Chapter 439: Human Sovereign Candidates
“The selection of Human Sovereign candidates is quite predictable.” As Jiang Li extended his hand toward the Nine Provinces Earth Vein, he could sense every plant and tree across the land.
“Qin Luan, Yuan Wuxing, Seven Kill Daozi Li Fugui, Li Nian’er, Ji Kongkong, Yu Youxian, Wuzhi…”
“I always said Qin Luan and Yuan Wuxing had the makings of Human Sovereign candidates – seems I wasn’t wrong.” Jiang Li felt a peculiar connection with this master-disciple pair, frequently crossing paths with them.
He observed Qin Luan, Yuan Wuxing, Song Ying, the little white fox, and Aguna obtaining fortuitous encounters in some secret realm – their usual streak of good luck continued.
“Why does Li Fugui have two girls with him – one a princess from the South Flood Dragon Clan and another from the Mermen Tribe?” Jiang Li found the situation around Li Fugui amusing. The South Flood Dragon princess was certainly persistent.
“Li Nian’er, Li Er’s daughter and the Dharmakaya Sect’s envoy – it’s only natural she became a candidate.”
“As for Ji Kongkong…” Jiang Li shook his head with a chuckle. The girl had suddenly learned of her candidacy and burst into happy smiles, completely shedding her previous world-weary demeanor. “Such a child pretending to be mature.”
“Yu Youxian – if I recall correctly, she’s Bai Hongtu’s disciple and the Dao Sect envoy. Thanks to Bai Hongtu’s hands-off teaching approach, she managed to escape his influence and maintain relatively normal thinking.”
“From what I see, she’s still working as a streamer in the Mingzhong World.” Jiang Li watched Yu Youxian energetically interacting with her audience, her talkative nature bearing strong resemblance to Bai Hongtu, while countless viewers showered her with virtual gifts.
Ever since the Mingzhong World officially acknowledged the existence of the Nine Provinces and revealed the truth of cultivation, the practice had become wildly popular there. The pursuit of cultivation among Mingzhong’s people bordered on fanaticism.
With its advanced technology and extraordinarily high standard of living, Mingzhong’s inhabitants had experienced everything their world could offer. They craved novelty and excitement – and cultivation fit perfectly.
Mingzhong had thought he’d prepared thoroughly enough, but after announcing the Nine Provinces’ existence, he realized he’d still underestimated people’s madness.
Fortunately, Yu Youxian’s calls for rationality regarding cultivation helped barely contain the frenzy.
Before the revelation, Yu Youxian had been merely a moderately popular streamer. Afterwards, backed by the Mingzhong government, with her fairy-like appearance and exceptional cultivation talent, she’d become the undisputed top streamer.
“Wuzhi… Is he no longer managing the Buddhist order? And now wants to become Human Sovereign?” Jiang Li was surprised.
They’d first met on a flying vessel, when Wuzhi had looked at him with undisguised admiration. Even then, Jiang Li had sensed this Buddhist disciple’s ambition.
Later, after Wuzhi became Buddha Lord, their subsequent meetings showed the young man had buried that admiration deep. Jiang Li assumed he’d focus on managing the Buddhist order and abandoned his Human Sovereign aspirations.
Yet apparently, the ambition remained.
Jiang Li observed the chaos at Sumeru Mountain – Brahma Tower, arhats and bodhisattvas all pleading with Wuzhi not to pursue this path, insisting the Buddhist order couldn’t function without him.
After ten years of leadership, the entire order had been won over by Wuzhi’s Buddhist nature and fully accepted him as their Buddha Lord. If he left to become Human Sovereign, what would become of them?
Wuzhi himself felt helpless. He lacked confidence in becoming Human Sovereign, yet everyone acted as if he’d already secured the position.
“Why wasn’t the Confucian Envoy Wang Bian selected as a candidate?” Jiang Li recalled their first meeting had also been on a flying vessel.
…
“Master… I wasn’t chosen as a Human Sovereign candidate.” Wang Bian was utterly dejected, the mark between his brows flickering briefly before extinguishing completely – indicating he’d come agonizingly close.
Wang Bian couldn’t comprehend why. In terms of talent, as a Confucian Envoy, his abilities were top-tier. In terms of vision, he cared equally for humans and demons across the Nine Provinces, committed to enlightening all beings.
Dong Zhongren sighed, seeing his own reflection from five hundred years ago in his disciple. Back then, he too had narrowly missed becoming a candidate.
Patting Wang Bian’s head, Dong Zhongren spoke gravely: “This isn’t your failing – it’s our entire Confucian tradition’s issue.”
“What do you mean?” Wang Bian was stunned.
“Do you know how many from our tradition have ever become Human Sovereign candidates?”
Wang Bian shook his head blankly. He only knew none of the seventy-two past Human Sovereigns came from their tradition, but had never investigated who had competed.
“Zero.”
“What?” Wang Bian thought he’d misheard.
“Zero.” Dong Zhongren confirmed. “Not a single Confucian has ever been selected.”
Five centuries ago, when Dong Zhongren learned of his own rejection, he’d been devastated for years. No one could explain why.
Determined to understand, he combed through ancient texts and finally discovered the pattern among nearly a thousand past candidates that everyone else had overlooked.
The Confucian tradition itself was the obstacle.
“Although we follow Confucius Sage’s teachings, our foundation actually traces back to ancestor Dong Zhongshu.”
“When ancestor Dong Zhongshu established our tradition, seeking to make it the Han Empire’s state religion, he positioned Confucianism as assisting rulers. His writings consistently imply this.”
“We pursue enlightening all creation. You’ve served as State Preceptor – but have you ever wondered why you could be Preceptor, but never King?”
Wang Bian froze.
“Exactly. Confucians cannot be leaders. That’s why the Earth Vein didn’t select me – and why it rejected you.”
…
“So that’s the reason.” Jiang Li overheard the master-disciple conversation.
Bai Hongtu had assumed Dong Zhongren’s rejection stemmed from being a hypocrite lacking true concern for the people, unaware of this underlying cause.
Jiang Li decided to clarify this misunderstanding with Bai Hongtu when possible.
“Establishing connections with other worlds indeed allows their inhabitants to become candidates too.” Jiang Li sensed numerous candidates from other realms.
“Bu Jing was too old to qualify, while Bu Dong didn’t meet the talent requirements – unfortunate.”
“Yu Feng – this boy remains remarkably composed. Not surprising for someone who’s died tens of thousands of times.” Jiang Li saw Yu Feng react to his candidacy with a calm smile before resuming affectionate moments with his senior sister Wu Lian.
“Little Green became a candidate too – as expected of my disciple, caring deeply for all living beings. Xia Chao also made the list.”
Speaking of Little Green, Jiang Li suddenly recalled – she’d transformed from a Green Worm to a True Dragon in just one year. Despite her mature appearance and mindset, her actual age barely exceeded one year.
A Unity Stage cultivator at just over one year old.
“No Luo Ying or Luo Zhu? Ah right – they haven’t reached Nascent Soul stage yet.” Reaching Nascent Soul was a prerequisite for candidacy.
It didn’t matter if they hadn’t achieved it yet. Once they did, the Earth Vein would automatically add the siblings to the candidate list. Jiang Li held high hopes for them.