"The beauty sleeps often. I brought her to the Golden House three years ago, and she has slept for three years since. She rarely wakes up during this time. Even if there's a huge commotion outside, she won't be woken up," the Dream River Emperor explained.
Otherwise, the three of them wouldn't have dared to make such a ruckus, which was like undergoing a thunder tribulation.
"You are not allowed to look, the beauty is mine!"
The Dream River Emperor seemed to be losing control again, but he was lifted out of the Golden House by Jiang Li with one hand. Only then did the Dream River Emperor come back to his senses. Seeing this, Emperor Wei and Zhang Konghu also quickly left the Golden House.
They too had almost lost their composure just like the Dream River Emperor.
"Where did you find this person?"
"Back during the Western Hunt, I went deep into the jungle alone. I originally wanted to hunt a black bear, but unexpectedly, I discovered such a beauty, like a heavenly immortal, sleeping on an ancient tree. I felt that my mortal flesh was unworthy of touching the beauty, so I used a formless force to carry her back to the imperial palace, built this Golden House, and placed her here. Human Emperor Jiang, did you not feel anything upon seeing the beauty?"
"A feeling? She's very beautiful."
"That's it?"
Emperor Wei asked.
"The most beautiful among all the women I have ever seen."
"That's it?"
Zhang Konghu asked.
"That's it."
"You don't have the impulse to make her your own, to enshrine her for your admiration?"
"No." "Brother Jiang's disposition is beyond that of an ordinary person."
What else could the three of them say? They could only say this.
"This woman is of great importance. I will make a trip to the Red Dust Pure Land; there are some things I need to confirm. I hope you two sovereigns will guard your hearts and not let your eyes be clouded by her beauty. And Konghu, guard the door of the Golden House for me. Don't let anyone in before I return."
After giving his instructions, Jiang Li was still not at ease. He crushed a jade slip and laid down a great formation. Perhaps because he had put all his talent points into combat and cultivation, Jiang Li was completely clueless about things like formations, pill refinement, and artifact forging.
Right now, he relied entirely on the jade slips given to him by the Dao Sect Master to set up formations. It wasn't that he hadn't tried to learn these things himself, but after many attempts, he had completely given up hope on the hundred arts of immortal cultivation.
All Jiang Li could hope for now was to ascend to the Immortal Realm. He had heard that after becoming a Carefree Heavenly Immortal, one could comprehend ten thousand methods through one, and by then, he would probably be able to learn one or two of the hundred arts of immortal cultivation.
I hope the System can truly let me ascend. ... In the Western Region of the Nine Provinces, two great sects were the most prominent. One was the compassionate Buddhist Sect, and the other was the Red Dust Pure Land, which consisted only of women.
The Buddhist Sect performed good deeds throughout the world for merit, cultivating blessings for the next life, and was widely known by all. The Red Dust Pure Land was almost reclusive, with few of its members venturing out. The world had only heard its name but had not seen its people.
Therefore, there were many legends about the Red Dust Pure Land, but their authenticity was extremely low. Legend had it that the women of the Red Dust Pure Land considered clothing to be filth and therefore did not cover their bodies. Jiang Li knew this to be false.
Legend had it that disciples of the Red Dust Pure Land could not be touched by a man, or else they would have to marry him. Jiang Li knew this to be false. Legend had it that the Red Dust Pure Land was tranquil and inactive, never showing anger.
Jiang Li knew this to be false. Legend had it that the founder of the Red Dust Pure Land possessed a beauty unparalleled through the ages, one that could even make the Buddha waver. Jiang Li knew this to be true.
Jiang Li stood outside the Sect-Protecting Great Formation and announced in a clear voice, "Jiang Li has come to visit the Red Dust Pure Land unannounced. I hope you will forgive my impertinence!"
"Since it is an unannounced visit, then please forgive us for not receiving you."
A voice familiar to Jiang Li came from within the formation, its sense of aversion completely unconcealed. It was precisely the Sect Master of the Red Dust Pure Land, Daoist Nun Qingyu. Jiang Li knew the reason for this.
Daoist Nun Qingyu had been infatuated with a Son of Buddha from Mount Sumeru, but that Son of Buddha had a corrupt heart and was slain by him. Although Daoist Nun Qingyu later shifted her affections and fell for another Son of Buddha, she still had not forgotten her enmity for her former lover's death.
Later, an Immortal Tree in the Red Dust Pure Land was on the verge of death, so they offered a reward to the world, stating that whoever could revive the Immortal Tree could choose any one treasure from their Treasure Vault. After Jiang Li revived the Immortal Tree, he came to claim his reward.
Daoist Nun Qingyu did keep her promise and let Jiang Li enter the vault to choose, but her words were full of sarcasm.
In his anger, Jiang Li took the key to the Treasure Vault, forcing the disciples of the Red Dust Pure Land to descend the mountain to find ways to earn money, which led to the creation of many poignant love stories. Only ten years later did Jiang Li return the key.
"Master, Jiang Li... Human Emperor Jiang is visiting. How can we be impolite?"
Another voice familiar to Jiang Li came from within the formation. It was clear and melodious. The Sect-Protecting Great Formation opened, and Jiang Li saw two white-robed Daoist nuns standing at the foot of the mountain gate.
Both had outstanding appearances; one's face was full of aversion, while the other was beaming with a smile. The latter was the Holy Maiden of the Red Dust Pure Land, Holy Maiden Jing Xin. Her cultivation and prestige in the sect had both already surpassed her master, Daoist Nun Qingyu.
She had once secretly told Jiang Li that there was only one reason she was unwilling to become the Sect Master. The title 'Daoist Nun Jing Xin' didn't sound good.
"Human Emperor Jiang, your bearing is as graceful as ever, so carefree and at ease. Jing Xin yearns for it."
Holy Maiden Jing Xin welcomed Jiang Li with a beaming smile, a far cry from her usual smile that kept people a thousand miles away. Daoist Nun Qingyu thought to herself, Where is your brain? When has Jiang Li ever come looking for you when he had nothing to do?
Carefree and at ease? He's definitely here for something this time too.
"It has been many years since we last parted, yet Holy Maiden Jing Xin is as gentle as ever, much better than a certain unreasonable Daoist nun."
Holy Maiden Jing Xin covered her mouth and giggled lightly, while veins throbbed on Daoist Nun Qingyu's forehead. She hurriedly comforted herself, You can't beat him, you can't beat him...
"I have come this time to ask for your guidance on a matter," Jiang Li said, no longer joking, his expression serious.
"Human Emperor Jiang, please come up the mountain to talk."
Holy Maiden Jing Xin invited Jiang Li into the Red Dust Pure Land. After going up the mountain, Jiang Li explained the situation of discovering the beauty in the Dream River Dynasty. Holy Maiden Jing Xin and Daoist Nun Qingyu also realized the gravity of the matter.
"I suspect that she is the Founder of your esteemed sect. She has revived!"
Jiang Li finally stated his speculation. Jiang Li had never met the Founder of the Red Dust Pure Land, but he had seen her portrait in the Treasure Vault. At the time, he was astounded by her heavenly beauty, which had left a deep impression on him.
In the Nine Provinces, there was only the concept of reincarnation; never had there been a case of the dead being resurrected. Jiang Li's words were truly against all common sense, but Holy Maiden Jing Xin and Daoist Nun Qingyu did not immediately refute him. They actually agreed with Jiang Li's words to some extent!
It was just that their Founder could not be judged by common sense. Thinking back to the time before the Immortal Ascension Heavenly Ladder was severed, an Immortal descended to the mortal world and had remained in the Nine Provinces ever since, never returning to the Immortal Realm.
That fairy was as beautiful as a saint; her every frown and smile held a unique charm. Let alone men, even female cultivators at the Tribulation Transcendence Stage could not resist this fairy's charm.
According to that fairy, her appearance had moved the hearts of many powerful figures in the Immortal Realm, who wished to make her their private possession and did not hesitate to fight fiercely over her. The fairy, left with no choice, could only escape to the Nine Provinces.
The situation in the Nine Provinces was not much better than in the Immortal Realm. Wherever this fairy went, she would cause disputes. However, unlike in the Immortal Realm, the fairy was an Immortal after all, an invincible existence in the Nine Provinces.
Even if disputes arose because of her, she could quickly suppress them. When the Dao Sect's living fossil heard of such a woman, he personally went to see her. After meeting her, he exclaimed in admiration, "This woman is the personification of the Heavenly Dao's 'Beauty'.
Before the Heavenly Dao, both immortals and mortals are but straw dogs. Who can resist the charm of the Heavenly Dao?" At first, people thought the Dao Sect's living fossil was merely describing the fairy's beauty.
But after witnessing the fairy's charm, which transcended age, gender, and even species, they realized that the Dao Sect's living fossil had meant it literally. This woman was the personification of the Heavenly Dao's 'Beauty'. The fairy established the Red Dust Pure Land in the west and called herself the Red Dust Fairy.