Though Jiang He was smiling, his very presence was overwhelming.
He had just ascended to full-fledged Golden Immortal, and was a little raw on the control of his own power level and Dao. He had intended to release a little killing intent so that he spoke overbearingly and imposingly, but…
Kaboom!
His raging aura overflowed across the entire temple.
The palace, which was a premium-grade immortal item, shook violently a few times and was almost knocked down.
Lü Dongbin, who was the owner of the palace, promptly released a burst of his immortal strength, and only then did he manage to stabilize the palace.
At the same time, Golden Immortals around Jiang He were retreating and vomiting blood with pale-white faces. Only Lü Dongbin, Iron Crotch Li, the other members of the Eight Immortals, as well as several top-level Golden Immortals, managed to resist Jiang He’s aura and Dao.
And yet, the most frightening thing was neither Jiang He’s aura nor Dao, but his killing intent.
The killing intent felt almost solid. Even Yu Yuan felt his scalp numbing from it, let alone the other Golden Immortals.
How many people had this person killed?
And he said that he had started cultivating last year…
Why did it feel like Yu Yuan himself had killed fewer people even though he had lived for thousands of years more?
In the next instant, Jiang He’s aura and Dao retracted. His killing intent faded and he appeared embarrassed as he looked at the Golden Immortals who were vomiting blood and standing unsteadily. Scratching his head and smiling dryly, he said, “Sorry, Brothers. I’ve just ascended, and I’m not that great with my control over my own strength…”
“You’re too kind, Lord Jiang He.”
A Golden Immortal wiped a drop of blood from the corner of his mouth and took a spirit pellet. Only then did he replied, offering Jiang He a fist-palm salute as a look of fear flashed at the bottom of his eyes, which soon changed as he promptly said, “Congratulations on reaching Grand Luo, Lord Jiang He.”
At those words, the other Golden Immortals all congratulated him—even Yu Yuan.
Jiang He waved them off and smiled, “Thanks, everyone. It’s just a little progress in my cultivation… it’s nothing much, nothing much…”
When those humble words reached the others’ ears, however…
It stung.
What the hell!
A little progress in cultivation?
You ascended from Golden Immortal up to full-fledged Grand Luo, and that is ‘a little’?
The Golden Immortals who could not ever reach Grand Luo even after cultivating for thousands of years hung their heads in embarrassment.
In truth, many immortals doubted the ‘legend’ and ‘information’ of Jiang He.
Cultivated less than year…
In the perspective to those immortals, Jiang He was a prodigy promoted by the commoners’ government in a world where qi was restored and where Ferals rampaged. They deliberately made Jiang He a legend to motivate everyone.
And yet, right now…
Whatever intentions had faded like a puff of smoke!
How long did it took Jiang He to ascend from full-fledged Golden Immortal to full-fledged Grand Luo?
This was a height that not even most Grand Luo could reach.
It might just be true that Jiang He had cultivated for less than a year.
Having no intention of entertaining the Golden Immortals, who each had their different thoughts, Jiang He turned back to Yu Yuan and asked with a smile, “Brother Yu Yuan, you have yet to answer my question.”
“Eh?”
Yu Yuan regained his senses from his bewilderment and promptly spoke. It turned out that his patriarch was the one who had told Yu Yuan to invite Jiang He and Wang Hou to the Jie Sect as guest upon his return to Earth—he was merely working under the orders of his patriarch without any other intention.
“That’s good.”
Jiang He shook Yu Yuan’s hand as if they were friends who had not met for years, smiling. “While our meeting was unpleasant, Brother Yu Yuan, we did get acquainted. It is naturally wonderful that we did not have to come to blows… you are not in a hurry to return to the celestial battlefield, are you?”
Come to blows?
What does that mean?
Yu Yuan inwardly swore…
For him to come to Yu Yuan for no reason… this fellow could not be thinking about fighting him, could he?
Moreover, Jiang He had first asked whether he was angry from being turned down… did that mean that Jiang He would have attacked if he showed that he was angry?
How did this person’s head works?
And yet, he had no idea that this was Jiang He acting restrained.
For one, Yu Yuan did not really repulse him and was a legendary character of his own. Indeed, Jiang He had more or less a positive impression toward Lü Dongbin and Yu Yuan.
Otherwise, he would stick to his usual style of nipping all threats in the bud, and directly ambush Yu Yuan.
After confirming that Yu Yuan was not upset, Jiang He rose and flew out of the palace.
Inside, the immortals could faintly hear Jiang He complaining again, muttering and cursing—
“Damn it.”
“I should have held back from ascending if I had known that Yu Yuan was not so narrow-minded.”
“I’m full-fledged Grand Luo now… Doesn’t that mean I can’t join the battle between worlds? And here I was thinking about plundering the world of some of the lesser races…”
Whoosh.
Jiang He was then gone without a trace.
Within the silent palace, the air simmered after a chorus of blood vomiting.
The many Golden Immortals could not stop debating.
“How could that kid be that frightening?”
“Instantly ascending up to full-fledged Grand Luo… could he be an incarnation of Dao itself who needs no enlightenment?”
“If the rumors and information about Jiang He are true… then he cultivated for less than a year, did he? A full-fledged Grand Luo in a year? Not even reincarnations of superior beings are that profound, are they?”
There were Golden Immortals sneaked a look at Lü Dongbin.
In his previous life, Lü Dongbin was Lord Donghua of the Celestial Court and a close attendant of the Jade Emperor, a Grand Luo and a superior being.
A little embarrassed for the stare, Lü Dongbin cleared his throat and said, “Not even the reincarnation of Demi-Saints, let alone Grand Luo, could accomplish so much in a year, even with their last life’s enlightenment and cultivation experience.”
Yu Yuan promptly stood up.
There was a somberness in his face as he quietly said, “You have all heard Jiang He.”
“He trained in martial arts, and changed to immortal arts a month later, and every technique he cultivated was created by himself…”
Yu Yuan paused at that, unable to stop himself from cursing.
F*ck.
Created by himself?
How outrageous is that?
Nonetheless, there was no need to lie after reaching Jiang He’s level.
It was indeed terrifying.
Yu Yuan would not have been surprised if a Golden Immortal or even a Heavenly Immortal could create a cultivation method, item refinement, pellet refinement, and arrays that reached Grand Luo.
After all, Heavenly Immortals were not weak.
They would have some extent of comprehension towards Dao.
Jiang He, however, was a one-month-old martial artist who knew nothing about immortal arts.
It did not make sense that he could create immortal arts at that level.
It was even more nonsensical for him to create cultivation methods and then ascend instantly to Golden Immortal, drawing the Four Lesser Retributions of the Nine Heavens.
After several curses and slightly calming down, Yu Yuan added, “Everyone, keep guarding our homeworld and await further instructions from the celestial battlefield. I have something urgent to do, so I’ll be going back to the celestial battlefield for a bit.”
Whoosh!
He promptly turned into an immortal light and disappeared.
Jiang He, who was flying but still nearby, sensed Yu Yuan’s movements and could not help frowning…
What is that fellow doing?
He had flown directly to outer space… is he leaving Earth?
“I should have made him swear it…”
Sighing emotionally, Jiang He shook his head and sighed again. “Whatever. I’m sure the Jie Sect would not be so narrow-minded, though I should head to the celestial battlefield in the future. The resources I have right now would at least last me until I could cultivate the Secret Art of the Chaos Thundersword up to completion as well. Even if I confiscated all the immortal crystals and mystic items from the Golden Immortals, True Immortals and Heavenly Immortals on the planet, I would at best reach… Demi-Saint. I need to work harder.”
The saying ‘the road is long and the burden is heavy’ came to mind.
After returning home to finish breakfast, Jiang He harvested another wave of immortal crystals and instructed Dumbo, Trumbo, as well as the nine Wise Rock Monkeys to plant the next batch.
Just as Jiang He was about to nap under the Old Tea Tree of Enlightenment, however, the Fourth Bottle Gourd Brother came skipping toward him, saying, “Gramps, Gramps—the minister named Wang came by again.”
Jiang He left the farm to find Wang Hou wearing a Chinese tunic suit and a somber look as he said, “Jiang He, I just saw Yu Yuan flying out of Earth in a hurry. Did something happen?”
“It’s no big deal.”
“Maybe he’s feeling homesick after coming out for so long.”
Jiang He made something up.
He had a hunch as to why Yu Yuan was running… could his aura have been to imposing, and his accidental reveal of his killing intent scared the wretch of?
That was not it, was it?
Ignoring that, Jiang He asked, “It’s Jin Sidao’s ascension banquet tomorrow, Minister Wang, and the leaders of various sects would be there. Have you considered what you spoke about before?”
“Of course.”
Wang Hou smiled. “I have spread news, requesting the elites of various sects to help clear out the demonic sects, untitled cultivators, and daemonic cultivators. Right now, only the Jiu Hua Sect, Taixu Sect, and Ten Thousand Swords Sect have sent Heavenly Immortals to discuss that matter with me, while the other sects are showing no reaction. So, from now on, only those three sects are allowed to spread their teachings in the Hua Nation.”
“That’s not bad.”
Jiang He smiled. “Right now, the Hua Nation’s Fortune Qi is abundant, and you could be considered the Patriarch of Martial Dao since you’ve opened the Dao for martial arts. Cutting off some sects would do good for the development of martial arts.”
Wang Hou then mused to himself, “I’m just worried that this would affect you… your main cultivation is immortal arts, and the rise of Martial Dao on Earth would repress Immortal Dao. If we keep more sects from spreading teachings, your cultivation…”
“It’s fine.”
Jiang He waved him off and smiled. “It does not matter if the people of Earth cultivate martial arts or immortal arts. Moreover, my current cultivation level cannot be improved with ordinary cultivation.”
Eh?
Wang Hou could not help being taken aback at that.
There was a sparkle in his eye as he turned toward Jiang He in shock and asked, “You ascended to Grand Luo, Jiang He?!”
