“But Jiang the Human Emperor doesn’t have a good impression of us. Hanging up his name like that without his consent—won’t that anger that old man?”
“Figure it out yourself. I just want results.”
The Vice Pavilion Master left after saying that, not caring whether his subordinates could accomplish the task or not. A few days later, a painting titled “Jiang the Human Emperor in the Heavenly Slaughter Pavilion” was hung in the center of the great hall. It drew countless people to stop and admire, more bewildered than moved.
“Brother, may I ask why this painting only shows Zhang Konghu dining alone in the Human Emperor Palace? Where’s the Human Emperor?”
“He’s in the Heavenly Slaughter Pavilion.”
Inside the Heavenly Slaughter Pavilion, those who came to post missions were always heavily disguised, whispering as they haggled with assassins over the price. Suddenly, one person shouted in anger, “Why is my price fifty times higher than others? I’ve already asked around.
Killing a Golden Core Stage cultivator shouldn’t cost this much! You Heavenly Slaughter Pavilion lot are robbers! This price could buy the life of a Nascent Soul Stage cultivator!”
The masked assassin explained patiently, “Your target may only be at the Golden Core Stage, but he’s from the Great Zhou. Everyone knows the Great Zhou Imperial Family can trace time itself. Killing within the Great Zhou is basically suicide.
If you want him dead, you have to lure him outside Great Zhou territory first. Even then, there’s still a high chance the Great Zhou will find out and retaliate. Taking this job is risking your life.”
The client frowned. He didn’t have enough money and, thinking it over, realized his hatred wasn’t that deep anyway. So he could only give up the commission.
Scenes like this were common to Heavenly Slaughter Pavilion assassins. The Great Zhou Imperial Dynasty was a forbidden zone for their kind. Even they dared not step into Great Zhou.
Setting such outrageous prices wasn’t only because the task was dangerous — it was also to scare would-be clients into giving up. ... The Heavenly Slaughter Pavilion’s assassins were meticulous in their work. After accepting a mission, they didn’t immediately strike.
Instead, they would spend days—sometimes months—investigating, making sure the target’s power remained stable. They’d study habits, surroundings, cultivation techniques, and weaknesses before making a precise move. That meant Qin Luan and his disciples wouldn’t be facing an assassination attempt anytime soon.
Jiang Li wouldn’t rush either. He still had matters to attend to— Finding homes for the rowdy immortal artifacts he’d collected. On the road, Jiang Li warned them, “If any of you dare run away, I’ll throw you all back into the furnace for reforging.”
Having already suffered a beating from him before, and having been captured again by methods they still couldn’t comprehend, the group of immortal artifacts obediently promised not to flee. Jiang Li’s first stop was the Confucian Sect, to return the Great Scholar Scripture Slip.
At this time, the Confucian Sect was suppressing a group of unruly spirit treasures, teaching them Confucian classics and demonstrating that “education has no class distinction.” When the Great Scholar Scripture Slip returned, Dong Zhongren was overjoyed. He immediately showcased it to the other spirit treasures as a model.
“Look, this is what a spirit treasure nurtured by the Confucian teachings should be like!”
“Damn it, who wants to listen to this nonsense? I’m already sick of hearing Dong Zhongshu preach this drivel!” the Scripture Slip cursed fluently.
The other spirit treasures hadn’t managed to master scripture recitation, but they had learned to curse astonishingly fast, all taking the Great Scholar Scripture Slip as their idol. Dong Zhongren nearly fainted from rage when he heard the Slip insult the Confucian Patriarch himself.
Yet since the Scripture Slip was a sacred immortal artifact of their Founder, its status was extremely high. Punishing it would violate Confucian doctrine about respecting hierarchy. So Dong Zhongren could only fume in silence.
Seeing how “harmonious” the Confucian Sect remained, Jiang Li felt relieved enough to move on overseas. The Four Seas and Penglai Immortal Island lay on the far side of the Nine Provinces Continent, opposite the land formed from the Dao Ancestor’s transformation.
The reverse side of the continent also had a sun, so life flourished there as well—shrimp, crabs, fish, and flood dragons often leapt from the waves, roaming freely. The areas along the sides of the continent bore no crushing pressure, and cultivators could travel freely to the Four Seas. When Jiang Li arrived, he found the Four Seas unusually desolate.
None of the higher-ranked demon beasts were in sight—only a few Qi Refinement shrimp and crab soldiers stood guard. Penglai Immortal Island was under threat. In the past, Island Lord Mo had regularly bullied the Four Seas Dragon Palace using his powerful Othermount Stone.
The Four Dragon Kings could only swallow their grievances in silence. They were all immortal artifacts, yet he alone seemed invincible. Now that the immortal artifacts had broken out of the realm and returned, the Four Dragon Kings wanted revenge.
They gathered their armies to besiege Penglai Island—not to destroy it, but to teach a lesson, make her yield, and call them “brothers,” to prove who truly ruled the Four Seas.
“Today marks the first day we demon beasts triumph over humans!”
“Island Lord Mo!” cried the Turtle Prime Minister, calling out across the sea, “The Dragon Kings have sent me with an offer! As long as you surrender, there will be great benefits for you!”
“What benefits?” asked the stunningly beautiful Island Lord Mo without expression.
Overjoyed, the Turtle Prime Minister shouted, “The Dragon Kings said—whichever of them you fancy, you can have him marry into Penglai Island! They’ll all comply willingly!” Mo Ruoyu fell silent, picturing the dragon-headed, human-bodied Kings in her mind, and then drew her coldly gleaming sword.
“Enough talk. Fight to the death!”
“Don’t blame us for being ruthless, then!”
Negotiations broke down. The Four Dragon Kings of East, South, West, and North roared in unison, transforming into their true forms. Four four-clawed dragons, each over ten thousand meters long, rose from the sea.
Heaven and earth darkened, thunder rumbled. Suspended in the air above the waves, their serpentine bodies formed natural wave patterns — terrible yet magnificent, inspiring both awe and dread. Countless shrimp soldiers and crab generals covered the entire ocean surface below.
On the cliff’s edge stood Island Lord Mo, still as a statue, the roaring waves crashing against the reef below her feet. She faced the four dragons head-on, her presence towering and unyielding. Though Penglai Island was at a disadvantage, the Island Lord’s aura alone overpowered the collective might of the Four Seas Dragon Kings.
“All of you, come at me together! If anyone dares hold back, I’ll look down on you forever!”
Mo Ruoyu shouted, her voice echoing through heaven and sea, startling the dragons into shivering. They exchanged glances.
Hold back? Impossible!
This was the perfect chance to capture and marry the Island Lord home—they couldn’t waste it!
Attack!
Just as their morale surged and they prepared to charge, an untimely cough rang out—clearer than dragon cries, sea waves, and the howling wind. Cough! “I found the immortal artifact. Who wants it?”
The Four Dragon Kings froze for half a breath—then each snatched up their dragon pearl and fled for their lives. The shrimp soldiers and crab generals, seeing their rulers run, scattered as well. Mo Ruoyu smiled faintly, picked up the Othermount Stone, and chased after the fleeing dragons.
Soon, the Four Seas returned to their usual vibrant order. ... At last, Jiang Li arrived at the Heavenly Origin Imperial Palace, intending to return the Ruyi Gourd to the Empress of Heavenly Origin before going to find Yuan Wuxing and the others.
“Yu Yin, I brought back your dynasty’s gourd,” Jiang Li said.
He’d known the Empress for a long time; they were once fellow candidates for the title of Human Emperor, close enough to call each other by name. But when Jiang Li found her, the Empress’s face was pale as paper, her spirit weak, lying in her bedchamber attended by several palace maids.
The formidable Empress of old was gone without a trace.
“What happened?”
Jiang Li frowned. He could tell she was pretending. The Empress waved her attendants away until only she and Jiang Li remained.
Once the maids left, she dropped the frail act and straightened. In an instant she was again the sovereign Empress who ruled the world, her commanding presence impossible to ignore—though her voice, clear and melodic, still carried an alluring charm.
“Someone intends to rebel,” she said calmly.
“I’m giving them a chance.” — Thanks to readers Miaoshou Xiaoyao, Daxue Road Demon Lord, ihih008, This Spring Is a Bit Sweet, 161127182234556, and 20200421012559503 for their monthly votes.
Thanks also to This Spring Is a Bit Sweet for your reward. And ihih008, I saw your complaint—sorry to hear you felt uncomfortable.
(End of Chapter)