Chapter 355: Getting Closer to Human Sovereign Jiang
Ding-ding-ding—
The bells echoed through Penglai Immortal Isle, as if reminding everyone of a certain time. Jiang Li noticed many female cultivators’ eyes lighting up with excitement, clearly eager for something.
“What’s about to happen?” Jiang Li asked Yu Yin in surprise.
Yu Yin didn’t answer directly. After giving Jiang Li a once-over, she seemed to find the upcoming event particularly amusing. “You’ll see.”
Jiang Li rarely saw this expression on Yu Yin’s face—the look of schadenfreude she always wore when he and Bai Hongtu got caught by the previous Human Sovereign and were hung up for a beating.
With a slight smirk, Yu Yin said, “Holy Maiden Jingxin, you’re lucky you came to the Shangsi Festival. You’d have regretted missing this event.”
Holy Maiden Jingxin looked completely confused by Yu Yin’s words.
“I want to participate too!” Mortal World Celestial’s curiosity was piqued by Yu Yin’s mysterious demeanor.
Jiang Li sighed. “Celestial, remember what I told you before we left? Keep a low profile.”
“Oh.” Mortal World Celestial deflated when Jiang Li didn’t support her.
Led by Yu Yin, the three arrived at the event location where Jiang Li finally saw Island Master Mo Ruoyu. When Mo Ruoyu had fished Jiang Li from the sea five hundred years ago, she was already at the Unity Stage. Half a millennium later, she looked exactly the same as in Jiang Li’s memories—a testament to her unshakable mental fortitude.
Noticing the Other Mountain Stone by Mo Ruoyu’s side, Jiang Li curiously asked Yu Yin, “Why didn’t you bring your Wishful Gourd?”
Yu Yin hesitated before answering, “The Wishful Gourd has… peculiar tendencies. Its desires often defy logic—like enjoying being stepped on. When it excitedly asked to attend the Shangsi Festival, I had a bad feeling, so I left it behind.”
Jiang Li nodded sympathetically—he too often found the gourd’s thoughts incomprehensible.
“Speaking of which, I haven’t visited the Desolate Heaven Halberd in ages. I should go see it soon—poor thing must be lonely serving as the formation’s eye all by itself.” Jiang Li felt guilty for constantly forgetting his promise to visit.
Yu Yin considered whether to tell Jiang Li how the halberd had been having the time of its life with its rogue friends.
“It’s the decade’s Shangsi Festival again—welcome everyone to Penglai Immortal Isle!” Island Master Mo announced energetically as always. “While yin and yang complement each other and both genders can cultivate, factors like fewer female practitioners, unsuitable techniques, and male cultivators’ dominance have kept us at a disadvantage. This festival aims to foster mutual support through exchange.”
Applause erupted as the audience agreed wholeheartedly. As the wielder of the combat-focused Other Mountain Stone, Mo Ruoyu stood second only to Yu Yin among the Nine Provinces’ female cultivators—her words carried weight.
“Now for the event you’ve all been waiting for—today’s theme is: Getting Closer to Human Sovereign Jiang!”
Jiang Li: “???”
The applause intensified, accompanied by shouts like “I’ll marry no one but Human Sovereign Jiang!”, “I love Jiang Li!”, and “I want to be his empress!” Clearly, the mere mention of his name ignited the crowd.
Though rumors had leaked the event’s content beforehand, the official announcement still electrified the atmosphere. Holy Maiden Jingxin felt surrounded by enemies—this “festival” was essentially a gathering of romantic rivals.
Even Jiang Li was startled—not even his 300th anniversary celebration had drawn such fervor. He feared appearing in public might leave him clothesless.
“See? I told you this event would suit you,” Yu Yin whispered to Holy Maiden Jingxin.
“For fairness, we’ve invited Human Sovereign Jiang’s friend, Empress Yu Yin, as a judge!” Island Master Mo’s announcement shifted all attention to Yu Yin.
While female cultivators aspired to be like Holy Maiden Jingxin, none dared imagine becoming Yu Yin—their attitude toward her blended worship, admiration, and awe.
“What a pleasant surprise to find Holy Maiden Jingxin here too!” Island Master Mo descended from the stage, having not expected the holy maiden’s attendance. “Will you be judging or participating?”
Holy Maiden Jingxin hesitated. “Aren’t there cultivation level restrictions? I’m at the Unity Stage…” Most events she knew strictly limited participants—like Great Zhou’s Spiritual Treasure Competition that capped at Nascent Soul Stage (though several Tribulation Transcendence Stage cultivators had snuck in).
“No need to worry. This event doesn’t test cultivation—many Unity Stage participants like Baixue Ling, Bodhisattva of Joy, and Meng Youyou have already registered.”
Jiang Li’s eyebrows shot up—so these women were secretly friends?
“Then I’ll participate!” Hearing familiar names, Holy Maiden Jingxin’s competitive spirit flared. She’d show the world who truly knew Jiang Li best.
“And this is…?” Island Master Mo noticed Mortal World Celestial.
“A Red Dust Pure Land elder accompanying the holy maiden. She’ll sit with me.” As a judge, Yu Yin normally wouldn’t have companions, but no one dared challenge her arrangement.
Jiang Li, invisible, followed Mortal World Celestial to the stands where he spotted Baixue Ling warming up below—with golden eyes. Apparently, this version had been enjoying freedom for quite some time. Jiang Li couldn’t understand why the two consciousnesses kept blaming each other despite sharing thoughts and feelings—perhaps they simply enjoyed the game.
“Today’s prize is a limited edition book titled The Unknown Human Sovereign Jiang, vividly documenting his daily life in captivating detail. It also includes the anonymous author’s six thousand years of cultivation experience!”
The crowd erupted—while the book was a collector’s item, the cultivation insights represented priceless wisdom.
Jiang Li felt betrayed by acquaintances. “Commander Liu from Human Sovereign Hall wrote it,” Yu Yin revealed.
Gritting his teeth, Jiang Li realized only the six-thousand-year-old Commander Liu could be the culprit. “Doesn’t he have anything better to do?”
“Island Master Mo promised him access to Red Dust Pure Land in exchange for the prize,” Yu Yin explained, equally puzzled since Commander Liu had no known romantic interests there.
“First question in our quiz—correct answers earn one point: In the novel Overbearing Great Ascension Cultivator Falls For Me, how many intimate encounters did Jiang Li have with the female lead?”
Jiang Li was stunned—this first question already exceeded his knowledge.
Holy Maiden Jingxin brimmed with confidence—after all, she’d written that book herself.