Chapter 474: The First Jiang Li Assault Battle
Before the Seven Gods appeared, Jiang Li had already completed the mission.
The system’s task required gaining the recognition of the Seven Gods to become the eighth deity.
However, the Seven Gods were controlled by the power of faith. As long as the majority of believers acknowledged the existence of the River God, the faith power generated by the followers would force the Seven Gods to recognize the River God’s status.
The strongest proof was the system’s mission conclusion.
[Congratulations, host, for completing the mission and becoming the eighth deity recognized by the gods—the Dark God. You have also learned how to use the power of faith in the Ayla World. After your soul returns to your original body, your soul strength will match that of the Ayla World.]
[Would you like to claim your reward?]
“…What the heck is this about?”
Jiang Li recalled that the system had originally planned to extract his soul and possess some unlucky novice mage in the Ayla World, but since it couldn’t extract his soul, it had to change the mission format.
Now it seemed the mission format had changed, but the prewritten mission conclusion had not.
“According to the mission conclusion, the system wanted me to train through a novice mage, improve my soul strength, and after becoming the ‘Dark God,’ learn to use the power of faith.”
Whether it was improving soul strength or learning to wield faith power, it was useful for Jiang Li five hundred years ago.
“Claim reward.”
Jiang Li received a small fragment of the Celestial Ascension Ladder.
…
Jiang Li went to the Dao Sect to find Immortal Elder Changcun.
When Bai Hongtu saw Jiang Li enter the cave, he secretly took out a Communication Talisman and whispered, “Attention all sects and imperial dynasties: the target has entered the Secluded Cave, with an estimated half-hour conversation time.”
“Tianyuan Dynasty received the message.”
“Yu Yin, you’re really proactive in this matter. Great Zhou Dynasty received the message.”
“Great Wei Dynasty received the message.”
“The Buddhist Sect received the message.”
“Dharma Body Sect received the message.”
“Four Seas Dragon Palace received the message.”
“Red Dust Pure Land is ready.”
Bai Hongtu continued, “Let me emphasize before the battle, our target is…”
“Break Human Sovereign Jiang’s defense and draw a drop of his blood!”
Representatives from various factions shouted with battle fervor.
Bai Hongtu took a deep breath, as if announcing a matter that would decide the fate of the Nine Provinces.
“I hereby declare, the first Jiang Li assault battle begins now!”
…
“Frost Giant? That name sounds familiar.” Immortal Elder Changcun listened to Jiang Li’s story in the Ayla World and recalled an immortal he met in the Immortal Realm.
“I remember that forty or fifty thousand years ago, there was an immortal called the Frost Giant who ascended to the Immortal Realm. I had a few encounters with him.”
“When listening to a Celestial Immortal’s lecture on the Dao, we sat together and discussed our origins. He said before ascending, he left behind two sons—one inheriting his divine nature, the other his demonic nature. These two sons were born already at the Unity Stage; their cries alone could shatter mountains and reverse rivers, bringing disaster upon the world.”
“Fortunately, he was almost an immortal at the time and subdued the two sons; otherwise, who knows what would have happened.”
“He also lamented that although the two sons appeared powerful, their highest achievement in life was the Tribulation Transcendence Stage, with no hope of ascending. If those two sons had offspring, they would also be extremely powerful, born at the Unity Stage level. Even if they later obtained cultivation methods to reach the Tribulation Transcendence Stage, they could only remain at that stage and could not ascend.”
“This is a bloodline limitation—a restriction imposed by Heaven on races born with great power.”
“The gods and demons of the Ayla World are likely descendants of this Frost Giant.”
“After the Celestial Immortal’s lecture, we never met again. I don’t know if he became a Celestial Immortal or stayed at the Earthly Immortal stage.”
“At that time, the lecture was about formation techniques. Before that, he had never studied formations. Upon first exposure, he showed unusual talent and caught the attention of the Celestial Immortal, then followed him to cultivate diligently.”
“Since then, we lost contact. I don’t know whether he achieved Celestial Immortal status before the Heavenly Dao awakened or remained an Earthly Immortal.”
“Either way, it’s not what I wished to see.” Immortal Elder Changcun sighed deeply, recalling this immortal who was barely an acquaintance.
He sighed not at the Frost Giant but at the entire Immortal Realm.
Jiang Li had just left the Secluded Cave when Bai Hongtu, looking refreshed, blocked his way at the entrance.
Bai Hongtu gave a thumbs-up, revealing two rows of white teeth: “The Nine Provinces Spirit Plant Array is set up. Want to test the effect?”
Jiang Li rarely saw Bai Hongtu so enthusiastic and felt this guy had ulterior motives.
“How to test it?”
“Suppose you are a Celestial Immortal attacking the Nine Provinces. I, as the controller of the Spirit Plant Array, will block your attack.”
“Oh? That sounds very interesting.” Jiang Li didn’t expect Bai Hongtu to have set up the array so quickly.
“It’s all thanks to the cooperation of the imperial dynasties and sects.” Bai Hongtu was modest.
Speaking of the Spirit Plant Array setup, the sect that benefited most was the Spirit Plant Sect.
The Spirit Plant Sect used to be barely first-tier strength, with two Unity Stage cultivators practicing the ‘Tree Planting Technique’ inside.
At the Nine Provinces Assembly, the Spirit Plant Sect keenly noticed the business opportunity—massive tree planting to provide a continuous supply for the Spirit Plant Array.
After the array was set up, the Spirit Plant Sect’s income was equivalent to decades of profits from the Tianji Tower. The sect leader was so happy he almost fainted and took two Major Rejuvenation Pills consecutively.
Now the Spirit Plant Sect was flush with cash; they could even afford to take two Major Rejuvenation Pills in a row.
“What’s going on over there?” As Jiang Li was about to leave the universe, he noticed a commotion in a part of the Dao Sect. Officials from the Mingzhong World and Dao Sect elders were discussing something.
“Nothing, let’s hurry and leave.” Bai Hongtu was sweating nervously, trying to pull Jiang Li away.
Jiang Li stepped forward and asked a Dao Sect disciple, “What’s happening here?”
The Dao Sect disciple was under great pressure seeing the Human Sovereign and the sect leader together, especially when he noticed his sect leader desperately signaling him.
He thought for a moment and decided to be honest with the Human Sovereign.
“Reporting to Human Sovereign, we’re negotiating with Mingzhong World officials about becoming the exclusive seller of candied hawthorns in the Nine Provinces, hoping the Dao Sect can be the sole supplier.”
“Is that so?” Jiang Li gave Bai Hongtu a cold sidelong glance.
“Yes. The sect leader said since the Nine Provinces World and Mingzhong World have not yet had large-scale orders, and many forces are still watching, the Dao Sect, as one of the six major sects, must set an example and take the lead.”
“So the sect leader chose the most common food among ordinary cultivators—candied hawthorns—as the first large-scale order.”
Bai Hongtu secretly praised the disciple’s insight and thought about promoting him to core disciple after the matter was settled.
Jiang Li sneered inwardly, “Yeah, like I believe that nonsense.”