Chapter 256: To Learn the Demon Language

Entering the Buddhist Sect doesn’t mean being emotionless—Arhat Unsubdued was a very emotional Arhat. He chatted joyfully with the Four Seas Dragon Kings, reminiscing about his years in the Buddhist Sect and sharing insights, trying to persuade the four dragon kings to convert as well.
That way, the Buddhist Sect would have five Dragon Arhats and gain control over its internal discourse.
The Four Seas Dragon Kings were also delighted to see their brother again, recalling their love-hate entanglements with Island Lord Mo of Penglai Immortal Island—tales that moved the heart—and tried persuading Arhat Unsubdued to leave the Buddhist Sect and become the fifth Dragon King.
That way, they could one-up Island Lord Mo, and the entire ocean of the Nine Provinces would be under dragon control.
The five True Dragons laughed heartily, the atmosphere harmonious. Each said their part, but no one listened to anyone else.
Arhat Dragon Subduer and Li Nian’er watched the five silly dragons. Li Nian’er was starting to regret acknowledging the West Sea Dragon King as her uncle.

“Awakened One.”
“Human Sovereign.”
The Four Seas Dragon Kings greeted Wuzhi and Jiang Li.

“How’s the performance preparation going?”
“To ensure nothing goes wrong, we plan to rehearse one more time,” replied the East Sea Dragon King respectfully. “Would the Human Sovereign like to watch and offer guidance?”
“No, let me keep a bit of anticipation.” After being tormented by Duochi Kingdom’s New Year Gala, Jiang Li just wanted to see one decent celebration.
The Four Seas Dragon Kings had to give up this opportunity to build rapport with Jiang Li.

“Big Brother, since you’ve come all this way, why not take some specialty goods back home?” The Dragon Kings were strolling through a temporary market street after saying goodbye to Jiang Li and the others.
The East Sea Dragon King thought for a moment, then waved his hand grandly: “Buy all the Human Sovereign statues and enshrine them at home.”
The Dragon Palace was wealthy beyond compare. Even overpriced statues were pocket change to them.

Jiang Li and Wuzhi parted ways. Li Nian’er was still holding a Night Pearl—a gift from the West Sea Dragon King, something for her to play with.
Jiang Li also spotted Li Er sneaking through the crowd like he was looking for someone. Upon seeing Li Nian’er, he clung to her like a drowning man grabbing at straw and refused to let go.

“My dear daughter, why did you run off? With you around, your mother at least restrains herself a little. Without you, her nagging is like the waters of the West Sea—never-ending!”
“Please, I’m begging you, just stay with your dad for half a month, okay?” Li Er pleaded earnestly.

“Cut ties with the women from the Baize Dynasty, and I’ll agree,” Li Nian’er said expressionlessly, showing no sympathy. She knew her father had ambiguous relationships with several female demons from the Baize Dynasty.
Li Er was stunned, then replied awkwardly, “You misunderstood. I was just learning the demon language. There was an eagle demon among them, you know—eagle speech is very hard to learn…”
Li Nian’er said nothing, simply stared at him in silence.
Li Er realized there was no talking his way out of this and silently looked to Jiang Li for help.
Jiang Li asked curiously, “Can’t you learn demon language using Divine Sense?”
You’re useless. Li Er almost spat blood in frustration. If Bai Hongtu were here, he might’ve helped cover things up. But with Jiang Li? That’s not cover fire—that’s a bullseye target.
Bullseye and fire away.
With Jiang Li’s unhelpful help, Li Er could only accept his fate and vow to cut ties with those female demons starting today.
Li Nian’er’s expression finally softened, and she followed Li Er back.

“Come out,” Jiang Li suddenly said. From the side stepped a dragon-horned lady, bearing a resemblance to Li Nian’er.
“You’re Li Er’s wife?”
“Greetings, Human Sovereign. I am Ao Chengcheng, the Dragon Girl.”
“You were the one who told Nian’er about those female demons, weren’t you?”
“Yes.”
Jiang Li thought, Just as I suspected. Li Er had clearly tried to hide it—there’s no way Li Nian’er would’ve known unless someone told her.
And who could see through the actions of a Tribulation-Stage cultivator? Only another Tribulation-Stage cultivator—his wife, the True Dragon Ao Chengcheng.
Jiang Li guessed she didn’t want to break things openly and destroy the marriage, so she coordinated with their daughter to force Li Er’s hand.
Ao Chengcheng had been waiting here in advance, just to see what Li Er would choose. She wasn’t worried about him noticing her.
This was the Human Sovereign Hall. Who would dare use Divine Sense here?
Anyone who did would immediately be suspected of spying on the Hall—even Li Er wouldn’t dare.

“You quarreled with him on purpose…”
“The fight was real. I really was angry.” Ao Chengcheng pouted, clearly unhappy and a bit childish.
Jiang Li tried to console her: “Don’t be too mad. Li Er did have his reasons. He accidentally broke the Glazed Coral Tree you gave him and went through a ton of trials to get a fake one from the Cloudwater Secret Realm—just so you wouldn’t be upset.”
At the edge of his Dao breakthrough, Li Er suddenly felt a sense of danger—as if something bad was about to happen.
“Really? Thank you for telling me, Human Sovereign.” Ao Chengcheng gave a cold smile, cracking her knuckles—clearly ready for a real conversation with Li Er.

As Jiang Li walked further, he came across a temporary building surrounded by formation arrays that masked its presence. People came and went discreetly, but Jiang Li still noticed it.
He sensed a seductive aura from the building, as if someone inside was dual cultivating—comprehending the Dao of Yin and Yang.
Before he could act, a group of Human Sovereign Hall guards arrived with a search warrant and raided the place.
Inside were disciples from the Hehuan Sect and a few “guests.”
Even though the guests’ faces were covered, Jiang Li easily recognized them.
Emperor Mengjiang and the Wei Emperor.
They claimed they were inside negotiating a business deal.
Onlookers sighed—the Human Sovereign Hall is way too efficient. They didn’t even get to enjoy the Hehuan Sect’s services before the place got shut down.
The Hehuan Sect had only been open for half an hour!

“We were really just talking business! Being naked just shows we’re open and transparent!” Emperor Mengjiang and the Wei Emperor insisted. “Do you know the origin of the handshake? People used to worry the other had a hidden weapon, so they’d shake hands to show they meant no harm. That’s the basis of negotiation!”
“We’re following the ancients and taking it a step further—this deserves to be carried forward!”
The guards were speechless. These two were really pushing it. If not for the potential scandal, they’d have ripped off their masks then and there.
Fortunately, the two emperors were only being stubborn verbally. Internally, they’d already backed down and slipped away with tails between their legs.

Daoist Tianming saw the whole thing. Peering through his mask, he recognized both men and thought it was breaking news. He told his newly accepted disciple, Lü Kai, to make a note.
“Put this in the Tianji News draft folder. Print the portraits of these two emperors—just make sure to censor them.”
“Censor the names?”
“The faces.”

After warning the Hehuan Sect, the guards were about to leave when Jiang Li called them over.
“What happened?”
“Reporting to the Hall Master, a cultivator finished a session with the Hehuan Sect, had a moment of great enlightenment, a clear mind, and decided the Hehuan Sect was filthy—so they reported it to us.”
Jiang Li felt there was only one appropriate phrase for this: