Chapter 526: There’s a Saying That Perfectly Describes How Busy Jiang Renhuang Is

Immortal Elder Changcun looked at Ji Zhi speaking eloquently and naturally thought of Great Zhou.

If there was any place that most obviously violated the rule of survival of the fittest, it would be Great Zhou.

At the founding of the nation, Emperor Shun had established the direction and method of operating national fortune with very clear intentions – he wanted to establish a rule-of-law state.

The establishment of Great Zhou overturned countless cultivators’ beliefs, with many thinking Emperor Shun’s approach couldn’t last long.

Facts proved that Emperor Shun truly lived up to being the cultivator most proficient in the Dao of Time. Great Zhou had a long history and strong national power, especially reaching Ji Zhi’s generation which pushed Great Zhou to its peak.

Jiang Li’s actions subtly aligned with Great Zhou’s laws. With Jiang Li setting an example, the Nine Provinces were gradually moving toward legal governance.

Although Great Zhou had followed laws in the past, at its core it still adhered to the principle that the strong ruled.

As Jiang Li put it, the old Great Zhou was rule by law, while the current Great Zhou was rule of law.

“Did Emperor Shun know about the Eight Great Rules?” Immortal Elder Changcun suddenly wondered.

Great Zhou was founded thirty thousand years ago, and Immortal Elder Changcun had actually met Emperor Shun. It was just that Emperor Shun was so mysterious that even the Immortal Elder couldn’t figure out his intentions.

Before Emperor Shun, the Immortal Elder didn’t dare to act arrogantly. His lifespan, cultivation, and seniority meant nothing to the beings of the River of Time.

“This is the list of people preparing for the study exchange, take a look.” Ji Zhi took out a paper with some students’ and teachers’ cultivation levels and experiences written on it, most specializing in law.

This was requested by Yu Yin, who felt the Tianyuan Dynasty needed proper reorganization.

“I trust you.” Yu Yin knew exactly what kind of person Ji Zhi was.

Everyone sat together chatting for quite a while, with the newly appointed Court Historian rapidly recording nearby. Jiang Li didn’t pay attention to what was being recorded.

Eventually, the Immortal Elder returned to the Dao Sect, and Holy Maiden Jingxin, worried about the restless Mortal World Celestial, also returned to the Red Dust Pure Land.

“Your Majesty, it’s about time. The Nine Provinces Artifact Refining Competition is about to begin.” A palace maid quietly reminded.

“This artifact refining competition is being held in the Tianyuan Dynasty?” Bai Hongtu hadn’t paid much attention to such competitions. Usually, the Artifact Refining Peak Master Tang Ben would participate, and he wouldn’t interfere.

“Luban Sect’s home ground.” Yu Yin briefly answered before bidding farewell to Jiang Li and the others and heading to the Luban Sect.

After Yu Yin left, Jiang Li scratched his chin and casually asked: “I’m going to attend the artifact refining competition. Do you two want to come?”

Both Bai Hongtu and Ji Zhi showed extremely interested expressions.

“I’ll go, but Ji Zhi doesn’t need to. You should focus on cultivation properly. You’re only at the early Unity Stage, still far from transcending tribulation. Shouldn’t you be cultivating?” Bai Hongtu habitually teased Ji Zhi.

“Cultivation should have both tension and relaxation. Do you cultivate 365 days a year at your place?” Ji Zhi retorted without courtesy.

Jiang Li felt somewhat embarrassed. Since he cultivated anytime and anywhere, wasn’t he too busy?

“Getting all proud just because you set up a Spirit Plant Formation. You can’t even beat Jiang Li, how dare you come out to play? If I were you, I would have gone into closed-door cultivation long ago!”

After saying this, Ji Zhi realized the old historian recording every word and action was nearby and quickly added: “No need to record that sentence.”

The old historian replied: “Your Majesty, as your Court Historian, I must record your every word and action without missing a single character.”

Ji Zhi sighed helplessly. The old historian was perfect in every way except for one flaw – being his Court Historian.

Ji Zhi saw Si Nan, the Big Senior Brother of the Great Vehicle Observation Sect, writing: Sect Master Bai Hongtu and His Majesty discussed cultivation methods – whether day-after-day cultivation was better, or whether balancing work and rest led to higher cultivation efficiency. No conclusion was reached. The Human Sovereign quietly observed, smiling without speaking, clearly already having the answer in his heart.

“……”

Ji Zhi felt those unofficial histories were probably written by people like Si Nan.

Normally, Jiang Li wouldn’t participate in competitions where the highest level was only the Unity Stage. The reason he proposed attending the Nine Provinces Artifact Refining Competition was because the system had issued a task.

[Task issued: The Nine Provinces Artifact Refining Competition is about to begin. The host’s artifact refining skills are superb, yet there has never been an opportunity to display them. Among the Nine Provinces cultivators, there have always been rumors that the host cannot master everything, that human energy is limited, and that different trades are separated by barriers. Even if the host has good cultivation talent, is skilled at using various weapons, proficient in alchemy, talisman drawing, and formation setting, they still couldn’t possibly know artifact refining]

[Please host obtain first place in the artifact refining competition]

[This task cannot be abandoned]

[Task rewards: One opportunity to enlighten puppets, “Complete Guide to Weapon Maintenance,” one drop of Taiyi True Water]

Looking at the opportunity to enlighten puppets and thinking about the Idle One Jiang Li’s personality, Jiang Li fell silent. He probably guessed what the system reward was for.

The Idle One Jiang Li probably didn’t even spare weapons.

The female cultivators with ambiguous relationships with the Idle One Jiang Li far exceeded those seen in dreams.

……

Jiang Li brought Bai Hongtu and Ji Zhi to the Luban Sect, where they saw all kinds of beautiful women.

Various beautiful female cultivators moved about the Luban Sect, making it difficult for ordinary cultivators to distinguish whether they were living people or puppets.

“Hiss—It hasn’t been that long, but the Luban Sect’s puppets have become even more lifelike.” Ji Zhi exclaimed, grateful that the Luban Sect hadn’t come to their Great Zhou.

Otherwise, just legislation alone would give them headaches.

“Speaking of which, I heard the Joyous Sect has several Luban Sect puppets receiving customers, extremely realistic. Have you heard about it?”

Seeing their blank expressions, Bai Hongtu shook his head: “You two clearly don’t pay attention to the Joyous Sect.”

Besides puppet beauties, the trio also saw many artifact refining grandmasters, all capable people who had refined Dao artifacts.

“How are your artifact refining skills?” Jiang Li asked.

“Just slightly worse than Tang Ben’s, barely ranking second in the Nine Provinces.” Bai Hongtu said modestly. Tang Ben was the Artifact Refining Peak Master.

“Average, but definitely better than yours.” Ji Zhi said to Jiang Li.

Just then, two cultivators happened to pass by, discussing Jiang Li.

“Getting to see Empress Yu Yin this time really makes the trip worthwhile.”

“It’s just that we didn’t get to see Human Sovereign Jiang. His artifact refining skills are superb. If he could demonstrate them for us live, I’d literally laugh in my dreams.”

“Human Sovereign Jiang has too many affairs to handle. How could we see him here? I heard Human Sovereign Jiang is currently busy with a major undertaking recently.”

“What major undertaking?”

The person said mysteriously: “Human Sovereign Jiang wants to refine the entire Nine Provinces Continent into one immortal artifact to protect the Nine Provinces.”

“So that’s why. No wonder he’s not here. The Human Sovereign is too busy.”

Both praised Human Sovereign Jiang’s great undertaking.

Jiang Li was speechless. Refining the entire Nine Provinces Continent? Ten Tang Bens couldn’t accomplish that.

He couldn’t help but interject: “Haven’t you ever doubted whether Human Sovereign Jiang could actually accomplish this?”

The two junior cultivators were displeased: “What kind of talk is that? You clearly don’t understand Human Sovereign Jiang. What can’t Human Sovereign Jiang do?”

“Human Sovereign Jiang is so busy, worrying himself sick over the Nine Provinces, and you still only see him at the superficial rumor level of ‘only knowing how to fight’.”

Bai Hongtu found this amusing: “Jiang Li is busy?”

“Of course! Do you know there’s a saying specifically describing how busy Human Sovereign Jiang is?”

“What is it?”

“Human Sovereign Jiang passed by the Human Sovereign Hall three times without entering.”