Chapter 372 - Chapter 372: Chapter 391: The Third Test Is Not Passed Like This

Chapter 372: Chapter 391: The Third Test Is Not Passed Like This

Jiang Li gave the Sleeping Arhat an opportunity to save face by sleeping in. Upon waking, he found himself in an atmosphere of tranquility.

“Where am I?”

Jiang Li quickly realized that he was in a womb, surrounded by prenatal qi.

Becoming a fetus had been a fascinating experience for Jiang Li.

Prenatal qi is a favorite among demon cultivators. They can extract it by refining pregnant women. Whether used for cultivation or weapon forging, it is top-notch.

Therefore, during the heydays of demon cultivators, pregnant women were highly endangered. They often failed to give birth and risked their lives in the process.

Later, as the ladder to immortality was severed, the demon cultivators were largely eradicated by the Nine Provinces World, and this situation was curbed.

Upon Jiang Li’s birth in the mortal world, the prenatal qi dissipated.

Jiang Li felt no pain, however. To him, the prenatal qi was too pure, its purity made him slightly uncomfortable. He found the postnatal qi much more comfortable.

Similar to Yuan Wuxing, Jiang Li was born into a wealthy mundane family. Despite the gap between mortals and immortals, he sought out immortality. He was ruthlessly told that he was a Five Elements Spiritual Root, and cultivation would simply waste spiritual energy.

“The spiritual energy is infinite. Will my cultivation monopolize your use of it?”

The immortal beings thought Jiang Li’s question was too foolish to warrant a response and drove him away.

After learning that he was a Five Elements Spiritual Root, Jiang Li didn’t bother retesting with other immortals.

He remained a Five Elements Spiritual Root without letting it affect him.

“Son, don’t try to become immortal; it’s not your calling.” Jiang Li’s parents tried to persuade him. He complied readily.

“Alright, I’ll stop pursuing immortality.” Jiang Li’s decisive answer surprised his parents.

After giving up on immortality, Jiang Li dedicated himself to studying business and martial arts before taking over the family business.

His business acumen was far superior than Yuan Wuxing’s. Under his management, he became the richest man in the kingdom, so wealthy that even the emperor treated him with respect.

Some immortals descended to visit Jiang Li, stating that if he dispersed his entire wealth to prove his sincerity in seeking immortality, they would help him draw energy into his body to become a Qi Cultivation cultivator, albeit merely at the third layer.

Jiang Li turned down the offer without hesitation.

The immortals assumed Jiang Li was reluctant to let go of his wealth and that he was insincere in his quest for immortality. They shook their heads and left.

Jiang Li scoffed. During his rise to richness, he discovered that this world’s immortals were just bunch of cultivators who hadn’t even reached the Nascent Soul Stage and were incapable of fasting.

The immortals didn’t contribute to the production. Their food supplies were entirely dependent on the mundane world.

Besides, their enormous appetites imposed a heavy burden on the mundane world.

“Free meals without working? How can this possibly exist in the world?”

Immersed in whimsical ideas, the immortals often claimed that being closer to the heavens would easily induce a response from heavens. Therefore, they made the court build high platforms for them to cultivate on.

The construction of high platforms was expensive and laborious and, disappointed that being closer to the heavens didn’t enhance cultivation, the immortals left.

Subsequently, the high platforms became desolate and unused.

There were also instances of changing river courses and terrains to allegedly facilitate the circulation of spiritual energy.

This idea was baseless and merely a product of the immortals’ whimsical thoughts.

Many similar incidents occurred.

Jiang Li looked down upon these immortals. They claimed to be distant from the mundane world, however, weren’t they being fed by the mundane world?

Jiang Li expended his entire wealth to build an army and rebelled against the court, declaring himself the emperor.

The immortals didn’t care about who became the emperor as it had no effect on them.

After securing the kingdom, Jiang Li immediately cut off supplies to the immortals. He ignored any demands they made.

If the immortals wanted anything, they either had to work – making agricultural rites succeed using rainfall spells or other techniques – or disclose their cultivation techniques.

“We, the cultivators, are destined to step into the Immortal Realm and live carefree lives. How could we be engaged in mundane labors like farming?”

As for disclosing their cultivation techniques, that was completely out of the question; it was their foundation precondition.

“Crude? Then don’t eat.” Jiang Li showed no mercy to the immortals.

After all their cultivation, to end up at the mere Nascent Soul Stage, they had the audacity to call themselves immortals?

“You snot-nosed brat, I don’t mind switching to another emperor!” Infuriated, an immortal, about to attack Jiang Li, was punched hard by him and flung onto a palace pillar.

“What… What just happened?” The immortal quickly noticed that Jiang Li’s qi and blood were bustling. His horrifying physical strength was on par with devils!

“This is martial arts. I’m presently at the External Scenery Stage.” Jiang Li stretched his body, ready for action. If they didn’t see reason, don’t blame him for resorting to violence.

Despite his struggle with cultivation, he had extraordinary talent in martial arts, and had advanced it to a level comparable to the Divinity Transformation Stage.

Jiang Li led the troops to pull down the haughty immortals from their self-built pedestals, thereby obliterating the so-called gap between immortals and mortals.

Henceforth, if the immortals needed anything, they would first have to assist with farming and engage in production.

The immortals were astonished to find that their mental states and cultivation levels were boosting during this process.

“To cultivate immortality is a process of entering and exiting the mundane world. You avoiding the world and deceiving yourselves and others halt your cultivation progress.”

The immortals showed deepest admiration for Jiang Li.

Jiang Li, being at the External Scenery Stage, remained free from any disease and lived a long life.

During his reign, the mortals and immortals integrated seamlessly. The number of cultivators greatly increased and the common people were assured of a stable food supply with the help of the cultivators.

One day, Jiang Li died peacefully with a smile on his face.

This trial was meant for cultivators to experience life as a common person, to struggle through life’s diverse hardships. Presumably, it would provide some new realisation.

However, Jiang Li managed to unify the entire kingdom, and managed to tame the cultivators into submission.

The Eight Life Miseries didn’t affect Jiang Li in the slightest.

Xiang Xiang Bodhisattva: “…This man must be Jiang, the Human Emperor.”

Xiang Xiang Bodhisattva believed that except for Jiang Li, no one else could have done this.

“Wait a moment. If he is Jiang, the Human Emperor, then who is the person beside him? Is it Bai Hongtu?”

Xiang Xiang Bodhisattva looked at Bai Hongtu’s dream, discovering that he dispersed his entire wealth to acquire a single cultivation technique, thereby entering the Immortal Realm. He artfully leverages relationships, gaining a human relationship achievement, simultaneously elevating his status and collecting resources. Hardly believing it, he managed to elevate himself to the peak of the Nascent Soul Stage and become the most prestigious cultivator.

It should be known that during this process Bai Hongtu had no external forces or memory of the Transcendence Tribulation Stage, relying solely on his dextrous relationship and strong desire to climb the social ladder.

“…I understand that both of you are formidable, but can you please experience at least one of the Eight Life Miseries?”

Unsure about how to evaluate Jiang Li and Bai Hongtu, Xiang Xiang Bodhisattva was stumped. Yes, they were formidable and no one could replicate their feats.

However, here lay the issue: this challenge was designed to test the Eight Life Miseries!

Neither of the two men’s experiences were remotely related to the Eight Life Miseries.