Chapter 183: One Sings, the Other Echoes

“Who would’ve thought that all six of the strongest in the world have gathered at the Bu Clan, and only Master Lan is standing with the Bu Clan Ancestor. The other five clearly mean no good! The Bu Clan Ancestor is in danger!” Bai Hongtu said grimly.
“Not necessarily. I heard that the Bu Clan Ancestor is the son of Bu Wu, the Martial Alliance Leader from three hundred years ago. His name is Bu Jing. Back then, he was known as the number one among the Twenty-Four Young Lords of the martial world—his strength is obvious. Today may very well be his battle to establish dominance,” Jiang Li had a different view, thinking the Bu Clan Ancestor might rise to the heavens in one go.
“Brother Jiang, don’t talk nonsense. Right now it’s two against five—how could the Bu Clan Ancestor possibly win?” Bai Hongtu snorted.
“Just look at the Bu Clan Ancestor—his blood and qi are surging, his essence, energy, and spirit are like a mercury column. He’s clearly reached the pinnacle of the Human Sovereign Peak stage, and the 712 major acupoints across his body are faintly glowing. He might even be about to break through the Human Sovereign Peak and reach a new level!”
“Above the Human Sovereign Peak—wouldn’t that be the same level as the Twelve Heavenly Kings?” Bai Hongtu was utterly shocked, “You can’t just say things like that. The Heavenly Kings are supreme, even in the Upper Realm they wield heaven-reaching power. If they hear your disrespectful words, Brother Jiang…”
“I’m not making things up. I heard from someone in the Bu Clan that the Bu Clan Ancestor had an epiphany while observing the heavens and wrote the astounding work Shangqing Yellow Court Outer Realm Scripture. It’s said to be the key to breaking through the Human Sovereign Peak, and he named the next martial realm ‘Outer Realm’. With this scripture, reaching the Outer Realm is possible,” Jiang Li declared with full confidence.
“What, there’s really such a scripture?” Bai Hongtu jumped in shock, “The Bu Clan Ancestor is truly formidable. No wonder he’s lived for three hundred years—an old monster indeed.”
Yu Yin watched the two of them singing in harmony and felt completely out of place.
Back when they were still Human Sovereign candidates, those two were already pulling stunts like this.
The old Human Sovereign had gathered the candidates and sent them into a nameless mystic realm. Each person got a wooden token, and they could fight for them. Whoever collected the most tokens would be the winner.
Bai Hongtu and Jiang Li first snatched over a dozen tokens from others, then Bai Hongtu pretended to drop a token into the lake and exclaimed, saying he had clearly dropped one token, but two floated up!
Jiang Li didn’t believe him and tried it himself, only to find that one token really did become two. He exclaimed that this lake was the legendary Treasure Gathering Lake from ancient times, left behind by the Immortal Treasure Gatherer.
Bai Hongtu said, “Brother Jiang, your knowledge is impressive. Now that you mention it, I remember too—this mystic realm was left by an immortal, no wonder it’s so miraculous. Strange Records of the Immortal Realm mentions an immortal who attained the Dao through wealth, named the Immortal Treasure Gatherer. His Treasure Basin could duplicate anything—it’s a top-tier treasure.”
Jiang Li said, “If the old Human Sovereign sent us here, it must be no ordinary realm. A background like this makes sense.”
Bai Hongtu said, “So that’s it. I thought the old Human Sovereign wanted us to fight and see who’s strongest, but actually he wanted to see who had the broadest knowledge and could uncover the secrets of the mystic realm.”
Jiang Li said, “The old Human Sovereign is meticulous—we can’t just look at things on the surface.”
Bai Hongtu said, “You’re right.”
Jiang Li said, “I think you’re right that I’m right.”
Seeing how seriously the two spoke, even citing ancient texts, a few Human Sovereign candidates actually believed them. They hadn’t heard of Strange Records of the Immortal Realm, but with so many books in the world, that seemed normal. Some tossed their tokens into the lake too, and Bai Hongtu threw in one he had prepared in advance.
Those candidates found they had two tokens.
Throw one, get two. Throw two, get four. The rumor spread quickly, and soon many Human Sovereign candidates were throwing their tokens into the lake.
And then—nothing.
Hiding at the bottom of the lake, Jiang Li and Bai Hongtu swept away every last token. Anyone who hoped for two tokens didn’t even get a splinter.
Jiang Li and Bai Hongtu ended up with the most tokens in that trial.
Yu Yin had gone the honest route, robbing others for their tokens, and ended up in third place.
The old Human Sovereign highly praised Jiang Li and Bai Hongtu’s actions, saying, “Well done—don’t do it again next time.”
In Commander Liu’s Memoirs of the Human Sovereign, it was written that the old Human Sovereign spent half the night in the scripture library looking for Strange Records of the Immortal Realm and anything on the Immortal Treasure Gatherer—he found nothing.
“Is there really a way to break through the Human Sovereign Peak?” a true Grandmaster Martial Artist hurriedly asked Jiang Li, thoughts stirring—perhaps in the chaos…
Jiang Li didn’t answer, but sighed, “Alas, we’re only at the Grandmaster realm. In a Human Sovereign Peak battle, we’re like a leaf on the sea—one wave and we’re done for.”
The Grandmasters felt a bucket of cold water poured over them and quickly calmed down.
At that moment, Bu Jing and Master Lan were fighting five of their equals and falling behind. Master Lan’s skill was limited—he could only hold off Recluse Fisher. Bu Jing had to face four Human Sovereign Peak experts alone—the pressure was unimaginable.
The sound of the seven fighting was like muffled thunder, low and continuous, echoing across the sky—everyone in Bu Wu City could hear it.
The might of Human Sovereign Peak was truly terrifying. In mere moments, the Bu Clan estate was flattened. Bu Wu City felt like it was being hit by an earthquake, the earth dragon turning, buildings shaking.
Bu Jing saw that if the fight continued, innocent people might get hurt, so he lured the battle outside the city.
The noise was so massive that the people of Bu Wu City all got up to watch. This was a battle of the strongest in the world—a once-in-a-century event. And with someone suspected to be from three hundred years ago, it was even more fascinating.
Three Human Sovereign Peak fighters from the Imperial Court joined forces—their red robes forming a cloud, majestic beyond compare. Bu Jing couldn’t hold them off and was sent flying several hundred meters, knocking down countless tree trunks thicker than a man.
Lord Qingming of Listening Wind Tower slashed at Bu Jing’s leg with his fingers like blades. Bu Jing barely dodged by springing upright. Behind him, a giant stone weighing several tons was shredded by Lord Qingming’s strike.
“Old man, tell me—how the hll did you live so long? You really expect me to believe that just practicing some ancient martial arts can let you live three hundred years? Is it the Purple Chariot River, or are you sucking the essence of the masses—old martial artists love doing that sht, don’t they?”
“Don’t believe it? Then why the f*** are you asking!” Bu Jing’s limbs were like sky pillars, brimming with power. Lord Qingming crossed his arms to block, his forearms going numb from the impact.
If it were one-on-one, Lord Qingming knew he couldn’t beat Bu Jing. Thankfully, three Human Sovereign Peak experts from the Imperial Court were helping.
Though their goals weren’t entirely aligned, they shared one for now—defeating Bu Jing.
“The Heavenly Kings came from above—they’re invaders! They rewrote history! Martial artists three hundred years ago who reached the Human Sovereign Peak could live for three centuries—none of that disgusting sh*t you’re talking about was needed!” Bu Jing panted heavily, eyes bloodshot. He couldn’t stand anyone saying old martial artists were bloodthirsty killers.
If that were true, what would people think of his father, the former Martial Alliance Leader?
“Nonsense! Spreading lies! You dare insult the Heavenly Kings!” the Imperial Court’s Human Sovereign Peak fighters shouted. “I don’t know where you came from, but there’s no way you’re an old martial artist—no one can live for three hundred years!”
“Heh, you can’t stand seeing others live long just because your own life is short—what a joke.” Bu Jing sneered.