Chapter 353: The Sunscreen That Even Unity Stage Cultivators Swear By
Though Teacher Qingyu continuously produced captivating works—especially the love-hate relationships between protagonists that readers found utterly addictive—for some unknown reason, he never wrote any books based on Jiang Li. This left countless female cultivators sighing in regret.
Compared to literary style, people preferred the plots more. Thus, the popularity of the “Jiang Li Zone” was only natural.
“One copy of each book,” Yu Yin declared without sparing any expense.
Jiang Li was stunned. “If the Mortal World Celestial wants to read, it makes sense for Holy Maiden Jingxin to buy them for her. But why are you buying these?”
“For amusement,” Yu Yin replied. “To see how much the imagined versions of you differ from reality.” Every time she finished reading books depicting Jiang Li, the fabricated stories and his portrayed behavior in them would entertain her for quite a while.
To put it simply, the only things matching between the imagined Jiang Li and the real one were his name and cultivation level.
Yu Yin described her imperial routine: “Nowadays, I get angry after reviewing memorials, then cheer up by reading these books. Then I get angry again with more memorials before cheering up with books again—it’s an endless cycle.”
“Thankfully I’m not an emperor,” Jiang Li sighed in relief. As the Human Sovereign rather than a dynasty’s emperor, he didn’t need to handle routine administrative affairs. While he could manage major policies, these trivial matters were beyond his patience.
Moreover, though these matters seemed insignificant to him, they carried immense weight for common people. The slightest mishandling could become an unbearable burden for them.
“If not for the Tianyuan Dynasty having no suitable candidate for emperor—and my misfortune of killing the previous Tianyuan Emperor—who would want to be empress?” Yu Yin complained to Jiang Li.
“But being an empress is so majestic,” Holy Maiden Jingxin said admiringly. She particularly liked the title “Empress of Tianyuan,” finding it extremely dignified.
“Do you know what’s missing for your success? Confidence,” Yu Yin remarked.
“Success? What success?” Holy Maiden Jingxin didn’t understand.
Yu Yin didn’t elaborate further.
“Fellow Daoist, would you like some sunscreen?” A female cultivator running a stall called out to the Mortal World Celestial, noticing how thoroughly covered she was—not even her fingertips exposed—and assuming she feared sun exposure.
“Sunscreen?” The Mortal World Celestial had never heard of such a thing and was curious.
Sunscreen was designed for lower-level cultivators. Those cultivating under scorching sun would sweat profusely and risk sunburn or darkening over time—hence the invention of sunscreen. The Red Dust Pure Land had protective arrays making such concerns unnecessary.
“Indeed! Our sunscreen is exceptionally effective. Have you heard of Meng Youyou from the Joyous Sect? After applying our product, she could sunbathe directly under sunlight without any darkening or burns.” The sunscreen bottle featured Meng Youyou’s image.
The Mortal World Celestial looked puzzled. “But I recall that at Unity Stage, with the three unifications, one can already move freely under the sun?”
Jiang Li nodded approvingly—finally, she was showing some caution.
“Of course, Sect Leader Meng has her cultivation protecting her. But surely our sunscreen must still provide some benefit?” the stallkeeper insisted.
“Oh really? I wasn’t aware I’d ever used your sunscreen.” A chilling voice came from behind the stallkeeper, freezing her to the core.
“Daring to use my image for advertising? Tired of living?” Meng Youyou lifted the stallkeeper’s chin with a cruel smirk. “The Joyous Sect happens to need disciples forbidden from cultivation—only serving guests. You seem interested in this position.”
Forbidden from cultivation, only serving guests… The stallkeeper shook her head frantically like a rattle-drum.
With a cold snort, Meng Youyou tossed her to accompanying disciples. “This happened on Penglai Immortal Isle. Take her to Island Master Mo for judgment.”
“Thank you, Sister Yu Yin, for informing me via divine sense. Youyou is grateful.”
“A trivial matter,” Yu Yin acknowledged with a slight nod.
Meng Youyou glanced briefly at the Mortal World Celestial before dismissing her—just another Unity Stage elder from Red Dust Pure Land, unworthy of attention.
“Enjoy your stroll. I’ll see if I can recruit more promising talents for the Joyous Sect.” Meng Youyou had come to the Shangsi Festival for recruitment.
Given the Joyous Sect’s notorious reputation, while many male cultivators signed up for their selections each year, female cultivators were far fewer. Meng Youyou’s greatest dream was for all disciples to proudly declare their Joyous Sect affiliation. But judging by current circumstances, that dream remained distant.
“Sect Leader! Emergency!” An attractive Joyous Sect disciple rushed over in panic, though upon seeing her idols—Holy Maiden Jingxin and Empress Yu Yin—she immediately moderated her tone.
Holy Maiden Jingxin embodied gentle purity, while Empress Yu Yin represented independent majesty.
“What’s the panic? Where’s your decorum? Is it the recruitment platform?” Before her romantic rival Holy Maiden Jingxin, Meng Youyou wanted to project complete confidence and control. The Joyous Sect had rented a space on Penglai Immortal Isle as a recruitment platform to promote their philosophy and attract disciples.
“The Buddhist sect set up a recruitment platform right across from ours! Many listeners are leaving us for them!”
“What?!” Meng Youyou fumed. The Buddhists were deliberately challenging them! If only the Joyous Sect were stronger—she’d acquire the Buddhist sect and make those hypocritical Bodhisattvas serve as guest reception elders!
“The Buddhist sect?” The Mortal World Celestial was familiar with them—Sect Leader Qingyu of Red Dust Pure Land often visited. Though she’d only heard this secondhand, having never met Sect Leader Qingyu who couldn’t withstand her allure.
“Shall we take a look?” Jiang Li suggested.
Yu Yin side-eyed him. Seems someone’s particularly eager.
“Yes,” the Mortal World Celestial nodded honestly.
As the four approached the recruitment area, the crowd grew denser and livelier.
Jiang Li observed three distinct groups: one listening devoutly to Buddhist scriptures, another learning mating positions from the Joyous Sect’s platform, and a small wavering group torn between both—nearly developing split personalities.
“The Buddha teaches that even with wisdom and meditation, without abstaining from lust, one will fall into demonic paths…”
“Food and sex are human nature. The highest joy lies in harmonious relations between men and women…”
Representing the Buddhists was Bodhisattva Xiangxiang—a stunning woman with a red forehead dot, wearing white robes barefoot, radiating such serenity she extinguished all worldly desires. The Joyous Sect’s representative was a naturally alluring cultivator whose charms proved ineffective at this all-female Shangsi Festival.
Jiang Li didn’t recognize this Unity Stage cultivator, presumably a Joyous Sect elder.
Fuming, Meng Youyou wanted to challenge Bodhisattva Xiangxiang, but another elder restrained her—this was the Shangsi Festival, not a martial competition. Causing trouble would earn them Penglai Immortal Isle’s displeasure.