Chapter 219: The Human Sovereign Hall Isn’t Meant to Serve the Human Sovereign

“Lu Pin, what do you think are the requirements to become a commander of the Human Sovereign Hall, aside from being politically neutral?” Jiang Li asked calmly, his tone flat like a conversation between friends, but carrying an undeniable authority, like a superior evaluating a subordinate.

Due to the amplifying artifacts, the stage performance’s volume was deafening, making it hard to hear Jiang Li’s calm voice.

Yet Qi Tongxin felt that in this world, there was only Jiang Li. The stage and the “Holy One” were nothing more than background scenery.

Lu Pin felt the same way. He even sensed an immense pressure coming from Jiang Li.

“You also need loyalty to the Human Sovereign,” Lu Pin forced himself to answer. “To show my support for you, I changed the original program and added extra performances at the last minute, especially promoting your viewpoints through the shows.”

“And do you think the common folk enjoyed watching them?”

“They… they somewhat liked them.”

“Really? My divine sense tells me that after three performances, a third of the audience had already left. Care to guess why they left?”

Lu Pin didn’t know how to answer.

Telling the truth wouldn’t work, lying would be even worse, so he stayed silent.

“Answer me!” Jiang Li’s voice suddenly shot up eight octaves.

Lu Pin stammered, “They couldn’t appreciate the performances.”

“Then who could appreciate them? The common folk who want to study during New Year’s? Your shows were nothing but propaganda and education—who do you expect to watch that! Even I couldn’t sit through it!”

“Art is meant to be lofty. It’s normal that most people can’t understand it,” Lu Pin stubbornly refused to admit fault.

“Really? You think ‘lofty and isolated’ is a compliment?” Jiang Li sneered. “Nobody likes it, yet you call it art. Can you say that with a clear conscience?”

“What the people enjoy—that’s real art.”

“And those craftsmen who you forced to finish work before the New Year—have you thought about what’s practical? Who are they working for?”

“For you… to see.”

“And what good does it do if I see it? Would that earn you the position of commander?”

That was exactly what Lu Pin had thought.

When he found out he was a candidate for commander, he wanted to showcase his well-governed country to Jiang Li, to prove he had the ability for the role.

So he ordered the craftsmen not to go home, forcing them to finish all the work before Jiang Li’s arrival. That way, Jiang Li would see a clean, tidy, wide-streeted Duochi Kingdom and have a good impression.

But then he heard that a newly completed official road had appeared inside Duochi, and after hearing the craftsmen describe the methods used by a kind cultivator, he realized it must have been at least a Fusion Stage expert.

His instincts told him—the cultivator was Jiang Li.

He realized this meant Jiang Li was dissatisfied with him. Otherwise, Jiang Li wouldn’t have personally helped the craftsmen.

He had made a huge mistake!

So he rushed to wait near the royal city’s stage, hoping to make up for it with the performance—and really did bump into Jiang Li.

Jiang Li’s presence was too striking. As long as you looked carefully, you would find him.

Who could’ve guessed that Jiang Li had a random guy named Qi Tongxin tagging along, constantly badmouthing the night’s performances, annoying Lu Pin so much he actually felt murderous.

How could foolish commoners understand the painstaking efforts of a lonely king!

Besides not being funny, what other flaws did tonight’s performances have!

He argued back fiercely, saying the shows were great, deep, and meaningful.

But Qi Tongxin didn’t agree—and worse, Jiang Li didn’t either.

“Lu Pin, do you really think that to flatter me, it’s acceptable to sacrifice the interests of the people?”

“Ask yourself honestly—if you were an ordinary citizen, a mortal, would you be willing to be treated like this!” Jiang Li roared in fury. If someone like Lu Pin entered the Human Sovereign Hall as a commander, it would spell endless disaster.

Lu Pin’s potential danger was comparable to Dong Wuwei.

They never realized—the Human Sovereign Hall wasn’t created to serve the Human Sovereign, but to serve the Nine Provinces.

He had already cultivated to the Mahayana Stage. He no longer needed faith, he no longer needed resources. What could they possibly offer him?

The root of their problem was a flaw in their thinking.

What Jiang Li needed wasn’t a sycophant as a commander.

All five of his current commanders understood this truth. They would even point out when they thought Jiang Li had made mistakes—openly.

Though later facts usually proved Jiang Li right.

Commander Liu had given him three candidate lists before. Two were utterly unacceptable, and one was barely passable.

Jiang Li suddenly felt that his five commanders were truly exceptional.

So what if one was a little dense and ate too much, another liked dirty jokes, another was a bit dark-minded, another liked showing off?

Small problems.

Commander Liu, what more do you want?

It’s terrifying when you start comparing, Jiang Li thought.

“Lu Pin knows his mistake.” Jiang Li had spoken this clearly. If Lu Pin still dared to deny it, he would be utterly ungrateful. Jiang Li rarely got this serious and angry—only when discussing the Outer World Demons at the Nine Provinces Council would he show such intensity.

Qi Tongxin witnessed this and felt a strange sense of satisfaction.

But it was immediately replaced by fear. Jiang Li had said earlier that the “Holy One” held a grudge against him—could he even survive until tomorrow?

“If anything happens to his family, I’ll hold you responsible.” Jiang Li pointed at Qi Tongxin, basically handing him a life-saving talisman.

Lu Pin trembled.

He knew that from now on, not only could he not harm Qi Tongxin, he had to actively protect Qi Tongxin’s entire family, ensuring they stayed safe from any accidents.

“And those craftsmen—it’s their job to work, yes, but not during New Year’s. Tell them to hurry home.”

“Yes.”

The New Year should’ve been joyful, but because of all this, Jiang Li felt irritated. Hands behind his back, he left.

The cold wind brushed his face in the sky. Jiang Li’s mood remained heavy. Suddenly, his remote communication talisman lit up.

“Palace Lord, where are you now?” Commander Liu contacted Jiang Li.

“In the east of the Nine Provinces. What’s going on?”

Zhang Konghu’s head popped into the frame: “Brother Jiang, come back to the Human Sovereign Hall for New Year’s. Everyone’s here.”

Commander Liu adjusted the talisman angle, and sure enough, all six commanders were gathered in the Human Sovereign Hall, with a grand feast laid out on the table, the main seat empty.

“Yeah, yeah,” Commander Huang, who usually battled depression, actually smiled. “Konghu even went back home to the Great Wu Nation early just so he could spend New Year’s at the Hall with Brother Jiang this year.”

“Hey! We agreed not to tell him that!”
Zhang Konghu flushed red and pretended to hit Commander Huang. The group burst into laughter amid the commotion.

“Anyway, we don’t have any families. We’ll just treat the Human Sovereign Hall as home,” said Marshal Ma and his wife, laughing. “The New Year’s Eve dinner was prepared by the two of us.”

“Brother Jiang, you’re the only one missing,” Commander Mu said.

“Alright, I’ll come right back.” Jiang Li revealed a genuine, heartfelt smile.