
Standing outside the sect-protecting formation, Jiang Li called out in a loud voice:
“Jiang Li humbly seeks an audience with the Pure Land of the Mortal World. I ask for your pardon.”
“If you’re here uninvited, then we shall not receive you.”
A cold and familiar voice came from within the formation, laced with undisguised hatred—it was Daoist Nun Qingyu, the Sect Leader of the Pure Land of the Mortal World.
Jiang Li knew the reason for her resentment.
Qingyu once had feelings for a Buddhist disciple from Mount Sumeru. But that so-called “monk” harbored wicked intentions, so Jiang Li killed him.
Though Qingyu later fell for another Buddhist disciple, she never forgot her first lover’s death.
Later, when the Pure Land of the Mortal World’s Sacred Immortal Tree was on the verge of dying, the sect offered a grand reward—whoever saved the tree could choose any treasure from their vault.
Jiang Li healed the tree and came to claim his prize, but Qingyu, though keeping her word, insulted him throughout the entire process.
Enraged, Jiang Li took the entire treasury key and held onto it for ten years, forcing the sect’s disciples to descend the mountain to earn money—which resulted in many tragic yet legendary love stories.
Only after ten years did he finally return the key.
“Master, Jiang Li—Human Sovereign Jiang has come to visit. How can we be so discourteous?”
A clear, melodious voice came from within the formation—another familiar voice.
The formation opened, and Jiang Li saw two white-robed Daoist nuns standing at the mountain gate. Both were extraordinarily beautiful—one had a face full of disdain, while the other smiled warmly.
The latter was Holy Maiden Jingxin, whose cultivation and influence within the sect had already surpassed her master, Qingyu.
She once confided in Jiang Li that there was only one reason she refused to become Sect Leader:
She hated the title Daoist Nun Jingxin—it sounded terrible.
“Human Sovereign Jiang remains as free-spirited and awe-inspiring as ever. Jingxin admires you.”
Jingxin welcomed Jiang Li with a smile warmer than usual, a far cry from her usual cold and distant demeanor.
Qingyu, on the other hand, had only one thought in her mind—
‘Where’s your brain? Has Jiang Li ever visited us without causing trouble? Free-spirited? More like he’s here to stir up a mess!’
“It has been many years, and Holy Maiden Jingxin is still as gentle as ever—far better than a certain unreasonable Daoist nun.”
Jingxin covered her mouth and giggled, while Qingyu’s forehead veins bulged. She quickly reminded herself: ‘You can’t beat him. You can’t beat him…’
“I came here today with an urgent matter.”
Jiang Li’s playful tone vanished, and he spoke seriously.
“Then let’s discuss it up the mountain.”
Jingxin led Jiang Li into the Pure Land of the Mortal World.
After ascending the mountain, Jiang Li explained everything he had discovered in Mengjiang Dynasty.
Both Jingxin and Qingyu immediately recognized the gravity of the situation.
“I suspect that woman is your sect’s founder—she has been resurrected.”
Jiang Li had never seen the founder of the Pure Land of the Mortal World in person, but he had once seen her portrait in the treasury.
The sight had stunned him.
In the Nine Provinces, reincarnation was believed to exist, but resurrection had never been heard of.
Jiang Li’s claim defied common sense—yet neither Jingxin nor Qingyu immediately refuted him.
In fact, they somewhat believed him.
Because their founder was not bound by common sense.
Long ago, when the Stairway to Immortality was still intact, an immortal descended to the mortal realm—but never returned to the Celestial Realm.
That immortal was a woman, breathtaking beyond compare.
Even Buddhist monks and female Tribulation Stage cultivators couldn’t resist her charm.
She once said that even in the Celestial Realm, many great figures fought over her.
Forced to flee, she descended to the Nine Provinces and founded the Pure Land of the Mortal World.
Her name—the Mortal World Celestial.