Chapter 513: Suffering in Hell, Reincarnation Through the Beast Path
“King Yama said that Venerable Sumeru Buddha saved the Nine Provinces multiple times and could obtain massive amounts of hidden virtue, but killing nine million people was also a fact, with equally exaggerated karmic retribution.”
“Hidden virtue and karmic retribution cannot offset each other; merits and faults are calculated separately. Venerable Sumeru Buddha must endure various torments in hell as punishment to resolve his karmic retribution before qualifying for the Human Reincarnation Path.”
“Moreover, his mental fortitude is insufficient. Although he’s the only immortal in nine thousand years, he cannot remain in the Underworld as a ghost officer and can only reincarnate through the Human Path.”
“After hearing this, Longbrow Buddha pleaded with the Underworld, asking if he could suffer in Venerable Sumeru Buddha’s place to reduce his punishment. The Underworld agreed, sentencing Longbrow Buddha to reincarnate through the Beast Reincarnation Path, and they deliberately informed Venerable Sumeru Buddha of this decision.”
The female ghost official explained from the side: “Making Longbrow Buddha suffer isn’t the goal, nor can he truly substitute for Venerable Sumeru Buddha’s punishment. Our purpose is making Venerable Sumeru Buddha know that Longbrow Buddha suffers because of him.”
“Venerable Sumeru Buddha endures cruel torture in hell—that’s physical suffering. Making him know his master reincarnates because of him—that’s mental suffering. When body and mind suffer simultaneously, his time in hell can be halved.”
“Whenever Venerable Sumeru Buddha emerges from hell, Longbrow Buddha will be released from his Beast Path reincarnation cycle.”
“Every time Longbrow Buddha dies, we ask him if he wishes to continue being livestock, eaten by others. If he refuses, he can return to the Human Path anytime.”
“But Longbrow Buddha always chooses to continue reincarnating through the Beast Path, and we always relay this news to Venerable Sumeru Buddha, making his heart endure continuous torment.”
“How much longer must Venerable Sumeru Buddha remain in hell?” Jiang Li asked.
“Two million years.”
Jiang Li paused in surprise: “That little?”
Two million years sounded enormous at first, but Venerable Sumeru Buddha had killed nine million people. Two million years was already the halved result—calculating roughly, killing one person meant only half a year in hell to resolve karmic retribution.
“You can’t calculate it that way,” the female ghost official pointed out Jiang Li’s misconception. “Venerable Sumeru Buddha killed people from Tianyuan Imperial City—that place was packed with villains. Some deserved killing, and eliminating those actually counts toward hidden virtue.”
“So that’s how it is.”
Jiang Li sighed with emotion, then turned to look at the fifty-second Human Sovereign Qing Luo.
“Human Sovereign Qing, though I’ve never met you, I can glimpse part of your legendary demeanor from the Old Dragon King.”
“Old Dragon King? Oh, you mean Ao Yi. What, he’s still imitating me?”
“Absolutely. He imitates you not just in behavior but in cultivation level too.”
Qing Luo stared with wide, beautiful eyes: “He reached the Tribulation Transcendence Stage?”
“This very morning.”
“He’s keeping Commander Liu company—one breaking through to Tribulation Transcendence Stage, the other achieving immortality,” Old Human Sovereign Lu remarked sarcastically.
“They were still over an hour apart though.”
“Really? Are you reliable, kid?” Old Human Sovereign Lu looked Jiang Li up and down.
“Senior Lu, you know me—when have I ever told lies?” Jiang Li declared earnestly.
“Little Lu, that’s not right of you. This child clearly looks like an honest person—how could you doubt him?”
“I can read faces—this kid is genuine.”
“Little Li follows rules and discipline—how would he lie?”
Several Human Sovereigns stood up to defend Jiang Li.
“Nonsense! He and Bai Hongtu never speak truth! When these two partner up, you can’t believe a single word—trusting even a punctuation mark might deceive you!”
Old Human Sovereign Lu still remembered searching all night in the Scripture Pavilion for “Immortal Realm Strange Tales” and the Treasure Gathering Immortal.
These two deceiving Human Sovereign candidates was one thing, but even fooling him?
“And you! Since when can you read faces?!” Old Human Sovereign Lu jumped in frustration.
“Alright, alright, Senior Lu. Let me share more good news with you.”
“What is it?” Old Human Sovereign Lu pouted angrily, turning his head away, unwilling to engage with Jiang Li.
“Bai Hongtu developed the Spirit Plant Formation, mobilizing the entire Nine Provinces’ power to grant him Celestial Immortal-level strength. Even without my intervention, the Nine Provinces needn’t fear Earthly Immortal attacks anymore.”
Seeing Old Human Sovereign Lu still turned away and silent, Jiang Li walked before him and noticed Old Human Sovereign Lu struggling to suppress laughter.
Seeing Jiang Li’s face, Old Human Sovereign Lu finally burst out laughing.
After laughing, Old Human Sovereign Lu straightened his face and commented: “Well, that Bai Hongtu kid always has clever ideas. Finally using his brains for proper purposes.”
Yuan Shang greatly praised Bai Hongtu’s achievement: “If we had the Spirit Plant Formation in my era, why fear mere Earthly Immortals?”
The other Human Sovereigns nodded repeatedly, regretting their eras lacked geniuses like Bai Hongtu.
Only Jiang Li held a different view: “It couldn’t happen earlier. If the Immortal Realm knew the Nine Provinces had power reaching Celestial Immortal level, they’d focus on eliminating us. We might not have survived until my appearance.”
Jiang Li spoke correctly—if the Executor of Karma knew about the Spirit Plant Formation, he would elevate the Nine Provinces’ threat level and design other plans to accelerate their fall.
Jiang Li stayed with Old Human Sovereign Lu for a long time. The Human Sovereigns reminisced about the past Nine Provinces and past glories, then chatted about daily life matters, discussed the Immortal Realm, and talked about the Mahayana Stage.
“So that’s why I could never break through to Mahayana Stage—it was all fabricated by Immortal Elder!” Yuan Shang slapped his thigh, wanting to have a word with Immortal Elder.
“Immortal Elder truly could spin tales! Actually creating the Outer Realm Demons race, explaining how they were born and cultivated, completely fooling me! If the Underworld hadn’t told me Outer Realm Demons don’t exist, I’d still believe I killed them!”
The Human Sovereigns nodded in shared understanding. Immortal Elder seemed so kind and amiable—how could he deceive so skillfully? The entire Nine Provinces believed in the Mahayana Stage and Outer Realm Demons for nine thousand years.
Truly learning the truth only after death.
Wait, didn’t we just talk about someone who looked honest too?
After the cheerful joking, Yuan Shang felt deeply moved: “Immortal Elder had it hard too, diligently crafting lies to give us false hope. Without Immortal Elder, the Nine Provinces might have destroyed themselves through internal conflict alone.”
Yuan Shang understood that era’s situation most deeply, knowing Immortal Elder had no choice but to lie.
If he were in Immortal Elder’s position, he absolutely couldn’t have managed that extent.
“We thought we had hope and kept striving. Immortal Elder knew the truth yet still gave us hope—no wonder he suddenly aged. Appearance reflects the heart, indeed.”
Jiang Li smiled: “Now Immortal Elder is much better. With me as the strongest combat force, he doesn’t need to fabricate hope or worry about Immortal Realm threats. I am the Nine Provinces’ hope.”
“Not to mention Mortal World Celestial’s resurrection—Immortal Elder constantly schemes to sneak into the Red Dust Pure Land daily.”
“What? Mortal World Celestial was resurrected?” This was major news. Mortal World Celestial was hailed as the embodiment of Heavenly Dao’s beauty, and now that the Heavenly Dao developed consciousness, it was inevitable that one would speculate more about it.
The female ghost official who had been quietly listening to Jiang Li and the seniors finally spoke: “I did hear Dao Ancestor mention something about Mortal World Celestial.”
Jiang Li turned: “What did Dao Ancestor say?”
The female ghost official explained: “He said the Heavenly Dao developed consciousness because myriad beings prayed, making Heaven open its eyes. The Heavenly Dao responded to living beings’ wishes and reacted.”
“The Heavenly Dao divided into multiple aspects, creating numerous avatars representing Heavenly Dao’s beauty, Heavenly Dao’s strength, Heavenly Dao’s wisdom, Heavenly Dao’s order, Heavenly Dao’s enlightenment, and so forth.”
“These incarnations walked the world, closely observing all realms and living beings’ sufferings. These avatars’ thoughts returned to Heaven, multiple thoughts merging into one. Finally, the Heavenly Dao made its decision, developing consciousness to save the world.”
“Dao Ancestor concluded that these were merely conjectures, not necessarily correct. Since ancient times, heavenly intent has been difficult to inquire about, and the Heavenly Dao possesses methods beyond his comprehension.”