Chapter 359: Guarding the Human Sovereign Hall
The news of Commander Liu taking two days off quickly spread among the guards. While Commander Liu requesting leave was unusual, what astonished them even more was Jiang Li personally taking his place to guard the Human Sovereign Hall.
“So the Human Sovereign’s duties also include guarding the hall,” remarked a veteran guard, suddenly recalling how the previous Human Sovereign Lu used to frequently oversee the hall.
Jiang Li strolled around the hall’s center like a retired official, hands clasped behind his back. He inspected how much faith energy had accumulated in the bronze cauldron, touched the central throne, then finally settled into it.
“Speaking of which, what exactly should the Human Sovereign do while guarding the hall?” Jiang Li realized this was his first time performing this duty. He felt inexplicably guilty, as if he’d wronged Commander Liu.
Just as Jiang Li considered asking someone about his responsibilities, a group of uniformed guards entered the hall, their faces beaming with radiant smiles.
“Greetings, Hall Master!” they chorused. Though the Human Sovereign’s guards numbered only a few hundred, their unified shout carried the force of tens of thousands.
To Jiang Li’s surprise, more guards kept arriving—even those not scheduled for duty that day had come.
“Hurry! Something important! Get to the Human Sovereign Hall now!”
“What’s so important? Today’s my day off—I wanted to spend time with my family.”
“Stop complaining! Your family isn’t going anywhere. The Hall Master is guarding the hall today—are you coming or not?”
“Of course I’m coming!”
Upon hearing the news, the guard immediately soothed his wife, dressed, and rushed back to the hall. In his centuries of service, he could count on one hand the times he’d seen Jiang Li. Rumor had it even Dao Sect disciples saw the Human Sovereign more often than he did.
“Everyone, remain calm. Don’t make a fuss—just treat me as you would Commander Liu. Whatever duties he performs, I’ll handle the same.” Jiang Li felt uneasy under the guards’ intense gazes, finding their expressions not much different from the female cultivators at the Shangsi Festival.
The Human Sovereign Hall maintained order across the Nine Provinces, fostering healthy competition while preventing destructive rivalries that could ruin futures.
One guard stepped forward: “Hall Master, there’s a matter that normally requires Commander Liu’s decision.”
“Speak.”
“The Great Yong Dynasty and Wu Yue Dynasty plan to jointly host a cultivator tournament. They want participants to sign death waivers and seek the Human Sovereign Hall’s approval.”
Both dynasties believed life-and-death situations contained both terror and opportunity, with such trials strengthening cultivators’ minds and cultivation. They frequently organized such competitions.
Many cultivators shared this philosophy, willingly traveling great distances to participate. Even Jiang Li had competed in numerous such tournaments, gaining valuable experience.
“Let me see.” Jiang Li reviewed the guard’s detailed report. The rewards were substantial enough to attract fearless cultivators, and the regulations were more refined than during Jiang Li’s participation days.
“Approved. But death waivers require mental competency tests, audio-video proof of voluntary participation, and absolutely no gambling establishments betting on participants’ lives.”
“As you command.”
Jiang Li knew some cowardly cultivators enjoyed watching others fight to the death. Gambling dens exploited this, secretly rigging matches to control outcomes. Participants believing they faced genuine trials actually had predetermined fates.
Jiang Li himself had entered such rigged matches, only surviving through a last-minute breakthrough and unused techniques. Even then, bookmakers hunted him for days afterward.
As one guard withdrew, another approached: “Hall Master, tensions between Qingqiu Kingdom and Great Witch Kingdom may escalate into war.”
Human Sovereign guards were stationed across nations, monitoring situations to prevent large-scale conflicts. When the Wei and Mengjiang Dynasties had warred over the Mortal World Celestial, guards reported to Zhang Konghu, who escalated it to Jiang Li.
Though not dynasties, both Qingqiu (home of Qin Luan’s little white fox) and Great Witch Kingdom (Zhang Konghu’s homeland) were ancient nations with numerous Unity Stage cultivators. War would claim tens of thousands of lives.
“What’s the cause?”
“Qingqiu dissidents conspired with Great Witch Kingdom to ambush their ruler, the Nine-Tailed Heavenly Fox, who has now disappeared. Great Witch Kingdom seeks to annex Qingqiu, estimating 800,000 cultivator deaths initially—not accounting for subsequent rebellions and suppression.”
“Great Witch Kingdom proposes tripling their Human Sovereign Hall tribute for a century if allowed to annex Qingqiu.”
“Triple? How generous.” Jiang Li sneered. War consumed cultivators and spirit stones—afterward, with ruined economies and empty treasuries, the kingdom could only fund this by exhausting reserves or oppressing citizens.
“Isn’t Great Witch Kingdom’s ruler Zhang Konghu’s brother?”
“Correct.”
“Still as arrogant as ever.”
Great Witch Kingdom followed strict witch clan hierarchies, with royal bloodlines at the top. Zhang Konghu, son of the previous ruler, carried royal blood but was deemed too dull by his family to succeed.
After his father’s death, the young Zhang Konghu lacked the strength or wit to compete for the throne. His elder brother exiled this “imbecile,” who later met Commander Liu. Recognizing potential, Liu mentored Zhang Konghu until he rose to become a commander.
Hearing this, the Great Witch ruler suddenly grew affectionate, even bestowing a princely title. But Zhang Konghu, simple as he was, knew genuine kindness from flattery. He ignored his brother’s overtures, only visiting their mother’s grave annually.
Despite Zhang Konghu’s coldness, his brother believed blood ties would make the Human Sovereign turn a blind eye—like with this Qingqiu annexation.
Had Commander Liu been present, he’d have politely clarified that Zhang Konghu served the Human Sovereign Hall, not Great Witch Kingdom. Jiang Li, however, showed no such diplomacy:
“Tell Great Witch Kingdom’s ruler—if he starts a war, I’ll intervene personally.”
“As you command.”
Jiang Li thought of Qin Luan. Should Qin Luan ever learn the little white fox’s true identity and help reclaim her throne, conflict with Great Witch Kingdom would be inevitable.