"So you are Ancestor Jiang Li. This unworthy descendant pays his respects to Old Ancestor Jiang Li."
The Jiang Clan Leader was shocked by Jiang Li's appearance. Recalling his grand speech on the "Power of Faith" at Yuan Wuxing's home earlier, his face flushed with shame. But he reacted quickly, casting aside his embarrassment, and kowtowed in worship.
Jiang Li smiled but said nothing.
"Our Old Ancestor often reminisced about the childhood he spent with you, saying it was the happiest time of his life. He also said that you were kind-hearted and would even give money to help poor families."
"The Old Ancestor said he was young and reckless, unable to distinguish right from wrong, and caused you trouble. Now, whenever he recalls it, he feels utterly ashamed. How he wished he could apologize to your face, but the Old Ancestor's talent was limited, and he feared he would not live to see you again. And you, who take the world as your responsibility, would pass by our home without entering. Seeing you even once is just too, too difficult!"
"Troubled by his inner demons, the Old Ancestor accidentally fell into the Demonic Path, using opportunistic tricks to extend his lifespan!"
Tears and snot streamed down the Jiang Clan Leader's face. He spoke with such sincerity and earnestness, looking as if he wished he could tear out his heart and lungs for Jiang Li to see.
The onlookers were also moved by the Jiang Clan Leader's tone, feeling that Jiang Yixing's cultivation of the Demonic Path was understandable, and not something that couldn't be understood or forgiven. Since ancient times, it has been difficult to balance public and private duties.
The Human Emperor Jiang takes the common people as his own responsibility, so it's unavoidable that he showed less concern for his family. It was a pity that Jiang Yixing didn't even have the chance to say "I'm sorry". Yuan Wuxing's expression was odd; he felt this scene was somehow familiar.
"Our Jiang Family is not only the descendant of Old Ancestor Jiang Yixing, but also your descendant. With an elder as the Human Emperor, we juniors dare not tarnish your name. Apart from the Old Ancestor falling into the Demonic Path, we have never done anything to offend heaven or reason. Our Jiang Family has also worked hard to foster friendships and financial resources, using connections and wealth to pave roads and build the city, developing Green City into a major city. This is something all the people of Green City have witnessed!"
The people of Green City nodded secretly. They had heard from the older generation that the Jiang Family's efforts were inseparable from Green City's current scale. In the past, although Green City was called a city, it was barely one.
Most people didn't recognize it as such. After all, what kind of city didn't even have a single Golden Core cultivator? Back then, when people from other places argued with the people of Green City, they often called them country folk, lacking culture.
But now, Green City is one of the most prominent cities in the entire Heavenly Celebration Prefecture. When the people of Green City walk outside, they hold their heads high. Whoever sees them will say, "The people of Green City, they are impressive."
"We see ourselves as a part of the Human Emperor Palace, constantly holding ourselves to the standards of the Human Emperor Palace, all in the hope that the Human Emperor Palace, and you, will acknowledge that our Jiang Family has not brought shame upon the Human Emperor Palace!"
"Ancestor Jiang Li, this unworthy descendant asks on behalf of the Jiang Family, can we join the Human Emperor Palace?"
The Jiang Clan Leader looked up at Jiang Li, his eyes filled with longing. The people in the surrounding crowd were all secretly rooting for him, wishing they could take Jiang Li's place and say "Yes". Jiang Li nodded lightly and said, "You wish."
"The Human Emperor Palace displays a total of seventy-two Human Emperor Sages. Not a single one of them placed their family's influence within the Human Emperor Palace, let alone allowed an entire family to join. What virtue or ability do I, Jiang Li, possess to allow the Jiang Family to enter the Human Emperor Palace?"
"But you are the strongest Human Emperor. If you set a precedent, no one would say a thing," the Jiang Clan Leader said hurriedly.
The people around them nodded secretly. Indeed, as the strongest expert in the Nine Provinces, Human Emperor Jiang was not arrogant or reckless. In fact, he was excessively well-behaved.
Forget about the Tribulation Transcendence Stage, there were plenty of Nascent Soul Stage cultivators who were far more arrogant than Human Emperor Jiang. They would violate laws and customs as they pleased, for instance, snatching the bride on a wedding day or going on a crazed robbing spree after an auction, claiming it was the privilege of the strong.
If Human Emperor Jiang wanted to pull the Jiang Family into the Human Emperor Palace, people would probably just laugh it off and not object. Someone in the crowd suddenly shouted, "Human Emperor Jiang, not everyone in the Jiang Family is a bad person!" This statement stirred up a thousand waves.
People began shouting one after another, "Let the Jiang Family join the Human Emperor Palace!" Especially the people of Green City, who shouted the loudest. The parents who had lost their children did object, but their voices seemed far too small at this moment.
One of the parents angrily questioned the people around them, "The Jiang Family devoured children to cultivate the Demonic Path! What right does such a family have to enter the Human Emperor Palace?"
The person who was questioned replied with disdain, "Let's not even talk about how the Jiang Family's Old Ancestor, Jiang Yixing, was a man of great sentiment and righteousness, who was merely blinded for a moment.
Just look at what the Jiang Family has done for the past three hundred years: Green City has expanded, the people live in peace, the cultural atmosphere is rich, and even the spiritual insight is much greater than in other places, benefiting countless cultivators. Are such merits not enough to atone for the sin of cultivating the Demonic Path?
Do you have no sense of the collective good?!" The parent was speechless, not knowing how to respond. Similar conversations were happening in many places, and without exception, Jiang Li heard them all.
Jiang Li floated to a height of ten zhang above the ground and circulated his qi to shout, allowing everyone present to hear his words. Jiang Li was seen smiling as he said, "I've heard everything you all said. Very good, you spoke very well.
Especially that line, 'Are such merits not enough to atone for the sin of cultivating the Demonic Path?' Setting aside the content, the argument itself is quite reasonable." The corners of the mouth of the person who had spoken earlier curled up slightly, and he puffed out his chest.
To be praised by the Human Emperor was an honor of a lifetime. It was he who had first shouted for the Jiang Family to enter the Human Emperor Palace. But Jiang Li's next words quickly wiped the smile from his face.
"To think that I would live to hear such an argument. Brother Ji, listen to my suggestion. The Great Zhou could add an intelligence tax to fill the national treasury."
Emperor Zhou Ji Zhi nodded in agreement, "Brother Jiang's words are reasonable. This matter should be put on the agenda for the Three Dukes to discuss." The man's face flushed red as he retorted, "Rewards and punishments should be clear.
Merits and demerits should cancel each other out. What's wrong with that?" Whether merits and demerits should cancel each other out or not was a highly controversial topic.
The man didn't believe Jiang Li could answer it. However, while others might find this difficult to answer, for Jiang Li, it was an effortless matter. A murderous aura, like a violent storm, swept across the entire scene, chilling people to their very bones.
With a mere thought from Jiang Li, an invisible force grabbed the man's collar and dragged him before Jiang Li. Jiang Li seized the man by the neck and laughed coldly, "I have repelled the invasion of the Extraterrestrial Heavenly Demons three times and saved the Nine Provinces three times.
In other words, my contribution to you all being alive today is undeniable. If that's the case, then it would be perfectly normal for me to slaughter you all! No one should have any complaints!"
"Let... let me go..."
The man couldn't break free and struggled wildly.
"Why? I have saved you three times, why can't you let me kill you in peace! How can you have no sense of the collective good? Killing you would make me very happy, how can you not have any spirit of sacrifice?"
Jiang Li was unmoved, his eyes held not a shred of mercy, only endless arrogance and cruelty!
"Let... let me go..."
The man was filled with extreme regret. He felt that the legends were true. Before ascending to his position, Human Emperor Jiang might have truly fought an Extraterrestrial Heavenly Demon, leading to the tragic death of an entire city's population, with not even bones left behind!
(End of this chapter)