Chapter 31: Beauty, Treasure, Power
If reaching Qi Refining 8 or 9 was considered the realm of legends, then a Foundation Establishment cultivator would be seen as a god descending to the mortal world.
For Foundation Establishment cultivators struggling at the bottom of the Nine Provinces, this mystic realm was a dream come true.
Beautiful women throwing themselves at them, so-called Grandmaster experts unable to withstand even a single move, an endless supply of heavenly treasures to propel them to Nascent Soul Stage, and the chance to establish a kingdom and enjoy imperial majesty—
Not even in their wildest dreams could they imagine such fortune.
Of course, none of this held any real appeal to Jiang Li. But he could more or less guess what the mystic realm was trying to test. Out of respect for his predecessor, he decided to play along.
Surrounded by countless beauties, Jiang Li set his sights on world domination.
Restraining his power to the late Foundation Establishment Stage, he conquered the Eighteen Warlords within three days, established a nation and structured its governance within five days. The people called this event the “Five-Three Founding.”
Hearing that Jiang Li was an immortal, the surrounding nations all paid tribute and swore allegiance.
A thousand nations bowed, and Jiang Li became the ruler of the world!
Since ancient times, no one had ever achieved such supremacy!
—
Seven days after entering the mystic realm, the young and vigorous empire was on the rise.
Jiang Li sat in a grand palace, his expression indifferent.
Chun’er, who had remained by his side throughout his conquests, was now his empress, sitting beside him.
His ministers had gathered countless beauties to fill his harem, all of whom admired him and served him willingly, without coercion.
Scholars and mystics declared him to be a celestial being, offering him vast amounts of heavenly treasures, spirit stones, and fine wine. The national treasury overflowed with wealth—so much so that even a Soul Formation cultivator would be envious.
“This is not a place I can stay for long. I have to leave.” Jiang Li spoke calmly, not knowing whether he was talking to himself or to Chun’er.
Tears welled up in Chun’er’s eyes, falling like pearls and soaking her luxurious garments.
“I know, Benefactor, that you do not belong to this world… but is there truly nothing here that makes you want to stay?”
Jiang Li answered honestly, “No.”
“You have a harem of three thousand beauties at your command. Are you not tempted?”
“I’ve seen more beautiful ones.”
“I don’t believe you!” Chun’er shook her head stubbornly. She had great confidence in her looks. Becoming empress wasn’t just because she had accompanied Jiang Li the longest—seven whole days—but also because her beauty outshone all others.
“I’ve met the Mortal World Celestial.”
“……”
Chun’er fell silent. Who knew where she had even heard that title before?
Still, she wasn’t ready to give up. “Then what about the treasures in the national treasury? Are they not enough to entice you? I’ve read the inventory—there’s the Skylight Divine Fruit, which grants the equivalent of thirty years of an immortal’s cultivation in one bite; the Blue Wave Sea-Cleaving Art, which, when mastered, allows one to sever rivers with a single strike; and…”
Jiang Li didn’t respond. He simply took out a Ninefold Creation Immortal Pill.
If the Stairway to Immortality were still intact, just consuming this pill would allow immediate ascension! Its value was beyond measure!
Chun’er clearly recognized it and fell silent.
She actually wanted to say, Give me the pill, and I’ll go to the Nine Provinces with you, alright?
But she still wasn’t ready to surrender.
“Benefactor, soon you will have unified the entire world and become the undisputed ruler of all. This is an achievement that would drive every emperor in history mad with envy! Do you truly feel nothing for it?”
Jiang Li sighed. “I am the Human Sovereign of this era, the ruler of the Nine Provinces. How could becoming the master of a mystic realm compare?”
Chun’er froze, unable to react.
Jiang Li continued, “Actually, all of these reasons are just to humor you. The real reason is… why would I stay in an illusion?”
“You agree, don’t you—Senior Meng Chun?”
At his words, Chun’er dropped her act.
Her clothing shifted, changing into her original, elegant robes. Though similar in style, these bore the traces of an era long past.
“I thought my illusions were flawless, but I have overestimated myself,” she admitted.
According to Tianji Tower’s records, Master Dreamer, real name Meng Chun, was a female cultivator from eight hundred years ago, famed for her unparalleled beauty.
As for the illusion, Jiang Li had seen through it the moment he stepped into the mystic realm. Everything was fake.
Meng Chun had been a master of illusionary arts. It was said that at the peak of illusion cultivation, one could blur the lines between reality and fantasy—what was once false could become true, and what was once real could be undone. A terrifying power.
—
Crack—
The illusion shattered like a mirror. Fragments fell, dissolving like raindrops into the earth and disappearing completely.
With the illusion gone, the true form of the mystic realm was revealed—an ancient, untamed jungle.
Jiang Li scanned the area with his divine sense. The space was vast, roughly a quarter the size of Tianqing Prefecture.
He stood in a clearing, surrounded by 800 disciples from various sects, all lying on the ground. Their expressions varied—some looked conflicted, some elated, and some filled with killing intent, their choices in the illusion unknown.
Meng Chun stood before Jiang Li, her expression carrying a hint of apology. “I was unaware that the Human Sovereign had come here. I have been discourteous.”
Tianji Tower’s records had been correct—Meng Chun had perished under her Heavenly Tribulation. The one before him now was merely a lingering will she had left behind before attempting tribulation.
“Not at all. I was the one who barged into the mystic realm and troubled Senior Meng.”
Seeing her hesitation, Jiang Li chuckled. “If Senior has something to say, feel free to speak.”
Meng Chun hesitated briefly before asking, “I once met the Human Sovereign of my time. He was an extraordinary figure… yet even he did not seem as otherworldly as you.
“Has the Stairway to Immortality been found?”
Jiang Li shook his head. “No. I simply lucked into a breakthrough to the Mahayana Stage.”
Meng Chun’s pupils contracted slightly.
For her, news of someone reaching Mahayana was even more shocking than the discovery of the Stairway to Immortality.
“I thought the Mahayana Stage was just a legend… but someone has actually achieved it?”
“Pure luck,” Jiang Li said dismissively. Then he changed the topic. “So this illusion… was meant to test these juniors on their resistance to beauty, treasure, and power?”
“Yes. If they could resist even one temptation, they would pass and advance to the second level.”
It wasn’t hard to figure out—first, alluring women, then an endless supply of heavenly treasures, and finally, the ability to dominate an entire world at Foundation Establishment Stage.
In hindsight, the illusion contained many logical inconsistencies—where had the other participants gone? Why were there so many beauties? Why had the other nations surrendered so easily?
But illusion mastery lay in making cultivators overlook these flaws, luring them deeper until they couldn’t escape.
—
“Urgh—”
Qin Luan, still lying on the ground, groaned—the first sign of someone breaking free from the illusion.
The time flow in the illusion was different from reality. To Qin Luan, a month had passed inside.
To Meng Chun, breaking free in just a month showed impressive resolve.
Seeing someone about to awaken, Meng Chun smiled. “Daoist friend, let us continue our discussion once this mystic realm trial is over.”
She flashed a mysterious smile and left behind only one cryptic sentence before disappearing.
“The next trial… might suit you quite well.”
Although she didn’t know Jiang Li’s true purpose, with his Mahayana cultivation, he could easily manipulate the entire mystic realm.
But he hadn’t.
Since he had shown her respect, she, too, would refrain from prying into his motives.