Chapter 442: The Younger Generation Must Learn to Be Flexible
“The Underworld is mysterious. Even we immortals don’t know its location. Fortunately, some colleagues recently discovered it while traveling through the void and launched an attack. Unfortunately, the Underworld proved too powerful—those colleagues were quickly annihilated, their souls dispersed.”
“Before dying, those colleagues revealed the Underworld’s location to us.”
“The Underworld controls the ultimate laws of life and death. Direct assault is extremely difficult, and it houses countless ghost immortals—their numbers shouldn’t be underestimated. That’s why the higher-ups have always taken indirect measures against the Underworld, avoiding direct confrontation.”
The Celestial Immortals nodded. The strategy was to increase souls entering the Underworld while reducing reincarnation quotas. Over time, the Underworld would become overcrowded, internal conflicts would intensify, and when chaos erupted, the Immortal Realm would strike.
Now that the Underworld’s location was confirmed, had the time finally come?
The Executor of Karma disagreed: “Directly attacking the Underworld is suicide. Historical records show over a hundred Golden Immortals have died—and that’s just documented ones. The early days of the Immortal Realm hold many secrets—who knows how many more perished? The total number of deceased Golden Immortals is terrifying.”
“Even considering most Golden Immortals lacked sufficient hidden virtue to remain in the Underworld and had to reincarnate, there should still be many Golden Immortal ghosts there. Our forces would be like eggs thrown at stone.”
He paused, then added gravely: “And don’t forget—the Dao Ancestor also died.”
Silence fell over the group.
The Dao Ancestor had overreached by defying heaven’s will and perished—normally cause for celebration.
But the critical issue was: after death, his soul would have entered the Underworld.
A being who had attained the Primordial Chaos and Limitlessness position now resided in the Underworld.
With the Dao Ancestor there, how could they possibly attack?
Netherfire Immortal Lord shook his head: “We’re not the only ones assigned to attack. Many others were dispatched—we’re just one group. I asked Executor for his opinion to report it upwards, to see if it might gain higher approval.”
The Executor of Karma smiled faintly. If his plan was reported, would the credit go to him or Netherfire Immortal Lord?
…
“Wait—we’re joining the Human Sovereign selection too?” Yu Yin and Bai Hongtu arrived at the Human Sovereign Hall only to hear Jiang Li’s shocking proposal, their expressions turning strange.
Bai Hongtu even asked with rare conscience: “Wouldn’t that be bullying the younger generation?”
Yu Yin looked at Bai Hongtu with newfound respect—she hadn’t thought him capable of shame.
Jiang Li said matter-of-factly: “Of course not—because I’m joining too.”
“Oh, then never mind.”
Yu Yin wished she could claw her own eyes out.
“A Tribulation Transcendence cultivator, another Tribulation Transcendence cultivator, and a Mahayana cultivator joining the Human Sovereign selection—have you no shame?” Yu Yin couldn’t help exclaiming. These two shameless men shouldn’t drag her down with them.
“Now that’s unfair—I’m doing this for the younger generation’s benefit.”
Jiang Li spoke earnestly: “Think about it—today’s youth are rigid thinkers who can’t adapt. They just fight stupidly without any scheming—far inferior to us.”
Bai Hongtu nodded vigorously: “Exactly! My foolish disciple Yu Youxian falls for my tricks eight times a day.”
Yu Yin distanced herself from the pair, refusing to be included in “us.”
“How can this continue? When one of them inherits the Human Sovereign position, would I need to personally teach them how to rule?”
“Education must start early. As seniors, we should lead by example in flexibility.”
Hearing this, Yu Yin recalled the traumatic Human Sovereign selection trials.
The previous Human Sovereign had led candidates to a peach grove with instructions: walk through without turning back; whoever plucked the largest peach would win. Cultivation techniques were forbidden.
The candidates wandered hesitantly, eyeing various peaches that seemed largest, only to realize upon exiting they’d picked tiny ones at the end—having passed numerous larger peaches while hoping for bigger ones ahead.
Yu Yin had acted decisively—plucking a large peach halfway through and exiting triumphantly with the biggest harvest.
The previous Human Sovereign had been pleased—this tested a candidate’s decisiveness, as hesitation meant death against Outer Realm Demons.
Just as he prepared to declare Yu Yin the winner, he remembered Jiang Li and Bai Hongtu were still missing.
Soon Jiang Li arrived with Great Zhou officials, pointing at the group: “These thieves tried stealing the biggest peaches!”
He even had the orchard owner verify no peaches were missing. After confirming, Jiang Li simply bought the largest peach.
Bai Hongtu outdid him—he purchased the entire orchard to pick at will.
The previous Human Sovereign had been stunned speechless.
Yu Yin still felt lightyears away from Jiang Li’s definition of “flexibility”—perhaps an unbridgeable gap.
Jiang Li continued: “Actually, there’s another reason.”
“Think about it, Yu Yin—if we join the selection, doesn’t that make us candidates too? We three could compete again.”
Yu Yin’s eyes lit up—he’d struck a chord.
Both she and Bai Hongtu shared one ambition—defeating Jiang Li.
Though she’d conceded the previous selection to Jiang Li and Bai Hongtu, Yu Yin still longed to best Jiang Li once. But his cultivation advanced too rapidly—by the time he became invincible after fifteen Ascension Tribulations, she remained at Unity Peak as the Celestial Empress.
Even now as a Tribulation Transcendence cultivator wielding the Wishful Gourd, she knew she stood no chance.
“Fine, I’ll join too,” Yu Yin agreed, then frowned. “Wait—you’re the Human Sovereign setting the tests. How could I possibly win?”
Jiang Li waved dismissively: “I’m far too honorable to be both examiner and candidate. Commander Liu designs all challenges.”
Yu Yin trusted Commander Liu—a veteran who’d served dozens of Human Sovereigns. During her own candidacy, she’d often interacted with the steadfast elder who’d guarded the Human Sovereign Hall unwaveringly for three centuries.