Chapter 504: Did I Come at a Bad Time?

“Isn’t the Six Harmonies Seated Refinement Curse supposed to require the caster to be one major realm higher?” Jiang Li pondered.

“Correct. Only a Golden Immortal could place such a curse upon Executor Honghu,” Immortal Elder Changcun stated with certainty. The Six Harmonies Seated Refinement Curse possessed tremendous power, thus demanding exceptionally high cultivation requirements. A Half-Step Golden Immortal was fundamentally still a Celestial Immortal and couldn’t possibly curse Executor Honghu.

Jiang Li continued his analysis: “And he cursed Executor of Karma right before the explosion.”

“That suggests Executor of Karma placed the curse, and contrary to what Executor Honghu claimed, he isn’t a Half-Step Golden Immortal but has already reached Golden Immortal status.”

“Considering the scarcity of Golden Immortals in the Immortal Realm, a Golden Immortal-level Executor of Karma wouldn’t serve as Netherfire Immortal Lord’s subordinate. In other words, Executor of Karma’s cultivation level deceived not only Executor Honghu but also Netherfire Immortal Lord?”

Immortal Elder Changcun sighed: “That aligns with his habitual tendency to conceal his true capabilities.”

The ancient immortal frowned in deep thought, unable to determine what could possibly destroy all realms including the Immortal Realm.

“Regardless, we’ve gained substantial rewards this time. We’ve learned about the Immortal Realm’s power structure, discovered some reasons behind their world destruction, and also obtained merit power.” A golden flame blossomed in Jiang Li’s palm, dazzlingly brilliant.

“But what use is merit power to you? Merit power has specificity—it cannot be transferred to others.” Bai Hongtu felt that anyone obtaining the merit power would be better than Jiang Li getting it.

Yet given the circumstances, Immortal Elder Changcun and Yu Yin might not even have been able to breach Executor Honghu’s defenses. Bai Hongtu needed time to activate the Nine Provinces Spirit Plant Array, leaving only Jiang Li capable of killing Executor Honghu prematurely.

Merit power meant ascension to immortality. If Bai Hongtu or Yu Yin obtained it, they could become immortals. If Immortal Elder Changcun received it, he might potentially advance to Celestial Immortal status.

“There is a method to transfer merit power.”

Yu Yin spoke slowly: “Have you forgotten the Merit Gold Bricks of the Mengjiang Dynasty?”

Only then did Bai Hongtu remember the Mengjiang Dynasty’s ultimate treasure—the Merit Gold Bricks.

Jiang Li was also quite familiar with the Merit Gold Bricks. Emperor of Mengjiang had built a golden house to hide his beauty, using Merit Gold Bricks to construct the residence for Mortal World Celestial.

“After the first Emperor of Mengjiang ascended to the Immortal Realm, he became Confucius Sage’s disciple and learned from him how to make merit power usable by others. He materialized merit power to refine Merit Gold Bricks. However, this method contradicts the Heavenly Dao’s original intent when bestowing merit power, resulting in two-thirds returning to the Heavenly Dao.”

“According to Immortal Elder’s perspective, how much immortal power could these merit power convert into if refined into Merit Gold Bricks?”

“Enough for one person to achieve immortality.”

“That works perfectly.” Jiang Li showed no surprise at this outcome.

…

“I’ve gathered everyone temporarily without any major agenda—just to discuss the Outer Realm Demons.”

In the Human Sovereign Hall’s main chamber, Commander Liu, Bai Hongtu, Yu Yin, Sword Sovereign, Li Er, and Old Dragon King—all six at the Tribulation Transcendence Stage—gathered together. Jiang Li and Immortal Elder Changcun occupied the primary and secondary seats respectively.

“You are all Tribulation Transcendence Stage powerhouses, the pillars of the Nine Provinces. I’ve interacted with you all numerous times and know you are trustworthy individuals who won’t disclose secrets.”

“Actually, there are no Outer Realm Demons. Everything has been a lie.” Jiang Li immediately dropped this bombshell on the four unaware participants.

Old Dragon King’s eyes widened. Having just celebrated his 2,800th birthday and reached Tribulation Transcendence Stage, he now learned such profound secrets.

Was this the world of Tribulation Transcendence Stage cultivators?

Sword Sovereign and Li Er reacted similarly to Old Dragon King, while only Commander Liu showed little change in expression.

Commander Liu had multiple theories about the Outer Realm Demons’ origins, including the hypothesis that they might be immortals.

“Nine thousand years ago, to stabilize the situation, Immortal Elder Changcun labeled the Earthly Immortal monsters sent by the Immortal Realm as Outer Realm Demons…”

Jiang Li slowly revealed this hidden truth.

“That means since the Celestial Ascension Ladder broke, what the Nine Provinces has been doing isn’t resisting Outer Realm Demon invasions but slaying immortals—using mortal strength to kill immortals.”

“Our enemies aren’t vague Outer Realm Demons but the very goal of all cultivators—the Immortal Realm.”

These words stirred tsunami-like waves even in the usually unflappable Commander Liu’s heart.

If the Nine Provinces struggled against even Earthly Immortals, how could they possibly deal with Celestial Immortals, Golden Immortals, and other immortals?

If Commander Liu thought this way, needless to say how Sword Sovereign and the others felt.

Bai Hongtu stated: “Everyone needn’t worry about dealing with the Immortal Realm. By my conservative estimate, Jiang Li is somewhat stronger than the Heavenly Dao.”

“…”

For a moment, the hall fell so silent one could hear breathing.

Commander Liu, having lived over six thousand years, had never heard such an unconservative “conservative estimate.”

Yu Yin shot Bai Hongtu a disapproving glance: “Stop causing trouble. Don’t you realize your words lack credibility?”

Bai Hongtu thought for a moment and found Yu Yin’s point quite valid.

At this moment, Immortal Elder Changcun spoke: “Xiao Bai is correct. Jiang Li’s strength already matches the Heavenly Dao, even surpassing it.”

“This is Divine Vault Sovereign’s statue, and this is Jiang Li’s statue. Both are indestructible.”

“Yet even the most powerful Primordial Chaos and Limitless Immortal, the Dao Ancestor—my master—lacked this characteristic.”

Only then did Sword Sovereign understand what the half Divine Vault Sovereign statue he previously found in the void truly represented.

The several Tribulation Transcendence Stage cultivators took turns attempting to destroy the statues, only to find their efforts futile.

Commander Liu, having interacted frequently with Jiang Li, knew some of Jiang Li’s methods already surpassed descriptions of Celestial and Golden Immortals in ancient texts. Thus accepting Jiang Li’s superiority over the Heavenly Dao wasn’t particularly difficult.

Sword Sovereign had tested his sword against both Divine Vault Sovereign and Jiang Li’s statues in the void, knowing the images of supreme beings couldn’t be damaged.

Li Er had attempted to use Jiang Li as his Dharma Body without success. He had thought it was his own deficiency, but now understood the gap was simply too vast—he lacked the qualification to emulate Jiang Li, finally resolving his inner confusion.

Since Jiang Li helped him reach Tribulation Transcendence Stage, Old Dragon King trusted Jiang Li’s words. He believed Qing Luo would have made the same choice were she present.

“Originally, I gathered everyone to discuss one matter, but felt I should explain the context first before revealing the truth about the Outer Realm Demons.”

Jiang Li produced a golden flame.

“I recently killed a Celestial Immortal and obtained merit power sufficient for one person to achieve immortality.”

“Who should become immortal?”

The hall fell silent again as everyone gazed upon the merit power.

For nine thousand years, no one in the Nine Provinces had achieved immortality. Would today witness the first immortal?

At that moment, Emperor of Mengjiang pushed the door open.

“I heard the Human Sovereign wishes to learn how to refine Merit Gold Bricks?”

Everyone turned their attention to Emperor of Mengjiang.

Emperor of Mengjiang shrank his neck slightly: “Have I come at an inopportune time?”

Emperor of Mengjiang didn’t share this perspective.

Under the pressure of numerous Tribulation Transcendence Stage experts, Emperor of Mengjiang taught everyone the method for refining Merit Gold Bricks.

In principle, this was the Mengjiang Dynasty’s secret technique not to be shared externally. However, since the Celestial Ascension Ladder broke, various Nine Provinces factions had begun exchanging resources to combat the Outer Realm Demons, with many secret techniques circulating openly.

Today merely added one more method—that of refining Merit Gold Bricks.