Chapter 637: Nine Provinces' Foundation
Qian Desolation Lord was the first to make accusations, positioning himself on moral high ground: “You were the ones cheating first! Don’t think I don’t know—you Nine Provinces have an array set up by immortals that suppresses power! When cultivators from other worlds come here, their strength is less than half of what it originally was!”
“The grand array of Nine Provinces suppresses everyone, including us. There should be limits to how blatantly you lie!” Bai Hongtu’s expression grew increasingly cold upon hearing such shameless claims.
“More words are useless. Since you Nine Provinces have no intention of cooperation, then let’s settle this with action!”
Qian Desolation Lord forcibly initiated the conflict. If the three Immortal Ancestors said there were no problems, what did they have to worry about?
The eight Desolation Lords simultaneously released their Tribulation Transcendence Stage auras, intending to envelop Nine Provinces with their tribulation energy and seize the initiative.
“How dare you cause trouble!”
Commander Liu stepped out from the Human Sovereign Hall, emitting the fluctuations of a late-stage Earthly Immortal.
Jiang Li had converted all the accumulated merit power into Merit Gold Bricks and given them to Commander Liu. Commander Liu had already advanced from mid-stage Earthly Immortal immortal power to late-stage Earthly Immortal immortal power, becoming a genuine late-stage Earthly Immortal.
“Fellow Daoist, why so impatient? How about we play a game of chess instead?” An Earthly Immortal radiating chilling Yin energy appeared, holding a chessboard and inviting Commander Liu.
“We pay respects to Yin Immortal!”
The Eight Desolations side spoke in unison—this was the Yin Immortal, one of the two Yin-Yang Earthly Immortals of Eight Desolations.
“What could I possibly have to discuss with something like you? If you want to fight, then let’s fight.” Commander Liu had received Jiang Li’s mental transmission and knew exactly what kind of scum these Eight Desolations people were.
Very few people knew that Commander Liu was a body cultivator.
Simultaneously, Earthly Immortal aura also emanated from the Dao Sect direction—the Yang Immortal of Eight Desolations had also made his move.
Immortal Elder Changcun put down the ancient text, cracked his neck, left the Secluded Cave, and exited the sect to face the battle.
“It’s been a long time since I’ve fought. I wonder if these old bones of mine are still nimble.”
“Huang Changcun, final disciple of Dao Ancestor.”
The Immortal Elder announced his title, startling his opponent.
He never expected his opponent’s background to be so terrifying.
The title “final disciple of Dao Ancestor” was enough to act with absolute impunity through the Immortal Realm.
“Eight Desolations, Yang Immortal.”
Yang Immortal also announced his title, but clearly with less confidence.
Yang Immortal had achieved immortality only after the Celestial Ascension Ladder was severed, so he had no qualifications to claim connections with the Immortal Realm.
Nine Provinces truly lived up to their reputation of profound foundation. One of Dao Ancestor’s three corpses had chosen to come to Nine Provinces to refine his heart, the most powerful combat immortal War Immortal originated from Nine Provinces, and besides these, three or four Golden Immortals had ascended from Nine Provinces, from both righteous and demonic paths.
In terms of ascending immortals’ power, Eight Desolations weren’t even qualified to compare with Nine Provinces.
“Senior Brother Tianyin, please help your junior brother.”
The Yin-Yang Heaven Seal appeared, landing in Immortal Elder Changcun’s palm.
…
“Mahayana Stage Jiang Li? I thought Little Qian was talking nonsense, but seeing you today, you’re truly unfathomable.”
Immortal voice spread throughout the Human Sovereign Hall as a Daoist priest wearing Daoist robes and holding a horsetail whisk appeared, also carrying an incense burner.
“Supreme Immortal Baoyi!”
This was Eight Desolations’ strongest combatant—the nominal disciple of Immortal Lord Luwu, half-step Celestial Immortal, Supreme Immortal Baoyi.
“When facing an unknown like you, I must be cautious.”
“My Conservation Incense Burner is an immortal artifact personally forged by Immortal Lord Luwu. It can equalize our combat power to the same level. Go!”
Smoke drifted from the incense burner, entwining around Supreme Immortal Baoyi and Jiang Li’s clone.
“Human Sovereign Jiang, please entertain him first and let us have a satisfying battle!” everyone shouted in unison.
They had long seen that Eight Desolations was no good—overbearing in actions, arrogant and ignorant, with the resentment clinging to their combat cultivators and their use of demonic spiritual treasures like the Ten Thousand Soul Banner.
Eight Desolations was absolutely a world dominated by demonic path.
Nine Provinces had always resisted and even rejected the demonic path. For Eight Desolations to dare appear so openly, they truly weren’t taking Nine Provinces seriously.
The title “final disciple of Dao Ancestor” was enough to act with absolute impunity through the Immortal Realm.
Qian Desolation Lord had only concealed the fact of intentionally colliding with Nine Provinces—he never thought to hide that they followed the demonic path.
In his view, their disagreement with Nine Provinces was about primary versus secondary status, about power struggles—he never considered it a conflict of principles.
Without realizing it, he had long angered the people of Nine Provinces.
Seeing everyone’s enthusiasm, Jiang Li’s clone entered the incense burner with Supreme Immortal Baoyi for what would become a one-sided battle.
Supreme Immortal Baoyi was greatly shocked, desperately trying to surface and leave the incense burner: “Why haven’t our powers been equalized to the same level!”
Jiang Li’s clone paid no attention, pressing Supreme Immortal Baoyi back down.
“Don’t make your move yet—let me vent some frustration first.” Yu Yin patted Jiang Li’s true body, then stepped forward and merged with her avatar.
Bai Hongtu, Yu Yin, Sword Sovereign, Li Er, and Old Dragon King—five Tribulation Transcendence Stage cultivators stood united against a common enemy.
The three Rulers also wanted to join the fight, but were stopped by Jiang Li’s true body.
“Keep an eye on the youngsters—don’t let anything happen to them.” Jiang Li mentally transmitted, having the three Rulers watch over the participating cultivators.
Seeing their Desolation Lords had joined the battle, the participating cultivators from Eight Desolations began ambushing Nine Provinces.
But the Nine Provinces side wasn’t to be trifled with either, counterattacking with swift speed.
Especially the Unity Stage cultivators fought most vigorously. Many Unity Stage cultivators from Eight Desolations hadn’t previously joined the battle—this time they wanted to seize the opportunity to impress their Desolation Lords.
Led by Zhang Konghu, the Unity Stage cultivators refused to be outdone, engaging in fierce combat with Eight Desolations.
Jiang Li wasn’t worried about Nine Provinces losing—he was concerned the Unity Stage battle might affect Nine Provinces’ other cultivators, so he had the three Rulers provide protection.
“Five against our eight?” Qian Desolation Lord laughed in anger when he saw the three Rulers ignoring them and instead protecting the cultivators.
Where did Nine Provinces get such confidence?
“Five? If Qian Desolation Lord can’t count, I can help you with the numbers.” Ji Zhi appeared, walking toward the center of the battlefield.
With each step he took, he gained a portion of national fortune empowerment. By the time he reached the battlefield center, he was fully empowered by national fortune, equivalent to a complete Tribulation Transcendence Stage cultivator.
Among the nine great imperial dynasties, Great Zhou had the most prosperous national power and strongest national fortune, providing the best empowerment effect.
Besides Yu Yin and Ji Zhi, there were seven other imperial rulers.
The seven imperial rulers of the great dynasties, wearing yellow robes, flew into the air and simultaneously shouted “Come!”, mobilizing boundless national fortune.
If someone looked down upon the entire Nine Provinces Continent, they would be astonished to discover that with the Human Sovereign Hall at the center, the nine great imperial dynasties resembled volcanic eruptions, spewing forth energies of different colors representing various types of national fortune.
Great Zhou, Tianyuan, Great Wei, Mengjiang, Bai Ze, Great Yong, Great Sui, Wuyue, and Wu—the national fortunes of all nine great imperial dynasties were mobilized, answering the imperial rulers’ summons to empower them.
Yu Yin reached peak Tribulation Transcendence Stage.
Ji Zhi entered Tribulation Transcendence Stage.
The other seven imperial rulers became half-step Tribulation Transcendence Stage.
Although the seven imperial rulers had many disputes, they actually maintained good private relationships. If they joined forces, two half-step Tribulation Transcendence Stage cultivators could match one genuine Tribulation Transcendence Stage cultivator.
After Jiang Li became Human Sovereign, he led by example, and various countries responded to his call, adjusting policies and developing national power. National fortune had increased daily, far surpassing previous levels.
“Now, Nine Provinces has nine and a half Tribulation Transcendence Stage cultivators.” Bai Hongtu spread his arms, his Tribulation Transcendence aura overwhelming Eight Desolations.
Anyone who truly thought Nine Provinces only had the few Tribulation Transcendence Stage cultivators visible on the surface would be greatly mistaken.
“Attack!” At Bai Hongtu’s command, all of Nine Provinces’ top combatants mobilized.
They didn’t need the three Rulers to intervene at all—Nine Provinces alone was sufficient to overthrow Eight Desolations!