Chapter 193: Humans and Immortals, Earth and Heaven
No one had ever counted how many planets existed in a world, but at least trillions.
And yet, Jiang Li had clapped his hands together and made them all vanish, refining them into a tombstone as tall as the heavens—it was unimaginable how terrifying that was.
What’s more, the density of the tombstone defied logic. Normally, such terrifying density should cause space to collapse and form a black hole, but Jiang Li had forcibly fused the stars into a tombstone in a way that was beyond comprehension.
This was a technique beyond the limits of the Tribulation Stage, something only a celestial-level being could achieve—and even then, it had to be an Immortal who had progressed far along the Immortal Dao.
At the very least, a Terrestrial Immortal couldn’t pull it off.
Bai Hongtu realized that ever since Jiang Li had broken through to the Mahayana Stage, he had never once used his full strength.
Even the time he quelled the Immortal Artifact Rebellion using the Desolate Heaven Halberd might not have been his full power.
He had the best cultivation, the best weapons, but not the best opponent. Jiang Li must have felt terribly lonely inside.
Maybe that’s why he wanted to go to the Celestial Realm. No world could withstand the full extent of Jiang Li’s cultivation. It was said that after time reversed in the Zombie World, no other world could interfere with it. Jiang Li forcibly did so anyway—and nearly shattered the entire world.
Bai Hongtu had once asked Immortal Elder Changcun whether such a feat was possible for him. The elder replied: not at the Tribulation Stage. Only beings like Immortals or Mahayana cultivators—those at the same level as a world itself—could influence it.
Only the Celestial Realm, which existed above the countless worlds as numerous as the sands of the Ganges, could let Jiang Li fight to his heart’s content. No wonder the Mahayana Stage was said to be harder than ascension—it was on par with Terrestrial Immortals in theory, yet struck fear into Celestial-level Outer World Demons. Simply out of reach. Bai Hongtu was in awe.
But with that awe came confusion.
This was what Bai Hongtu never understood—Jiang Li’s power exceeded what the Nine Provinces could possibly support. Even if all the spirit energy in the Nine Provinces was given to him, maybe it could create such an Immortal cultivator.
Yet, over the past five hundred years, the spirit energy in the Nine Provinces had not diminished in the slightest.
Perhaps it had something to do with Jiang Li’s Boundless Dao Physique, Bai Hongtu speculated.
…
The four returned to the Nine Provinces, all in low spirits—even Immortal Elder Changcun was silent and subdued.
Jiang Li had been to the Mingzhong World, the Zombie World, and the Huan Yu World. Even knowing that the Outer World Demons were behind all three, no one had been too bothered.
With Jiang Li around, the demons’ schemes were bound to fail.
But now, everyone realized—those schemes had succeeded before.
That Gray World was proof.
Even though they knew nothing about the Gray World, learning that the gray beasts’ ancestors were once human evoked a deep, shared sorrow.
Looking back now, while Jiang Li’s intervention had disrupted the demons’ plans in those three worlds, the human race had only achieved a bitter victory.
Mingzhong World had been ravaged by fierce beasts. Who knew how many had died under their claws? In order to resist them, the people of Mingzhong developed technology and were forced to abandon emotion.
The Zombie World fared even worse—only Luo Ying’s planet survived. Every other planet saw its human population turned into zombies.
Huan Yu World had also lost countless lives. People there even believed in fabricated histories.
“The Celestial Realm is truly heartless,” Bai Hongtu cursed loudly, “They just watched as the lower worlds suffered disaster and did nothing!”
“Jiang Li, if you go to the Celestial Realm, you have to teach those arrogant b*stard Immortals a lesson for me.”
“And for me too,” Yu Yin’s voice was cold, but laced with anger.
Neither of them were Human Sovereigns, but both had been candidates.
The number one requirement for becoming a candidate was to care for the human race. Otherwise, why would the Nine Provinces Earth Veins even bother choosing? They could just hold a martial tournament and let the strongest win.
Despite Bai Hongtu’s easygoing attitude, and Yu Yin’s ruthless decisiveness, both had hearts devoted to the people.
They couldn’t comprehend—much less accept—the cold and unfeeling Celestial Realm that Immortal Elder Changcun described.
Struggles for power, utter apathy, the pursuit of the Heavenly Dao and eternal life—what kind of existence was that?
Immortal Elder Changcun was silent, his eyes lifeless. After a long pause, he finally sighed. “Yes… that’s what the Celestial Realm is like.”
“Humans belong to the Earth, Immortals belong to the Heavens. Terrestrial Immortals have immortal bodies, minds, and power, yet they still carry the word ‘earth’—they’re not truly heartless.”
“Celestial Immortals, though—they bear the word ‘heaven.’ And what is Heaven? It is the Heavenly Dao. Celestial Immortals are beings who chase nothing but the Heavenly Dao.”
“To be Immortal… is to no longer be human.”
His voice was filled with emotion, but to the three others, all they heard was the cold indifference of Immortals.
What Immortal Elder Changcun had said was something they had never known.
They had only understood that there were Terrestrial and Celestial Immortals—never the meaning behind those ranks.
Perhaps Changcun had held back, afraid to crush their hopes of pursuing the Immortal Dao.
But today, after witnessing the fall of an entire world, he finally spoke of humans and Immortals, Earth and Heaven.
“Jiang Li, most of this—I’m saying for your sake,” Immortal Elder Changcun looked at him. “Your talent and heart are the best I’ve ever seen. Even in the Celestial Realm, there are few who became Immortal after reaching Mahayana. You’re a Mahayana cultivator, a rarity even in the Celestial Realm. Even if you don’t become Immortal, you’ll have your place among them.”
“Though I don’t recommend going to the Celestial Realm, the fact that you’re able to find the Fragments of the Stairway to Immortality means the greater forces are aligned with you. Maybe you can go.”
“But remember this—there are always stronger people. There are Immortals beyond Immortals. Don’t let your passion lead you to act out of righteousness and bravado. The Celestial Realm is a cold place. That coldness is the nature of the Immortal Dao. And the end of the Immortal Dao… is the Heavenly Dao. You alone cannot fight the entire Celestial Realm.”
For once, Jiang Li didn’t say a word.
When Jiang Li was still in the Golden Core Stage, Immortal Elder Changcun had already met him. After five hundred years, the elder knew exactly what Jiang Li’s silence meant.
No words—because if he said no, it would only make them both look bad.
His silence… was the greatest form of resistance.
“The Celestial Realm’s power is beyond your imagination… ah, forget it. Do as you wish. You’ve grown up. You have your own path. I shouldn’t try to change your mind.” Halfway through speaking, Immortal Elder Changcun saw the determination in Jiang Li’s eyes. He shook his head gently and changed his mind.
He would no longer try to persuade him.
He returned to the Sealed Cave behind the Dao Sect, to spend his time with books.
He couldn’t talk Jiang Li out of it.
…
Under the dim lamp, page after page of ancient books turned.
Immortal Elder Changcun was flipping through his old favorites, but his mind was elsewhere.
Though the pages were full of words, not a single one registered in his eyes.
His heart was filled with the events of the day—an unshakable restlessness.
Life and death… great will… that which the Outer World Demons feared…
“Outer World Demons… Immortals… hah…”
He thought again of Jiang Li’s stubborn face, and all his words turned into a long sigh:
“Jiang Li… why won’t you listen? Would this old man ever try to harm you?”