Jiang Li tried, but he couldn’t bring the Yin-Yang Heavenly Seal back to the Nine Provinces through the System’s teleportation channel. Fortunately, both person and seal shared one trait—strong bodies that did not fear the chaotic void currents. With the spatial coordinates provided by the System, Jiang Li shattered space and returned through the void to the Nine Provinces.
However, they were immediately blocked outside by the Great Formation. He couldn’t open the very gate he had set up himself.
“There’s an Extraterrestrial Heavenly Demon coming—oh, it’s Brother Jiang.”
The Desolation Halberd, acting as the Formation Core, had just raised a shout before hurriedly stopping mid-way. When the Desolation Halberd saw the Yin-Yang Heavenly Seal following beside Jiang Li, it instantly felt uncomfortable, as if betrayed. Clearly, I was the one who came first.
Jiang Li brought the Yin-Yang Heavenly Seal back to the Dao Sect. Having gone through such an ordeal, the Heavenly Seal no longer thought about the Spirit Treasure Dynasty. Instead, it chose to guard the Nine Provinces.
Its master had died at the hands of the Extraterrestrial Heavenly Demons; this hatred must be avenged—for it would not call itself an Immortal Artifact otherwise! In the Nine Provinces, it would never lack demons to slay. Jiang Li thoroughly recounted everything that had happened to Bai Hongtu and Immortal Elder Changcun.
Although the two had already seen the Dao Ancestor’s immortal corpse through the Remote Communication Talisman, hearing Jiang Li personally describe it carried a wholly different feeling.
“Can you sense the karmic ties of those seniors who ascended?”
The Yin-Yang Heavenly Seal shook itself slightly.
“No. It’s as if they’ve vanished completely.”
Jiang Li folded his hands, propped his chin, and sank into thought. The Yin-Yang Heavenly Seal had sensed the Dao Ancestor’s karmic thread lingering upon that distant continent. It proved that its karmic senses were still functional.
But it could not sense A Qing’s karma—perhaps because she had been altered by the Extraterrestrial Heavenly Demons. If this deduction was right, then could all the seniors who ascended have also been… No, that didn’t make sense.
Why couldn’t it even see his karma? Jiang Li had been born and raised in the Nine Provinces from the age of eighteen—nothing about him should be foreign. Could it be that in his past life, he was an Extraterrestrial Heavenly Demon himself?
Impossible.
“Should we erase the spiritual intelligence of the Spirit Treasures?”
The Yin-Yang Heavenly Seal stood upright upon the table, completely obedient, as if saying: whatever you decree, I shall obey. It added, “But I’ll say this beforehand—Immortal Artifacts’ intelligence can’t be wiped out. They should’ve already developed proper souls.
The rest of the Spirit Treasures can; their rate of forming souls isn’t as fast as that of Immortal Artifacts.”
“Erase them then. Though… it does feel a little wasteful.”
Bai Hongtu said with regret.
“Didn’t you once say, Jiang Li, that all things are double-edged swords? I believe Spirit Treasures developing intelligence is the same—they can hurt, but they can also help. We fear Spirit Treasures turning against us, but they can also bolster cultivators’ strength.”
“I held an impromptu competition in the Dao Sect,” Bai Hongtu continued.
“Those disciples with good relationships with their Spirit Treasures were allowed to participate using them. The results were surprising—the Spirit Treasures and their owners moved in perfect harmony, fought seamlessly, even helped attack on their own accord. Many lower disciples defeated their higher-ranked peers—the outer sect bested the inner sect; inner disciples defeated core disciples. Such occurrences were common.”
Then Bai Hongtu produced his Falling Rain Sword.
“This is my sword. I’ve taught it sword techniques lately—it learns fast.”
As he spoke, the Falling Rain Sword flickered and blossomed with a sword flower, perfectly embodying a trace of Bai Hongtu’s swordmanship essence.
“I’m not boasting, but everyone knows I, Bai Hongtu, am hailed as a Sword Immortal! Much stronger than certain people who only know one trick—Heart Sword!”
“This Falling Rain Sword has been learning for just days—this is already the result!”
Bai Hongtu gestured proudly, showcasing the advantages of Spirit Treasures with intelligence. Jiang Li suspected that remark was aimed at him.
“No, there’s no need to erase their intelligence. Not for now,” Jiang Li said, surprising the Yin-Yang Heavenly Seal and Immortal Elder Changcun alike.
Bai Hongtu looked at Jiang Li with eager trust—he knew Jiang Li would have a solution. Indeed, Jiang Li’s inspiration came from the world of Ming Zhong.
“Let’s perform an experiment—starting from Great Zhou. I’ll persuade Ji Zhi. In short, we’ll have Great Zhou proclaim a law. Since Spirit Treasures are not Immortal Artifacts, they cannot maintain themselves indefinitely. We can grant them certain rights—such as ways to improve their quality, regular maintenance—and also establish rules to bind them.”
“First rule: Spirit Treasures must not harm their masters. Second rule: Spirit Treasures must obey their masters’ orders—except when such orders conflict with the first rule. Third rule: Within the limits of the first and second rules, a Spirit Treasure must endeavor to preserve its own existence. And an additional rule: Spirit Treasures must safeguard the collective interests of the Human Race of the Nine Provinces. The first three rules are valid only under this premise.”
“Considering Great Zhou’s uniqueness, even if the decree succeeds there, other dynasties may not achieve the same effect.”
“I remember some in the Dao Sect practice the rather obscure Dao of Contract. Perhaps they could inscribe these three rules—and the additional one—onto Contract Papers, signing them jointly between Spirit Treasure and owner.”
Bai Hongtu and Immortal Elder Changcun both pondered it carefully, finding no loopholes. They marveled at Jiang Li’s ingenuity. If this could truly be implemented, the strength of the Nine Provinces would leap to new heights.
Naturally, they fully supported him. As for the Yin-Yang Heavenly Seal—even if there were loopholes, it likely wouldn’t notice them.
“What will you do next? Go look for more Immortal Artifacts in other worlds?”
Bai Hongtu asked, clearly giving Jiang Li no chance to rest.
“No. I’ve thought of something new—a little test I want to try.”
The Yin-Yang Heavenly Seal stayed behind in the Dao Sect, while Jiang Li prepared to head to Great Zhou before trying out his new idea. At this very moment, Ji Zhi was in the midst of a fierce debate with his ministers.
“I believe the Spirit Treasures must be bound by law! Since they have developed intelligence, then like the spirit beasts that enter Great Zhou and abandon their law of the jungle, they too should fall under the jurisdiction of the Great Zhou Law. Grant them rights, yes—but also bind them with duty!”
The Left Minister cupped his hands.
“Left Minister, you are mistaken,” the Right Minister countered.
“Spirit Treasures have always been mere objects. How could we bestow them rights? That defies tradition and common sense. We should treat them as livestock—acknowledge their vitality, but retain the right of life and death over them!”
“The birth of intelligence within Spirit Treasures is a transformation unseen in ten thousand years. How can ‘tradition’ be an excuse to ignore progress? If the law cannot advance with the times, then it is not only the law that will be discarded, but also the very foundation of Great Zhou itself!”
“Minister of Justice, cease your fearmongering!”
“Fearmongering?”
The Minister of Justice gave a cold laugh.
“Speaking facts is not fearmongering!”
“The Grand Ancestor once roamed the River of Time—naturally he foresaw such changes. The laws he set bound humans and demons, but never mentioned Spirit Treasures. That means there’s no need to treat them specially!”
“If the Grand Ancestor could foresee everything, then why didn’t he tell us when the Extraterrestrial Heavenly Demons would attack?”
“How dare you question the Grand Ancestor!”
“Right Minister! We’re all calmly discussing the matter. Stop twisting words into accusations!”
Ji Zhi finally exploded.
“Integrate Spirit Treasures into the Great Zhou Law.”
Ji Zhi’s words closed the debate with finality.
(End of Chapter)