With matters at the Red Dust Pure Land concluded, and it being uncertain when the Red Dust Fairy might awaken, Jiang Li did not linger. Instead, he instructed them to maintain absolute secrecy regarding the Red Dust Fairy's situation and never to spread the news.
Otherwise, with the Red Dust Fairy's charm, it was unknown how much trouble might be stirred up. He made a trip to the Dao Sect and requested a Remote Communication Talisman from the Dao Sect Master.
"Hm? In the past, every time I asked you for a Remote Communication Talisman, you always had a pained expression. Why are you so obliging this time?"
Jiang Li saw the Dao Sect Master's beaming face and felt that he was up to no good. The Dao Sect Master was a man who appeared to be of a similar age to Jiang Li; both had the appearance of youths, in the prime of their youth and vigor.
With his hands behind his back, he said with a wide smile, "The Dao Sect has produced a supremely talented Walker. How can I, the Sect Master, not be happy?"
"For you to describe someone as supremely talented, they must be a remarkable junior. What kind of genius are they? If it's not too much trouble, perhaps you could bring them over for me to see?"
Jiang Li's interest was also piqued. If he could witness the growth of a talented junior, he, as the Guardian of the Nine Provinces, would also feel a sense of accomplishment. The Dao Sect Master continued to smile broadly.
"No trouble, no trouble at all. You are also familiar with this person."
"Oh, a junior I'm familiar with?"
The Dao Sect Master's smile vanished, and he spoke with a stern expression, "Zhang Li, as the Dao Sect Walker, why do you not bow upon seeing the Sect Master!" Jiang Li's smile froze. Later, according to the descriptions of Dao Sect disciples, a strange person was heard wailing in the sky above the sect.
Vaguely, they could hear the furious roar, "I cannot coexist with Ji Zhi!" Soon after, the Dao Sect Master came forward to dispel the rumor, stating that it was not vague at all; someone was indeed shouting, "I cannot coexist with Ji Zhi."
Soon after that, the current Human Emperor issued a statement, appealing to everyone not to spread or believe rumors. … Jiang Li gave the Remote Communication Talisman to the Red Dust Pure Land, telling them to inform him if there was any change in the Red Dust Fairy's condition. The Red Dust Pure Land naturally agreed.
Their Red Dust Ancestor was an Upper Realm Immortal with unfathomably profound cultivation. If she were to cause any trouble, it was likely that only Jiang Li could handle it. Jiang Li once again returned to Great Zhou, not to cause trouble for Emperor Zhou, Ji Zhi, but to complete the mission given by the system.
Fortunately, this mission was very simple. Yun Bo of the Cloud Transformation Sect was still alive. Having consumed a Longevity Pill, he could live for another two hundred years and had the appearance of a middle-aged man.
Immortal cultivators have long lifespans, and their appearance does not change with age but rather with their state of mind. For example, both Jiang Li and the Dao Sect Master had the appearance of youths, indicating that their minds were young, full of vitality, their thoughts were agile, and their blood and qi were vigorous.
This was the spiritual realm most advocated by cultivators, but very few could achieve it. For example, the female cultivators of the Red Dust Pure Land all had the appearance of a woman at her most beautiful age. For example, Yuan Wuxing's cultivation was average.
He had suffered setbacks and blows in the martial world, and his actions had shifted from impulsive to steady, thus he had the appearance of a middle-aged man. And for example, the deceased Jiang Yixing, who had single-mindedly sought to live, had an extremely old appearance.
Under the pretext of visiting an old friend and offering guidance in cultivation, Jiang Li had a bout with Yun Bo and completed the mission with great ease.
【Congratulations Host for defeating Yun Bo with wisdom and sweat. Settle rewards?】
【Rewards for this mission: one chance for empowerment, one High-grade Spirit Tool of any style (upgradable), one piece of a mysterious map fragment】 【As the Host, at the Ninth Layer of Qi Refinement, defeated Yun Bo, who was at the Early Foundation Establishment Stage, you have unlocked the achievement "Qi Refinement Defeats Foundation Establishment"】 Jiang Li couldn't be bothered to complain about the system's nonsensical mission settlement text.
If there were a fast-forward button, he would definitely choose to skip the settlement process.
"Settle rewards."
Another stream of pure power descended from the void and poured into Jiang Li's body. This power was terrifyingly potent, enough to allow a cultivator at the Ninth Layer of Qi Refinement to leap into the Foundation Establishment Stage in a single bound. A leaf fell from a tree.
Jiang Li blew a breath at the leaf, once again stripping this power from his body.
【Please select the style for the High-grade Spirit Tool】 "Swiss Army knife."
【…No match found for "Swiss Army knife," please select again】 "AK47."
【…No match found for "AK47," please select again】 "Tiger tank."
【…No match found for "Tiger tank," please select again】 "Kitchen knife."
【…No match found for… Match found for High-grade Spirit Tool "Blood-Bathed Bone-Chopping Saber"】 The system had instinctively started to reply "No match found," only to realize halfway through that this time, it seemed to have found a corresponding spirit tool.
A kitchen knife, glinting with a faint cold light, appeared in Jiang Li's hand.
【"Blood-Bathed Bone-Chopping Saber," High-grade Spirit Tool. Bathed in a large amount of blood, it absorbs life force from the blood and can be upgraded to a Mid-Grade Dharma Tool】 【Spirit Tool binding method: Blood Contract】 This wave of rewards from the system was quite generous.
For a cultivator who had just stepped onto the path of immortal cultivation, a High-grade Spirit Tool was an extremely rare weapon, sufficient for use until the late-stage Golden Core. A Mid-Grade Dharma Tool was even more incredible; even some Spirit Transformation cultivators used them.
For Jiang Li, who had just been infused with energy by the system to become a Foundation Establishment cultivator, this was practically an unparalleled weapon! Oh, right, I'm at the Mahayana Stage. Never mind then.
Jiang Li looked at the system's display, "absorbs life force from the blood and can be upgraded to a Mid-Grade Dharma Tool" and "Blood Contract," and fell into deep thought.
"Are you sure a blood contract will work?"
【Please do not doubt the professionalism of this system】 Jiang Li understood.
He bit his finger and let a drop of blood fall onto the surface of the kitchen knife. The kitchen knife trembled continuously, emitting a visible light as its aura climbed steadily. High-grade Spirit Tool…
Peak-grade Spirit Tool… Low-grade Dharma Tool… Mid-grade Dharma Tool…
High-grade explosion…
With a boom, the kitchen knife, unable to withstand the life force contained within a single drop of Jiang Li's blood, directly exploded.
"Professionalism."
"…I told you a blood contract wouldn't work, but you wouldn't believe me. You won't object if I call you a useless system, will you?"
The system pretended not to hear Jiang Li's complaint.
【Please receive the map fragment, Host】 A map fragment glowing with a golden light appeared in Jiang Li's hand.
The golden light slowly faded, gradually revealing the fragment's appearance. Jiang Li grew impatient with waiting, blew away the golden light, and directly saw what the fragment looked like. The fragment was the size of a palm, made of sheepskin, and depicted a map with very few markings.
【Map of Primordial Heaven Secret Realm (1/3). Remaining fragments can be obtained by completing subsequent missions】 Jiang Li scratched his chin, took a jade slip from his storage ring, and infused it with spiritual power.
A complete map of the Nine Provinces appeared before him, showing mountains, rivers, and cities in great detail. He scanned the map of the Nine Provinces with his divine sense, comparing it with the Primordial Heaven Secret Realm map fragment.
He quickly found the location of the Primordial Heaven Secret Realm, situated on a certain mountain in the Great Wei Empire.
【Congratulations Host for accidentally finding the Primordial Heaven Secret Realm. The rewards for subsequent missions have been changed】 Perhaps it was his imagination, but Jiang Li detected a thick sense of frustration in the system's notification tone.
【System reminder: The Primordial Heaven Secret Realm is too dangerous for the Host. Please explore it after reaching the Nascent Soul Stage】 Jiang Li instantly lost interest in this Primordial Heaven Secret Realm.
Danger and reward were equivalent. A mystic realm that could be explored by someone at the Nascent Soul Stage—could it possibly contain treasures that would move a Tribulation Transcendence Stage or Mahayana Stage cultivator?
(End of this chapter)