Chapter 70: Jiang Li at Heaven’s Kill Pavilion
“But Jiang Li doesn’t think highly of us. If we put him up like this, won’t it anger him?”
“Figure it out yourself. I just want results.” The Vice Pavilion Master left without caring whether his subordinates could accomplish the task.
A few days later, a painting titled Jiang Li at Heaven’s Kill Pavilion was hung in the very center of the hall, drawing countless spectators. However, most of them were puzzled.
“Brother, why is Zhang Konghu the only one eating in the Human Sovereign Hall? Where’s Jiang Li?”
“He’s at Heaven’s Kill Pavilion.”
—
At Heaven’s Kill Pavilion, those posting assassination requests were always disguised, keeping their voices low as they negotiated prices with assassins. Suddenly, someone shouted,
“Why is my price fifty times higher than others?! I already looked into it—killing a Golden Core cultivator doesn’t cost this much! You’re robbing me! This is enough to kill a Nascent Soul cultivator!”
The masked assassin explained, “You’re different. You’re targeting someone from Great Zhou. Everyone knows the Zhou Imperial Clan can reverse time. Killing someone in Great Zhou is a death sentence. If you want someone dead, you have to lure them out first. Even then, there’s still a huge risk of being discovered and facing retaliation. Taking this job is basically gambling with our lives.”
The requester frowned. He didn’t have that much money, and after thinking it over, he realized he didn’t hate the target that much. He gave up on the request.
The assassins were used to situations like this.
Great Zhou was a forbidden zone for assassins. Even Heaven’s Kill Pavilion wasn’t willing to step foot there. Setting an absurdly high price wasn’t just because the job was difficult—it was a deliberate strategy to scare off clients.
—
Heaven’s Kill Pavilion’s assassins were meticulous. After accepting a mission, they wouldn’t act immediately. They would first investigate the target repeatedly, ensuring their strength remained stable. They would study the target’s habits, environment, and cultivation techniques before making a move.
This meant that Qin Luan and his master wouldn’t face assassination anytime soon, and Jiang Li had time to handle other matters.
Like returning those chaotic Immortal Artifacts to their rightful owners.
As he traveled, Jiang Li warned them, “If any of you try to escape, I’ll throw you back into the furnace for reforging.”
Having already been beaten up by Jiang Li and then recaptured through unknown means, the Immortal Artifacts didn’t dare run. They immediately swore loyalty.
First, Jiang Li returned the Great Scholar’s Manuscript to the Confucian Sect.
At the time, the Confucian Sect was busy subduing a group of unruly Spirit Treasures, attempting to educate them with Confucian teachings, determined to prove that all beings can be taught.
When the Great Scholar’s Manuscript returned, Elder Dong Zhong was overjoyed and proudly showcased it as an example of a Spirit Treasure that had been nurtured by Confucian culture.
“To hell with this crap! I’m sick of hearing Dong Zhongshu’s lectures!” The Great Scholar’s Manuscript cursed fluently.
The other Spirit Treasures, slow to learn most things, immediately mastered the art of cursing and started following its example.
Hearing his sect’s treasured artifact cursing the very founder of Confucianism, Elder Dong Zhong nearly fainted from rage. But since the Great Scholar’s Manuscript was a sacred artifact of the sect, punishing it would go against the Confucian ideals of hierarchy and order.
He could only stew in silent frustration.
Seeing how harmonious the Confucian Sect was, Jiang Li felt reassured and set off overseas.
—
The Four Seas and Penglai Immortal Island lay on the opposite side of the Nine Provinces Continent. Unlike the mainland, which was formed from the Dao Ancestor’s body, the reverse side had its own sun, teeming with life. Shrimp, crabs, fish, and flood dragons frequently leaped from the waters, swimming freely.
The continent’s sides also lacked any crushing pressure, allowing cultivators to travel to the Four Seas with ease.
When Jiang Li arrived, he found the place much quieter than before. The more powerful sea beasts were nowhere to be seen, leaving only Qi Refining shrimp soldiers and crab generals to guard their homes.
Penglai Immortal Island was under siege.
In the past, Island Lord Mo had bullied the Four Seas Dragon Palace using Other Mountain Stone. The Four Dragon Kings had been forced to swallow their resentment.
They had Immortal Artifacts too! They even had four!
So why the hell couldn’t they beat one lousy artifact?!
Now that the Immortal Artifacts had broken through the world’s barriers and left, the Four Dragon Kings saw their chance for revenge. They surrounded Penglai Immortal Island—not to oppress it, of course, but simply to demand respect.
A little submission, a little deference—just acknowledge who the real rulers of the seas are!
“This is the first step in the rise of sea beasts over humanity!”
“Island Lord Mo!” The Turtle Minister called out. “The Dragon Kings have a proposal for you! Surrender, and you’ll be greatly rewarded!”
“What kind of reward?” The breathtakingly beautiful Mo Island Lord asked coldly.
The Turtle Minister beamed. “The Dragon Kings said you can pick any one of them to marry into Penglai Immortal Island! No resistance whatsoever!”
Mo Island Lord was silent for a moment. She thought of the Dragon Kings—human torsos, dragon heads—then drew her gleaming sword.
“Let’s fight. To the death.”
“Don’t blame us for being ruthless then!”
Negotiations collapsed.
The Four Dragon Kings transformed into their true forms—each a ten-thousand-meter-long, four-clawed dragon. As they ascended from the sea, the sky darkened, and thunder rumbled.
Suspended in midair, their serpentine bodies naturally curved into elegant waves, exuding a menacing beauty that was both awe-inspiring and fearsome.
Below them, countless shrimp soldiers and crab generals covered the ocean’s surface in a dense, endless tide.
Mo Island Lord stood alone at the edge of a cliff.
Waves crashed violently against the rocks beneath her, yet she remained still, staring down the four True Dragons.
Despite Penglai Immortal Island being at a disadvantage, Mo Island Lord dominated the confrontation with her sheer presence.
“Come on, all of you at once! If anyone holds back, I’ll look down on them forever!”
Her sudden shout sent a shiver down the Dragon Kings’ spines.
They exchanged glances.
What was there to hesitate about?! This was the chance of a lifetime to capture Mo Island Lord and make her their wife!
Charge!
Just as the Dragon Kings were about to unleash their might, a perfectly-timed cough echoed through the chaos of dragon roars, crashing waves, and heated insults.
“Ahem. I found an Immortal Artifact. Anyone want it?”
The Four Dragon Kings each grabbed their Dragon Pearls and ran.
The shrimp soldiers and crab generals, seeing their kings flee, scattered in all directions.
Mo Island Lord smiled, grabbed Other Mountain Stone, and gave chase.
The Four Seas quickly returned to their usual lively state.
—
Jiang Li’s final stop was the Tianyuan Imperial Palace. He planned to return Ruyi Gourd to Empress Yu Yin before heading off to find Yuan Wuxing and Qin Luan.
“Yu Yin, I brought back your Tianyuan Dynasty’s gourd.”
Jiang Li and Empress Yu Yin had known each other for a long time—both had once been candidates for Human Sovereign. Their relationship was amicable enough to call each other by name.
But when Jiang Li found her, she was lying in her bedchamber, pale as gold paper, listless and weak, attended by a group of palace maids.
She was nothing like the proud and domineering empress of the past.
“What happened?” Jiang Li frowned. He could tell she was faking illness.
Yu Yin dismissed her maids, leaving only the two of them.
Once they were gone, she dropped the act, sitting up with the majestic presence of a ruler, her sharp tone making people forget how melodious her voice actually was.
“Someone is plotting a rebellion,” she said.
“I’m giving them a chance.”