"You really have some insights into the Dao of Space?"
Bai Hongtu asked, his tone full of skepticism. He was well aware of how pitiful Jiang Li’s talent in the Dao of Space had always been.
"Not much—just enough to travel to another world," Jiang Li said tranquilly, as if he were mentioning something utterly insignificant.
Bai Hongtu did not doubt him. Jiang Li wasn’t the kind of person who would make jokes about such things.
"Take this."
Bai Hongtu pulled out a Remote Communication Talisman. Its appearance was slightly different from the one Jiang Li had used before.
"What’s this?"
Jiang Li asked, receiving it with mild curiosity.
"The one you used before was made by me when I was in the Union Stage. This new Remote Communication Talisman was crafted after I broke through my Heavenly Tribulation. In theory, it can transmit across worlds. I’ve never tested it, but you can try it once you’re in another world."
"A fine treasure."
Jiang Li’s eyes brightened. He did not refuse Bai Hongtu’s kindness and accepted the talisman. Everyone present relaxed a little.
Since the Human Emperor Jiang could travel to other worlds in search of Immortal Artifacts, the probability of his success was practically certain—nine chances out of ten. They all understood that before the Immortal Ascension Heavenly Ladder disappeared, the Immortal Realm connected with countless worlds. Among those myriad realms, the Nine Provinces World stood as the mightiest.
In other worlds, it was rare to see even a single Ascendant, while in the Nine Provinces, an Ascendant appeared every few centuries. The difference in power between them needed no further explanation. None of them were truly worried about Jiang Li’s safety.
On the contrary, they worried that while Jiang Li was retrieving the Immortal Artifacts, he might accidentally destroy those other worlds. After all, other worlds were nowhere near as sturdy as the Nine Provinces.
"First, arrange the Nine Provinces Realm-Guarding Grand Formation," Jiang Li instructed.
"In case Extraterrestrial Heavenly Demons attack while I’m gone."
"But with the Immortal Artifacts gone, what will serve as the Formation Core?"
Bai Hongtu frowned. The best choice was, naturally, the Yin-Yang Heavenly Seal. The next best would be another Immortal Artifact.
Without an Immortal Artifact, even a Dao Artifact was unworthy to function as the core of the grand formation. Jiang Li drew forth the Desolation Halberd.
"Use this—it can serve as the Formation Core, and when Extraterrestrial Heavenly Demons come, it can also protect you all."
The moment the halberd appeared, everyone present felt a surge of murderous intent radiate from it. Countless Extraterrestrial Heavenly Demons must have perished beneath its edge, and awe filled their hearts. At that moment, the Desolation Halberd, which had been quietly slumbering, trembled.
Realizing what Jiang Li intended, it let out a mournful wail.
"Brother Jiang, you can’t do this! Don’t leave me behind in the Nine Provinces! Who will charge forth into battle for you?"
Everyone was startled. So this thing actually possessed consciousness! Before, when all other Spirit Treasures had been restless, the Desolation Halberd alone had remained still.
They had assumed that the Yin-Yang Heavenly Seal had failed to awaken its spirit. Though they hadn’t interacted long, Jiang Li easily saw that this weapon simply wanted to stay inside his Storage Ring and sleep all day. It had no intention of doing any real work.
"Then let’s switch places," Jiang Li said evenly.
"I’ll stay behind in the Nine Provinces while you go search for the Immortal Artifacts."
"No, no, no! I think being the Formation Core suits me just fine."
The Desolation Halberd immediately refused. What a joke! It was merely a poor Transcendent Armament whose only virtue was its hardness.
How could it fight those dazzling Immortal Artifacts, each more miraculous than the last? A few days later, an invisible Realm-Guarding Grand Formation slowly unfolded. From the four edges of the Nine Provinces, it extended toward the center, converging above the Human Emperor Palace.
At that moment, although ordinary cultivators could not see the grand formation, they nonetheless felt a mysterious sense of safety rise within their hearts—a comfort like never before. Yet Bai Hongtu frowned and murmured quietly, "As expected, no Merit has descended." ... After confirming that the Nine Provinces were secure, Jiang Li finally felt at ease to depart.
Since the Yin-Yang Heavenly Seal was of utmost importance, naturally it would be his first target. Jiang Li commanded the System to construct a teleportation channel, hoping to bring Bai Hongtu and the other Tribulation Transcendence Stage experts to another world with him.
However, no matter if it was Bai Hongtu or the Old Sumeru Buddha, none of them could see the channel. Jiang Li then asked them to step forward as if entering it, but when they obeyed, nothing happened—they did not cross over. Jiang Li sighed.
The System’s method of spatial transfer was indeed profound—far beyond his current understanding. He stepped into the channel himself. ... When Jiang Li emerged, he had already arrived in an unknown world.
"Hmm? The Spiritual Qi here is actually this abundant?"
Jiang Li was slightly astonished. Though the Qi here was a little weaker than in the Nine Provinces, that alone was remarkable. Unlike the dull, gray world he had visited last time, this place brimmed with vitality.
Extending his Divine Sense over a small area, Jiang Li felt both familiarity and strangeness. Familiarity—because this was a human-dominated world. Strangeness—because this was a world of advanced technology.
There were hovering vehicles, artificial intelligence, mechas, light brains, and countless other inventions. Perhaps, before heading back, he could bring some local goods as souvenirs, Jiang Li thought to himself half-jokingly. But that was trivial.
His foremost objective was still the Yin-Yang Heavenly Seal. Just as Jiang Li landed atop a tall building, his Remote Communication Talisman suddenly trembled. He didn’t even need to think to know that it was Bai Hongtu.
Jiang Li’s face darkened slightly in anticipation.
"J-Jiang Li, have you arrived safely in the other world?"
To his surprise, it was the Holy Maiden Jing Xin’s gentle voice. Jiang Li hastily replaced his scowl with a mild smile.
"Yes, very safe. I’ve arrived in a very interesting place."
"You see?"
Bai Hongtu’s head suddenly poked into view from the side of the talisman.
"He only acts unpleasant when he’s talking to me."
Through the Remote Communication Talisman, he caught sight of the scenery behind Jiang Li and exclaimed, "So this is the other world? Those metal boxes seem to move without any hint of Spiritual Power!"
"And those towering buildings—do the people of this world just enjoy heights?"
"What a pity we cannot come along. I’d really love to take a walk there."
"It looks like a good place for our Confucian Sect to spread its teachings."
"Human Emperor Jiang, did you perhaps come to find our Dragon Palace’s Dragon Pearl?"
"What nonsense! He’s obviously here for our Penglai Immortal Island’s Othermount Stone!"
"And that ten-meter-tall metal giant—what is it? It looks like the Dharma Body from our Dharma Body Sect, but not quite as sturdy."
"Looks more like the Golden Body of Sixteen Feet from our Buddhist Sect."
Not only Bai Hongtu, but the other Sect Masters all crowded in from the side, craning their necks to peek at the new world. Even the normally reserved Dharma Body Sect joined the commotion. Jiang Li felt that among them, only the Holy Maiden Jing Xin was genuinely concerned for his safety.
He looked at the group of overly enthusiastic Sects crowding the talisman’s view and felt like he was shepherding a band of elderly tourists on an interworld excursion—with enough chatter to give him a headache. Though he was grateful for their concern, Jiang Li decided it was best to close the Remote Communication Talisman. Instantly, the entire world fell silent.
The new talisman worked wonderfully—Bai Hongtu could no longer directly connect to him. At present, Jiang Li could not yet gauge the size of this world. But judging from what he saw, it was at least as vast as one of the provinces of the Nine Provinces, perhaps larger.
Moreover, like the Nine Provinces, this world was a flat continental plate. From ancient texts, Jiang Li knew that inhabited worlds came in two forms: One consisted of countless stars, separated by infinite void. The other, a single flat landmass—its area at least a hundred times larger than a star.
To find the Yin-Yang Heavenly Seal here would undoubtedly require patience and time. Yet before long, Jiang Li spotted it—high in the sky, the Yin-Yang Heavenly Seal was floating about, crying and flailing like a lost child.
(End of Chapter)