Chapter 519: This Humble Monk Suspects the Outer Realm Demons Were Made Up by the Old Immortal

Human Sovereign Hall main hall.

Commander Liu looked at Bai Hongtu with a complex expression.

Bai Hongtu wore mourning clothes while wiping tears as he said: “Commander Liu, no one wants to see something like this happen. Everyone is heartbroken about Jiang Li’s departure, but you shouldn’t grieve too much. With me, Bai Hongtu, still here in the Nine Provinces, I can reluctantly act as proxy Human Sovereign while the Human Sovereign is absent.”

Commander Liu let out a deep sigh.

“Sect Master Bai, I’m not grieving. I’m just considering where to throw you this time.”

“You come three times a day—morning, noon, and evening—nine times total. Not even ordinary people eating meals are as punctual as you.”

“Every time I throw you out, don’t you find it annoying?”

Bai Hongtu maintained his utterly heartbroken, grief-stricken expression: “How can you think that way? I’m just worried Jiang Li might feel too lonely after death. As his good brother, I need to see him off properly.”

Bai Hongtu pulled out a suona horn.

A ghostly whisper sounded in Bai Hongtu’s ear: “How about I see you off instead?”

Seeing Jiang Li resurrected, Bai Hongtu jumped in fright and retreated repeatedly.

“Come on, let’s test the Nine Provinces Spirit Plant Array again.” Jiang Li grabbed Bai Hongtu by the collar and flew skyward, followed soon by screams of agony.

When Jiang Li stepped back into the Human Sovereign Hall covered in blood, he heard Commander Liu complaining.

“Hall Master, you’ve finally resurrected. Sect Master Bai Hongtu comes three times a day—it’s driving me insane.”

These three days gave Commander Liu a feeling of returning to over three hundred years ago during the Human Sovereign selection, when he suffered Bai Hongtu’s torment.

The previous Human Sovereign selection was jointly presided over by the Old Human Sovereign and Commander Liu.

The comforting part was that while Bai Hongtu caused trouble, Jiang Li lay quietly without joining in the mischief.

Jiang Li remained silent for a moment before saying: “I met all previous Human Sovereigns in the Underworld, including the 27th Human Sovereign.”

“He asked me to tell you that he’s very happy you’ve continued serving the Nine Provinces, serving all generations of Human Sovereigns, teaching them their duties as Human Sovereigns. The contributions you’ve made are greater than his, who only fought against the Outer Realm Demons once.”

“So you don’t need to keep blaming yourself for not trading your life to save him. He passed away peacefully and lives a fulfilling existence in the Underworld.”

Commander Liu stood stunned in the center of the Human Sovereign Hall’s main hall, speechless for a long time.

Jiang Li patted Commander Liu’s shoulder and flew toward the Buddhist Sect.

…

At the Buddhist Sect, Sanskrit chants filled the air as Wuzhi sat with dignified composure atop Sumeru Mountain’s peak on a lotus platform, expounding sutras.

Arhats and bodhisattvas sat cross-legged with palms pressed together, listening to Wuzhi’s teachings.

“…Compassion born from accumulated virtue, vowing to save all living beings. The golden staff in hand shakes open the gates of hell…”

In Jiang Li’s eyes, Wuzhi’s figure gradually overlapped with that of Venerable Sumeru Buddha.

“Wuzhi’s Buddhist cultivation has advanced further.” Brahma Tower appeared silently beside Jiang Li, boasting about Wuzhi’s achievements.

Jiang Li glanced at it: “What does that have to do with you? You talk as if you taught him yourself.”

Brahma Tower grew anxious: “How can you say that? As Wuzhi’s guardian, how could his current achievements have nothing to do with me?”

Jiang Li ignored it and continued observing Wuzhi.

After learning about Wuzhi’s relationship with the Dao Ancestor, previous events became explainable.

Wuzhi’s soul was powerful yet bore multiple scars, likely resulting from the Dao Ancestor’s battle with the Heavenly Dao.

Suddenly Jiang Li thought of a question, his expression turning strange.

“Could these scars have been ground out by the Six Paths of Reincarnation Stele?”

Jiang Li found this highly possible.

The injuries were all inflicted by their own people.

Jiang Li stood in the back row, quietly listening until noon when Wuzhi stopped chanting sutras.

The young monks and nuns hadn’t cultivated enough to avoid needing meals.

Only then did the monastic assembly notice Jiang Li standing in the back row, all pressing their palms together and chanting “Amitabha.”

Seeing Jiang Li, Wuzhi revealed a hint of joyful smile and quickly walked over.

“Human Sovereign.”

“Buddha Lord.”

Jiang Li met with Buddha Lord Wuzhi, not Human Sovereign candidate Wuzhi.

“Have any new memories appeared in your mind recently?”

Wuzhi said gravely: “Yes. This humble monk was just wanting to speak with the Human Sovereign about this matter. Human Sovereign, please come this way.”

Wuzhi brought Jiang Li and Brahma Tower before a stone wall bearing a human shadow imprint. This was originally where Venerable Sumeru Buddha contemplated Buddhist teachings—he had sat here so long that his shadow became imprinted on the stone wall.

Now this was where Wuzhi contemplated Buddhist teachings.

“Previously, this humble monk always felt Immortal Elder Changcun had major problems. Now this humble monk finally understands the reason.”

“This humble monk knows the Human Sovereign trusts the Immortal Elder and might not believe this humble monk’s words, but perhaps the Human Sovereign could first listen to this humble monk explain the reasons.”

“Speak.” Jiang Li sat down and patted the spot beside him, indicating Wuzhi should also sit and not be too nervous.

After sitting properly, Wuzhi said: “Although this humble monk hasn’t recalled who I was in my previous life, I’ve remembered many common knowledge of the Immortal Realm. This humble monk discovered there simply are no Outer Realm Demons—the so-called Outer Realm Demons were very likely fabricated by the Immortal Elder!”

“The Immortal Elder has deceived the Nine Provinces for nine thousand years—he must have ulterior motives!”

“Even if the Human Sovereign doesn’t believe this humble monk’s words, this humble monk merely hopes the Human Sovereign will maintain caution toward the Immortal Elder in the future.”

Jiang Li pressed his lips together, looking at Wuzhi’s completely serious expression, unsure what kind of expression he should show.

Suppressing his laughter, Jiang Li explained the events from nine thousand years ago to Wuzhi.

“Such things happened nine thousand years ago? No wonder the Immortal Elder fabricated the lie about Outer Realm Demons. This humble monk wrongly suspected the Immortal Elder.”

“There’s one more thing you should probably know.”

Jiang Li then recounted his Underworld experiences and the Dao Ancestor’s reincarnation.

“What? I’m the Dao Ancestor?” Wuzhi didn’t feel relaxed or happy but instead grew tense.

There were too many legends about the Dao Ancestor—one could say the Dao Ancestor was practically an omnipotent existence. He could very well reincarnate and replace himself to live another life.

“No, your previous life was the Dao Ancestor. You are you.”

“Look—you’ve awakened so many memories, but have you shown any tendency to become the Dao Ancestor? No, right?”

“This shows you and the Dao Ancestor are different individuals.”

“Houtu Huangqi said the Dao Ancestor would never do something like replacing someone. As your cultivation continues improving, the Dao Ancestor will use the three corpses severing method to separate from your soul.”

“You are you, the Dao Ancestor is the Dao Ancestor—you two are different individuals.”

Only then did Wuzhi relax with a sigh.

Just as Jiang Li wanted to say something more, the communication talisman lit up.

This was Yu Yin’s communication talisman, but Wishful Gourd’s voice came from the other end.

“Human Sovereign, it’s terrible! Please save my master!” Wishful Gourd pleaded with Jiang Li for help.

“What happened to Yu Yin?” Jiang Li sprang up abruptly. Had fallen immortals bypassed the Nine Provinces World Protection Array’s blockade and infiltrated the Nine Provinces?

“Master attempted to merge the Painting Dao’s ‘painting realm world’ with the Confucian School’s ‘words become reality’ technique. Master succeeded and can enter book worlds, but now there’s another problem.”

“Master entered a novel’s world and hasn’t come out for a long time.”

Jiang Li raised an eyebrow: “Which novel did she enter?”

“‘Overbearing Great Ascension Cultivator Falls For Me.’ Master entered together with Holy Maiden Jingxin.”

Jiang Li had a feeling this situation would become very troublesome.