Chapter 385: Frank Discussion
“Thank you both for your assistance.” Director Shao solemnly expressed his gratitude to Jiang Li and Bai Hongtu. Without these two extraordinary individuals stepping in, their Bihai Branch would have become the Superhuman Management Bureau’s shame and a stepping stone for the Superhuman Cult.
At the same time, he was secretly astonished. The abilities these two displayed resembled superpowers, yet surpassed any superpower in strength. Creating countless avatars, each immensely powerful, wielding sword energy that split into a thousand strands capable of severing any superpower.
Instinct told Director Shao this was merely the tip of the iceberg of their capabilities.
“Bihai Branch has no way to repay you. Please accept these several tons of gold.” Behind Director Shao stood a glittering mountain of gold, produced using his Turning Stone to Gold superpower as a gift for the two men.
“If you have no way to repay, then don’t.” Bai Hongtu said casually. Gold and silver meant nothing to them – even spirit stones of various grades held no appeal. To them, gold and silver were just ordinary metals. In the Nine Provinces, spirit stones were the real currency.
Moreover, Turning Stone to Gold was simply altering material properties – child’s play. Bai Hongtu could turn gold into silver, dirt into clear water, or dyed cloth into metal.
“Please join me in my office for discussion.”
“Agreed.”
“You two, excuse us.” Director Shao motioned for his daughter and Peng Lianghai to leave.
“Unnecessary. We’re not hiding anything. We’ve always been completely frank and never told lies.” Jiang Li smiled. He acted with clear conscience and open honesty, never fearing others’ knowledge.
Bai Hongtu nodded – he was the same.
Peng Lianghai blurted out in surprise: “You’re really only eighteen years old?”
Jiang Li: “…”
Bai Hongtu: “…”
“Clearly they mean mental age.” Seeing their expressions, Director Shao quickly mediated, realizing their true ages far exceeded that number.
Jiang Li glared at Bai Hongtu – this was because of his earlier nonsense about their ages. Bai Hongtu turned away, avoiding eye contact.
Jiang Li coughed lightly: “While there was some jest earlier, the essence remains unchanged. When I introduced myself saying my superpower was invincibility, that wasn’t entirely accurate. More precisely, I’ve yet to meet anyone who can defeat me.”
“…Isn’t that just invincibility?” Shao Junyi muttered.
“Old Bai introduced his superpower as cultivation – not entirely wrong either. We are both cultivators.”
“You’re really cultivators?!” Though mentally prepared, hearing it confirmed was different.
“Let me formally introduce myself. I’m from the Nine Provinces world, holding the position of Human Sovereign revered by all Nine Provinces – Mahayana Stage cultivator Jiang Li.”
“He’s also from Nine Provinces, leader of the Dao Sect – Tribulation Transcendence Stage cultivator Bai Hongtu.”
“As mentioned earlier, cultivation has multiple stages from low to high: Qi Refining, Foundation Building, Golden Core, Nascent Soul, Spirit Transformation, Unity, Tribulation Transcendence, and finally becoming an immortal or reaching Mahayana.”
“I discovered your world during astral travel through the void and entered without notice – my apologies.”
“No need for apologies!” Director Shao stood hastily, unable to accept Jiang Li’s apology. Ancient texts recorded superhumans with clairvoyance seeing other worlds across the void. That ancient superhuman said multiple worlds existed, separated by violent void storms with destructive energies. Even a wisp leaking into Weigu World would overwhelm legendary sixth or seventh stage superhumans – it meant utter annihilation.
That Jiang Li could traverse the void casually placed him beyond Director Shao’s comprehension. His apology about “entering without notice” was mere politeness – as if Director Shao could actually hear such notice.
Director Shao stood dumbfounded, utterly speechless. However much he tried imagining their power, reality always surpassed his imagination.
Seeing his daughter and Peng Lianghai’s confusion about Jiang Li’s words, Director Shao explained about other worlds and the void. Soon they too were gaping in shock, which somewhat balanced Director Shao’s feelings.
Actually, Director Shao’s understanding was shallow with many gaps – so many that Jiang Li didn’t bother correcting them all, instead explaining from scratch about cultivation, the Nine Provinces, immortal realms, ascension and other common knowledge in their world. Bai Hongtu yawned through it all – this was elementary knowledge from his childhood.
The three listeners were enthralled. Jiang Li’s explanations sounded like myth and legend, yet here was someone claiming those myths were real – with the speaker himself being the greatest legend of all.
Compared to Nine Provinces cultivators, their superhumans seemed… excessively bizarre? Director Shao struggled to describe it. The battle between Superhuman Cult and Bihai Branch demonstrated this – flashy superpowers colliding produced not destructive force but ridiculous effects.
Jiang Li and Bai Hongtu held different views. Though superpower effects were unimpressive, the underlying principles were remarkable. Like that “No Female Affinity” superpower involving causality – an incredibly advanced concept even rare in Nine Provinces.
“Actually, I have a request for Director Shao.”
“Speak freely, Master Jiang. Whatever is within my power, I’ll assist. No – even beyond my power, I’ll mobilize all connections to help.”
“Nothing so grand. I heard Bihai Branch’s storage holds a small statue of the Three-Eyed True God. Might I have it?”
Bihai Branch’s storage contained classified files, mysterious artifacts, superpower-affected objects – requiring approval from at least three high-ranking officials to enter. Jiang Li had scanned it with his spiritual sense.
Seeing Director Shao’s tension, Jiang Li reassured him: “Don’t worry, I’m not with the Superhuman Cult nor joining them. I’m merely interested in the statue.”
At this point, Director Shao could only retrieve the statue.
“Please accept this gift.”
“My thanks.”
Bai Hongtu didn’t understand Jiang Li’s interest – it wasn’t even attractive. Faith statues usually had dignified appearances, but Bai Hongtu was prejudiced against the Three-Eyed True God, dismissing it as mere fabrication.
What nonsense about three eyes seeing past, present and future – Emperor Shun of Great Zhou’s ancestors could see with just two eyes!
Jiang Li shared this skepticism, but after encountering the Divine Vault Sovereign, he had to verify.
Jiang Li tapped the statue lightly – like cracking an egg – and paint flaked off. Applying slightly more force shattered it completely.
“…”
Well, that settled it. The Three-Eyed True God either didn’t exist or was utterly insignificant.