Chapter 510: So This Golden Immortal Can’t Take a Beating Either
Jiang Li hadn’t expected that despite the Underworld having clearly explained to these souls that reincarnating into the Immortal Realm was impossible—since the current Immortal Realm no longer had an environment suitable for mortal life and wouldn’t have newborns anymore—some spirits still refused to listen.
To them, being reborn in the Immortal Realm meant instant elevation, entering the center of all realms. Even if they remained Qi Refining Stage cultivators, how could ordinary Qi Refining practitioners compare to those in the Immortal Realm?
They had done good deeds their entire lives and finally had this rare opportunity for an excellent rebirth—how could they not seize this chance?
“How long have they been waiting here?”
“Some just died, while others have waited for thousands of years.”
The Female Ghost Official pointed at the recently deceased spirits, who still looked confident and believed they would soon be reincarnated into the Immortal Realm. Those who had waited for millennia appeared dispirited and unwilling to see anyone.
“The Underworld has advised them not to waste their efforts and to choose reincarnation through the Human Path, allowing them to be born into wealthy families for several future lives. Some listened, while others chose to remain here. Otherwise, you’d see even more souls here today.”
Jiang Li couldn’t understand these spirits’ thinking, so he found one who had only been dead for a few years: “Brother Spirit, reincarnating through the Human Path to become a cultivator is also an excellent choice. Why not take that path?”
The other chuckled dismissively: “Can reincarnating through the Human Path lead to immortality? As a righteous path cultivator, I did good deeds my entire life, yet heaven didn’t grant me even a speck of merit. With my average talent, I could only cultivate to the Spirit Transformation Stage. Without merit to enhance my cultivation, I died at a thousand years old.”
“After finally having my hidden virtue accounted for in the Underworld, giving me the chance to be reborn in the Immortal Realm next life, how could I possibly let this opportunity slip? What kind of place is the Immortal Realm? Everywhere you look there are celestial treasures—even pulling a weed by the roadside yields thousand-year spiritual medicine. Achieving immortality in the Immortal Realm must be effortless.”
“But now the Immortal Realm wants to destroy all realms. There won’t be any newborns in the Immortal Realm anymore. Your waiting here is futile.”
The spirit extended his index finger and gently shook it: “That’s not necessarily true. Maybe some Celestial Immortals will form dao partnerships and produce children. Just because it hasn’t happened before doesn’t mean it won’t happen later.”
“Or perhaps the Heavenly Dao will change its mind and stop destroying the myriad realms, allowing the Immortal Realm to regain its vitality. Everything remains unknown.”
As Jiang Li was about to say more, the Female Ghost Official whispered in his ear: “Give up. Their world hasn’t had anyone ascend for a long time. Their world’s legends have always portrayed the Immortal Realm as a wonderful place, the ultimate pursuit. With such an opportunity, he won’t give up so easily. Maybe after a few hundred years, when he recognizes reality, he’ll go queue for the Human Path. Or perhaps he’ll become like those rotten logs, stubbornly staying here.”
The “rotten logs” the Female Ghost Official referred to were the spirits who had waited here for thousands of years.
Jiang Li went to ask one of the millennia-old spirits.
The dispirited spirit focused his eyes when he saw the newcomer and revealed a cold smile: “Newcomer, get in line behind me. I’m currently fiftieth in line. Once there’s any change in the Immortal Realm, I’ll be among the first to reincarnate.”
The Female Ghost Official explained: “These people have waited too long. They might want to give up but feel it would be too much of a loss, so they’ve become like this.”
“By the way, earlier I heard King Yama mention Houtu Huangqi. May I ask who this Houtu Huangqi is?” Immortal Elder Changcun had only spoken of the Ten Yama Kings, never mentioning the name Houtu Huangqi.
“Houtu Huangqi was the first being between heaven and earth to master the path of life, death, and reincarnation. After becoming a Primordial Chaos and Limitless Immortal, she voluntarily embraced death, establishing the Underworld based on the dao of life, death, and reincarnation. She set the Underworld’s order, forged immortal artifacts like the Six Paths of Reincarnation Stele and Stone of Three Lives, bringing orderly structure to the Underworld where the dead are assigned to reincarnate as humans or animals based on their hidden virtue.”
“The Ten Yama Kings were all Golden Immortals from the Immortal Realm during their lives. Some served as officials in the celestial court under the Immortal Emperor’s management, while others lived leisurely like carefree hermits.”
“Some were executed by the Immortal Emperor, others were killed by rivals—all came to the Underworld. With their profound hidden virtue, they chose to remain in the Underworld and became top-level ghost immortals.”
“With the Ten Yama Kings managing the Underworld, Houtu Huangqi gradually retreated behind the scenes and no longer handled affairs.”
“Where does hidden virtue come from? Why can killing earn merit but not hidden virtue?”
“Merit is the Heavenly Dao’s authority, while hidden virtue originates from the rules of life, death, and reincarnation. Their sources differ, so their acquisition methods also differ.”
“The Heavenly Dao developed intelligence and underwent changes, so the ways to obtain merit also changed. But hidden virtue comes from the rules of life, death, and reincarnation—it’s a natural law. Since the law doesn’t change, the distribution rules for hidden virtue remain unchanged.”
The Female Ghost Official scanned the souls in the Celestial Path area and smiled: “Speaking of which, there aren’t any people from your Nine Provinces here.”
“Oh, why is that?” Jiang Li genuinely hadn’t noticed this—he couldn’t tell which souls were from the Nine Provinces and which weren’t.
“Because when your Nine Provinces people learned the truth about the Outer Realm Demons in the Underworld, they began to oppose the Immortal Realm. Your Nine Provinces has the most people qualified for Celestial Path reincarnation among all worlds, especially in recent centuries. However, none of them chose to wait in the Celestial Path area—without hesitation, they all went to reincarnate through the Human Path.”
“This king asks you one more time today—is there anyone who chooses to go to the Human Path?” King Chujiang’s voice echoed throughout the Celestial Path area, reaching Jiang Li’s ears most clearly.
King Chujiang stood right behind Jiang Li.
Seeing no one respond, King Chujiang wasn’t surprised. He looked at Jiang Li with great interest.
King Chujiang was a withered old man with a hunched back.
“You are the legendary Jiang Li?”
“This is King Chujiang, responsible for managing the Celestial Path area,” the Female Ghost Official introduced.
“Dragon clan?” Jiang Li noticed scales on King Chujiang’s neck and the back of his hands.
“No, this king is Qilin—the original Qilin.” King Chujiang grinned, revealing only half his teeth.
“When one gets old, they always seek excitement. Having long heard of Human Sovereign Jiang’s peerless prowess, would you care to exchange a few moves with this king?”
Before Jiang Li could respond, King Chujiang transformed into a majestic golden Qilin. Fierceness and auspiciousness—two contradictory auras—merged into one within him. The power of a Golden Immortal enveloped the Celestial Path area, his presence far surpassing Baixue Ling’s Qilin Avatar.
No one who saw him now would connect him with the withered old man from moments before.
King Chujiang’s voice thundered as he breathed Southern Brightness Leaving Fire: “Let me test whether you are the person Dao Ancestor spoke of, whether you’re truly as powerful as the rumors say! Don’t hold back—this king is a Golden Immortal!”
His four hooves trod upon the sky, stepping on auspicious clouds. Lightning rolled between his deer antlers, radiant and upright, giving people hope. Legend said that those who saw a Qilin in this form would have good fortune arrive.
Considering this was the Underworld’s territory and wanting to save some face for the other party, Jiang Li carefully threw a punch toward King Chujiang’s face.
King Chujiang spun through the air, then fell to the ground unmoving.
“…Is he alright?” Jiang Li felt somewhat concerned. He hadn’t even used his full strength—this Golden Immortal wasn’t much stronger than a Celestial Immortal.
“He’s fine, not at the soul dispersion stage yet.” The Female Ghost Official showed no concern for King Chujiang whatsoever. “Where else would you like to go?”
“Let’s visit the Human Path area.”