Chapter 26: The Dao Sect’s Peerless Envoy
With the crisis at the Pure Land of the Mortal World resolved and the Celestial Fairy of the Mortal World still in an indefinite slumber, Jiang Li no longer lingered there. Before leaving, he sternly instructed them to keep the matter of the Celestial Fairy absolutely secret. With her unparalleled charm, who knew how much trouble it could cause if word got out?
After that, he made a trip to the Dao Sect to request a Remote Communication Talisman from the Dao Sect Master.
“Hmm? Every other time I’ve asked for one of these, you looked like you were suffering a great loss. Why are you being so generous this time?” Jiang Li eyed the Dao Sect Master’s smiling face with suspicion.
The Dao Sect Master appeared to be Jiang Li’s age, both retaining youthful appearances, full of vitality.
With his hands behind his back, he grinned. “The Dao Sect has produced a peerlessly talented Envoy. How could I, as Sect Master, not be overjoyed?”
“For someone to earn such high praise from you, they must be extraordinary. What kind of genius are we talking about? If it’s not too much trouble, why not bring them here for me to see?” Jiang Li’s interest was piqued. Witnessing the rise of a new prodigy was always gratifying for someone tasked with protecting the Nine Provinces.
The Dao Sect Master’s smile deepened. “No trouble at all. You’re already quite familiar with this person.”
“Oh? Someone I know?”
The Dao Sect Master suddenly dropped his smile, his expression turning solemn. “Zhang Li! As a Dao Sect Envoy, why have you not paid your respects to your Sect Master?”
Jiang Li’s smile froze.
Later, Dao Sect disciples would recall hearing wails echoing through the sect’s skies that day, with faint cries of:
“I will never coexist peacefully with Ji Zhi!”
Shortly afterward, the Dao Sect Master stepped forward to clarify—there was nothing “faint” about it. Someone had been very loudly shouting:
“I WILL NEVER COEXIST PEACEFULLY WITH JI ZHI!”
Soon after, the reigning Human Sovereign publicly addressed the situation, urging everyone to refrain from spreading baseless rumors.
…
Jiang Li handed the Remote Communication Talisman to the Pure Land of the Mortal World, instructing them to inform him immediately if the Celestial Fairy showed any signs of awakening.
The sect readily agreed. Their Ancestral Master was a celestial being from the Upper Realm, possessing unfathomable cultivation. If she stirred up any trouble, Jiang Li was probably the only one capable of handling it.
Jiang Li then returned to Great Zhou, not to pick a fight with Emperor Ji Zhi, but to complete a task given by his System.
Fortunately, this mission was simple. Yun Bo of Huayun Sect was still alive. Thanks to a Longevity Pill, he had another two hundred years to live and still appeared as a middle-aged man.
For cultivators with long lifespans, their appearance wasn’t dictated by age but rather by their state of mind.
For instance, Jiang Li and the Dao Sect Master both retained their youthful appearances, a sign of an active, vigorous spirit brimming with vitality—a mental state highly valued in cultivation but rarely achieved.
Similarly, the female cultivators of the Pure Land of the Mortal World all maintained their most beautiful age.
Yuan Wuxing, on the other hand, had moderate cultivation and had endured hardships in the martial world. He had tempered his impulsiveness into steady wisdom, so he appeared middle-aged.
And then there was Jiang Yixing, who had clung desperately to life. His face had aged into an ancient, withered state before his death.
Under the guise of visiting an old friend and offering cultivation guidance, Jiang Li easily defeated Yun Bo and completed his mission.
【Congratulations to the Host for defeating Yun Bo with wisdom and effort. Would you like to settle the rewards?】
【Mission Rewards: One chance for Sudden Enlightenment, one High-Grade Spiritual Artifact of any design (Upgradeable), and one Mysterious Map Fragment.】
【Additionally, since the Host defeated a Foundation Establishment cultivator while still in the Ninth Level of Qi Refining, an achievement has been unlocked: “Qi Refining Defeats Foundation Establishment.”】
Jiang Li didn’t even bother ridiculing the System’s ridiculous wording anymore. If he had a fast-forward button, he would’ve skipped straight to the rewards.
“Settle rewards.”
A surge of pure energy descended from the void, pouring into Jiang Li’s body.
The power was terrifying—enough to elevate an ordinary Ninth-Level Qi Refining cultivator straight into Foundation Establishment.
A single leaf drifted down. Jiang Li exhaled at it, dispersing the excess power.
【Please select the design for your High-Grade Spiritual Artifact.】
“Swiss Army Knife.”
【…No match found for ‘Swiss Army Knife.’ Please select again.】
“AK-47.”
【…No match found for ‘AK-47.’ Please select again.】
“Tiger Tank.”
【…No match found for ‘Tiger Tank.’ Please select again.】
“Kitchen Knife.”
【…No match found for… Matching artifact detected: ‘Blood-Soaked Bone Cleaver.’】
The System had instinctively responded, “No match found,” but halfway through, it realized—wait, there actually was a match.
A slightly glowing kitchen knife appeared in Jiang Li’s hands.
【Blood-Soaked Bone Cleaver: A High-Grade Spiritual Artifact that absorbs vitality from fresh blood, allowing it to upgrade into a Mid-Grade Magic Artifact.】
【Artifact Binding Method: Blood Recognition.】
For a newly initiated cultivator, this was a ridiculously generous reward. High-Grade Spiritual Artifacts were extremely rare and could be used up until late Golden Core Stage, while Mid-Grade Magic Artifacts were even more precious—some Soul Formation cultivators relied on them.
For a newly promoted Foundation Establishment cultivator, this was practically a divine weapon!
Oh, wait. I’m already at the Mahayana Stage. Never mind.
Jiang Li eyed the artifact’s description: “Absorbs vitality from fresh blood to upgrade. Requires blood recognition.” He fell into deep thought.
“Are you sure this works with blood recognition?”
【Please do not doubt this system’s expertise.】
Jiang Li nodded knowingly, bit his finger, and let a drop of blood fall onto the kitchen knife.
The knife trembled violently, emitting a blinding glow. Its power surged—
High-Grade Spiritual Artifact… Supreme-Grade Spiritual Artifact… Low-Grade Magic Artifact… Mid-Grade Magic Artifact… Overload… BOOM!
With a loud explosion, the kitchen knife failed to withstand the immense vitality contained in Jiang Li’s single drop of blood—and promptly exploded.
《Expertise》
“…I told you it wouldn’t work. And you didn’t believe me. Now, can I call you a garbage system without objection?”
The System pretended not to hear Jiang Li’s complaints.
【Please accept the Mysterious Map Fragment.】
A golden-glowing map fragment appeared in Jiang Li’s hand. The glow gradually faded, revealing its true form.
Jiang Li got impatient waiting and simply blew the golden light away, revealing the map’s details.
The fragment was about the size of a palm, made of parchment, with very few markings.
【Map of the Qianyuan Mystic Realm (1/3). Complete future missions to obtain the remaining fragments.】
Jiang Li scratched his chin, pulled out a jade slip, and injected his spiritual energy. A full map of the Nine Provinces appeared before him, detailing every mountain, river, and city.
He scanned the map with his divine sense, comparing it with the fragment. Soon, he pinpointed the Qianyuan Mystic Realm’s location—it was in Great Wei Empire, atop a certain mountain.
【Congratulations, Host, for discovering the Qianyuan Mystic Realm through sheer luck. Future mission rewards have been adjusted.】
Jiang Li swore he could hear a distinct note of frustration in the System’s tone.
【System Reminder: The Qianyuan Mystic Realm is extremely dangerous. The Host is advised to explore it only after reaching the Nascent Soul Stage.】
Jiang Li immediately lost interest.
Danger and rewards were directly proportional. If a Nascent Soul cultivator could explore it, how could there possibly be anything inside that would tempt a Tribulation Stage or Mahayana cultivator?