Chapter 398: Young Old Acquaintances
The Nine Provinces world teemed with numerous factions—the righteous path represented by Yuan Shang, the demonic path led by Li Wu, and neutral forces personified by the Golden Daoist—creating a chaotic mix of dragons and fish.
Jiang Li could clearly sense that in this era of the Nine Provinces, the lives of cultivators and commoners alike were treated as cheap commodities. While the righteous path genuinely sought to uphold justice, they were overwhelmed by the demonic factions’ strength and further hampered by peacemaker interference.
The Golden Daoist’s stance was blatantly clear—dead people were just dead, not worth getting worked up over millions of lost lives.
Using his spiritual sense, Jiang Li witnessed two sects battling bloodily over a spirit stone mine, their conflict staining the precious ores crimson.
Acts of bullying the weak and opportunistic robberies occurred incessantly, with dozens of highway robberies happening simultaneously across official roads.
Escort agencies in this era were both lucrative professions and ones where practitioners literally carried their heads on their belts—the mortality rate was terrifyingly high.
Even sects worshiping immortal realm deities waged endless wars against each other over ideological differences, with neither side willing to tolerate the other’s existence.
“Exactly as Immortal Elder Changcun described—the Nine Provinces of the past were rife with overt and covert struggles, vastly different from today’s world.”
The only comfort for Jiang Li was Great Zhou. Though not as justly governed as under Ji Zhi’s rule, compared to other empires, nations, and sects, Great Zhou stood out like a crane among chickens.
…
Yuan Shang returned to Xuantian Sect in low spirits, wearied by the constant battles between righteousness and demonic forces—the latter always exploiting the former’s oversights.
“If only I could focus wholeheartedly on cultivation and achieve immortality, then I’d have real authority.”
“No, even becoming an earth immortal wouldn’t suffice.” Yuan Shang agonized, knowing similar conflicts persisted even in the immortal realm, where the age-old struggle between righteousness and demonic paths remained deadlocked.
“Are you Yuan Shang?” A figure emerged, cupping its hands respectfully.
Yuan Shang tensed—this person had appeared without a sound.
He knew every Tribulation Transcendence Stage expert, yet none matched this stranger. Who was this?
Yuan Shang couldn’t even discern the visitor’s cultivation depth.
An immortal descended from the heavens?
Interactions between the Nine Provinces and the immortal realm were frequent, with immortals often touring the mortal world.
“And you are?” Yuan Shang grew wary, having just battled Li Wu. He suspected this figure might be demonic reinforcement summoned to teach him a lesson.
Jiang Li smiled. “My name and identity must remain concealed. I merely came to pay my respects to a senior.”
His words only heightened Yuan Shang’s suspicion, which Jiang Li ignored as he vanished, heading toward Sumeru Mountain.
Baffled by the encounter but sensing no malice, Yuan Shang dismissed the matter and returned to Xuantian Sect, where numerous cultivators were already pleading for justice.
…
Mist coiled around Sumeru Mountain, its approaches already echoing with resonant sutra chants as young monks immersed themselves in Buddhist practice, detached from worldly affairs.
“…Interestingly, just as Nine Provinces cultivators divide between righteous and demonic paths, our Buddhist community faces similar schisms.”
The Long-Browed Buddha sat atop the mountain peak, squinting at a celestial battle between three Tribulation Transcendence experts before shaking his head with a resigned chuckle.
He was currently Sumeru Mountain’s master.
“I’d love to hear more.”
Immortal Elder Changcun sat opposite him, intrigued—Buddhists in the immortal realm rarely socialized, offering few opportunities for understanding.
This era’s Changcun appeared strikingly handsome and youthful, looking barely twenty or thirty.
“Buddhism contends with the debate between Hinayana and Mahayana doctrines—Hinayana emphasizes self-liberation without saving others, while Mahayana advocates liberating both self and others.”
“This dispute has endured for ages. Most Buddhas favor Hinayana, arguing they haven’t achieved self-enlightenment nor fully comprehended worldly sufferings and reincarnation’s torment—how can they save others when they haven’t saved themselves?”
“A minority uphold Mahayana, believing that saving others inherently saves oneself, requiring not just personal transcendence from worldly attachments but also doing everything possible to aid all living beings.”
“Beyond this I know little—even the Buddha left this fundamental doctrinal conflict unresolved, as it shakes our very foundations. Such matters exceed this mere Tribulation Transcendence cultivator’s purview.”
“Please, have some tea.”
A young novice served tea with fluid, natural movements.
“Let me introduce my successor from Peacock Country—his secular name is Qin Xi. Having inherited the Sumeru Buddha’s legacy, he’s more suited to lead Sumeru Mountain than I. After my ascension, he’ll assume leadership.”
“His cultivation progresses well—already at the Unity Stage.” Changcun maintained his characteristically gentle demeanor.
“I-I’ve heard of you—the immortal most active in the Nine Provinces!” The novice gazed at Changcun excitedly.
“My limited talents couldn’t achieve much in the immortal realm, so I preferred returning to the Nine Provinces’ freedom.”
“That’s not what I meant!” The novice flushed.
“Haha, just teasing!” Changcun laughed heartily.
Observing covertly, Jiang Li puzzled over this era’s Changcun—both younger in appearance and more cheerful in temperament.
“Long-Browed, your aura feels complete with faint Buddha-light—you’re nearing ascension too?”
“I lag behind the Golden Daoist—he’ll likely ascend first, with me following.”
Gazing at the Celestial Ladder, the closer Long-Browed Buddha approached immortality, the more profoundly he sensed its majestic presence.
“Forged through joint efforts of numerous immortals, the Celestial Ladder embodies the immortal realm’s collective wisdom, containing multitudes of Great Dao—spatial, temporal, karmic, yin-yang… Not just you, but even celestial immortals like myself marvel at its intricate magnificence. Rumor says no immortal has fully comprehended its mysteries.”
Long-Browed Buddha asked, “One question long puzzled me—why did the immortal realm create the Celestial Ladder? If to enable more ascensions, we’ve seen few immortals descend to preach.”
“Even visiting immortals mostly wander the Nine Provinces casually, occasionally leaving legacies that barely impact the mortal world overall. If this realm receives so little attention, others likely fare worse.”
Changcun lowered his voice: “I know little, but my master mentioned—the more worlds the immortal realm governs, the stronger it becomes.”
Jiang Li studied the young novice nearby with complex emotions—his expression cycling through pain, hesitation, nostalgia… finally settling on a smile.
This novice was the Venerable Sumeru Buddha from nine millennia past.
…
Jiang Li next visited Red Dust Pure Land, bypassing both the protective grand formation and immortal peach trees to reach the tomb chamber housing the Mortal World Celestial.
As beautiful as nine thousand years later, she rested with gently closed eyes as if merely napping, ready to awaken any moment.
The true Mortal World Celestial had died, her body not yet developed sentience.
Suddenly sensing something, Jiang Li jerked his head up and shot skyward.
The gigantic hand that had severed Weigu World’s Celestial Ladder now reached toward the Nine Provinces—this time Jiang Li vowed to clearly see what deity controlled that colossal appendage.