Chapter 2

The Hall of the Human Emperor is revered by all nine continents, holding a transcendent position. One of its responsibilities is to mediate between various forces to prevent deadly conflicts among cultivators that could lead to widespread suffering.

At the peak of cultivation, a single thought can topple mountains and overturn seas. If two peak cultivators were to engage in a life-or-death battle, the harm to the nine continents would be unimaginable.

There are historical examples of such events. When an old Human Emperor died and a new one had yet to be chosen, a conflict arose between the ancient sects and the imperial court. This eventually escalated into an irreconcilable conflict, with both sides mercilessly clashing, sweeping across half of the nine continents. Those who dared to mediate were jointly exterminated by the ancient sects and the imperial court.

It wasn't until the new Human Emperor, Jiang Li, ascended the throne, carrying the wishes of all beings, that he executed the leaders of the ancient sects and the imperial court, thus quelling the great calamity.

The nine continents are home to numerous dynasties and sects, which compete and promote each other. This is a policy set by the first Human Emperor and a result of the repeated deliberations of successive Human Emperors.

Cultivators have both a desire for immortality and a fierce, combative nature. Suppressing them entirely is not a long-term solution. They need a path for competition. Therefore, the Hall of the Human Emperor does not suppress other forces but instead provides various forms of assistance, encouraging these forces to compete. As a result, the nine continents have produced a steady stream of geniuses, never experiencing a break in talent.

This is also the reason why the nine continents have so many countries.

The basic layout of the continent is composed of thousands of small states and nine major dynasties.

Only those with a thousand-year reign and enduring prosperity can be called great dynasties.

Jiang Li's hometown is located in the Great Zhou Dynasty, but it is just an inconspicuous small city within the Great Zhou Dynasty, situated on a plain with no scenic mountains or rivers, and no mineral veins or spiritual treasures. If it weren't for being Jiang Li's hometown, even people in the Great Zhou Dynasty might not know of such a small city.

In Jiang Li's memory, the strongest person in the small county was at the Foundation Establishment stage.

And Jiang Yixing, who once had the opportunity to break through to the Golden Core stage, was considered an outstanding genius.

...

Jiang Li stood at the city gate, staring blankly at the Qingcheng that bore no resemblance to his memories.

The once small and moss-covered Qingcheng had disappeared, replaced by towering city walls built of fine steel stones and a grand gate large enough for any creature or mount to enter leisurely.

Young wanderers roamed the world, parents brought their children to bask in the Human Emperor's aura, and cultivators hoped for the Human Emperor's blessing to break through their cultivation bottlenecks. All these factors turned the once inconspicuous Qingcheng into a city of low profile but rich in culture from the moment Jiang Li became the Human Emperor.

Even the city gate guards were at the Golden Core stage.

As a result, the city gate was bustling with people.

Upon entering Qingcheng, the first thing Jiang Li saw was a massive bronze statue. The statue depicted a man with a noble and imposing demeanor, holding a long spear and looking around, as if a divine being surveying the mortal world.

It was the Human Emperor Jiang Li.

Jiang Li had thought that returning here would be like "smiling and asking where the guest comes from," with no one recognizing him. He only wore a straw hat, and under its shadow was a face identical to the bronze statue.

But in reality, it was "who in the world does not know you?" There were many people worshiping around the bronze statue, and Jiang Li could feel the power of faith emanating from it. He quickly used a spell to change his appearance.

"Excuse me, where is the Jiang family?" Jiang Li asked a random passerby.

The man looked quite old, walking slowly.

Of course, in actual age, Jiang Li was older.

"You must be from out of town. Everyone in Qingcheng knows the Jiang family is at the center of the city, right next to the city lord's residence," the old man said with a smile, pointing, "It's over there."

The old man's accent was heavy, making it hard for outsiders to understand, but Jiang Li, being from Qingcheng, had no trouble.

"I heard that the Jiang family used to be a small clan, located in a corner of Qingcheng. After the Human Emperor Jiang Li ascended the throne, many cultivators came here to investigate the reasons for his strength. The Jiang family seized the opportunity and became the largest clan in Qingcheng," the old man explained.

"Although the Jiang family didn't move their residence, as Qingcheng expanded, their location gradually became the center of the city."

The old man looked around, seeing that there were too many people, and pulled Jiang Li to a corner, whispering, "There's a rumor that the Jiang family controls the entire Qingcheng, even deciding who becomes the city lord."

"How can this be in the Great Zhou Dynasty, which governs by law?" Jiang Li shook his head, dismissing the old man's claim.

The Great Zhou Imperial Family specializes in the study of time, capable of tracing back to the truth of any matter. He had met both the previous and current Great Zhou rulers, who strictly adhered to the law without overstepping. This set an example for those below, who should also follow the law.

Moreover, he had traveled through the Great Zhou Dynasty, experiencing its local customs and having disputes with local authorities. The government always resolved issues based on facts, without favoring those with power.

Jiang Li believed the Jiang family could influence the city lord, but the idea that they could decide who becomes the city lord was unreasonable.

Seeing that the old man knew something, Jiang Li continued, "Is the Jiang family's patriarch, Jiang Yixing, still alive, and what is his cultivation level?"

"I don't know that," the old man shook his head. "But if you want to visit the Jiang family, it's best to wait a couple of days. They are currently holding a family ancestor worship ceremony, which lasts nine days, and they do not see outsiders. Today is the seventh day."

"I didn't expect to encounter the once-in-a-decade ancestor worship ceremony. I wonder if this is good luck or bad luck," Jiang Li chuckled. The Jiang family indeed had a tradition of ancestor worship every ten years. His original body had only experienced one such ceremony at the age of eighteen.

The old man looked at Jiang Li strangely and slowly said, "Older generations say that the Jiang family used to hold the ceremony every ten years. Since the Human Emperor Jiang Li ascended the throne three hundred years ago, the frequency of the ceremony has increased, from every ten years to every five years, and now to every year."

The old man respectfully asked, "Sir, what is your cultivation level..."

To live for three hundred years, one must be at least at the Nascent Soul stage.

Jiang Li smiled slightly but did not answer the old man's question. Instead, he thanked the old man and walked to the Jiang family's residence.

The Jiang family's gates were tightly closed, and their array formations were activated, clearly indicating they were holding the ancestor worship ceremony.

Although protected by array formations and guarded by several Golden Core cultivators, it would be easy for Jiang Li to enter.

As the Human Emperor, he would naturally be welcomed by the entire Jiang family, but Jiang Li did not want to do that. He had no good feelings toward the Jiang family. In the five hundred years since he left, he had never returned, even though the Jiang family continued to use his name to wield power in Qingcheng, completely forgetting how they had once neglected and bullied the original owner of this body.

Now that he was back, the Jiang family would be overjoyed and seize the opportunity to publicize it.

Jiang Li casually cast a spell to conceal his appearance and walked into the Jiang family's residence.