A Frail Woman

Now that she could see Jiang Li, Pure Heart Saintess naturally had no reason to stay at the academy pretending to be an eighteen-year-old girl.

After leaving the academy, she followed behind Jiang Li. Seeing that he remained dejected, she consoled him, "You only lost one condition to me. I won't make you do anything bad."

Jiang Li said gloomily, "I'm merely lamenting that my arrogance cost me a chance to find the Immortal World."

"Find the Immortal World? Did you uncover some new clue again?" Pure Heart Saintess blinked her beautiful eyes.

She could not help recalling all the outrageous things Jiang Li had done in his search for the Immortal World. For example, when he heard that gathering four Dragon Pearls could connect to the Immortal World, he borrowed Dragon Pearls from the Four Seas Dragon Kings. In the end, he spun the Dragon Pearls until they glowed, yet never saw any passage to the Immortal World.

For another, when he heard that Liberation by Violence could grant immortality, he offered no resistance at all and let the Heavenly Tribulation strike him. In the end, the Heavenly Tribulation fizzled out, and he was not hurt in the slightest.

For another, someone claimed that sacrificing the people of an entire province could earn merit and ultimately allow one to ascend. Jiang Li tracked down the rumor-spreader and killed him on the spot.

Who knew what rumor about becoming immortal he had heard this time?

"Hello? Hello? Is Jiang Li there?" The Remote Communication Talisman rang again beyond Jiang Li's control. There was no need to guess—it had to be the Dao Sect Master looking for him.

"He's not. Get lost," Jiang Li said irritably.

The Dao Sect Master's phantom appeared. He looked no different from a youth and shot Jiang Li a glance. "I'm looking for Human Emperor Jiang. Why is a mere Dao Sect Emissary butting in? Eh, Pure Heart Saintess is here too? Excellent. Then I won't have to face Daoist Qingyu's deadpan face while telling you."

"If you still want me to attend your Dao Sect's Immortal Artifact Appreciation Conference, you'd better show me some respect."

The Dao Sect Master immediately put on a fawning expression. "Jiang Ge, look what you're saying. Didn't I come especially to notify you?"

"By my calculations, the Yin-Yang Heaven Seal will complete its first self-refinement in another twenty days. The Immortal Artifact Appreciation Conference will begin fifteen days from now. You'll represent the Human Emperor Palace, and Pure Heart Saintess will represent the Red Dust Pure Land. What do you think?"

Jiang Li did not answer. Instead, he suddenly appeared behind the sect master's phantom and discovered that, sure enough, he had one hand behind his back, holding up a middle finger.

"I knew you brat was talking bad about me behind my back!" Jiang Li spat and shut off the Remote Communication Talisman.

Seeing the connection cut off, the Dao Sect Master was not worried. The Yin-Yang Heaven Seal completing its first self-refinement was something one might not encounter even in several thousand years. He had no fear that Jiang Li would refuse to come.

Sure enough, Jiang Li turned and asked Pure Heart Saintess, "There are still more than ten days. How are we getting to the Dao Sect?"

Pure Heart Saintess naturally would not foolishly suggest flying there. Not to mention Jiang Li flying at full speed—even she could reach the Dao Sect in half a day.

She smiled faintly. "Let's take a flying boat. It's been a long time since I last rode one."

Jiang Li nodded. "Mm. Then I'll fly there first."

"..."

"I'm a frail woman riding a flying boat alone. Aren't you worried I might run into danger?"

Jiang Li thought for a long while but could not understand what a grand Integrated Body Late Stage cultivator—one who would be revered as an Imperial Preceptor even in an Imperial Dynasty—had to do with being a frail woman.

As for danger, perhaps only an Extraterrestrial Demon could threaten her.

So she was worried about encountering an attack by an Extraterrestrial Demon. Jiang Li was greatly pleased by Pure Heart Saintess's caution. If she had been this cautious back in Upper River Town and Lower River Town, what happened afterward would never have occurred.

She'd grown.

Although the possibility Pure Heart Saintess worried about was minuscule, Jiang Li could not bear to snuff out the cautiousness she had only just developed. So he agreed to take the flying boat with her.

Cultivators only gained the ability to fly upon reaching the Spirit Transformation Stage, only then qualifying to roam the Nine Provinces. Otherwise, what kind of roaming was it if one spent the whole time riding a flying boat?

Flying boats counted as low-grade artifacts. They were not difficult to refine or control; their only flaw was their enormous demand for spiritual power. Spirit Transformation cultivators could of course supply spiritual energy without end, but they disdained doing such a thing. Therefore, Spirit Stones had to be used to provide spiritual energy.

Flying boats required a great number of Spirit Stones, so ticket prices naturally were not cheap. Cultivators who could afford to ride one were at least in the Foundation Establishment Realm.

After picking through their Storage Rings for a long while, Jiang Li and Pure Heart Saintess finally found several Mid-Grade Spirit Stones to use as tickets.

Normally, tickets were bought with Low-Grade Spirit Stones. However, the two of them usually spent High-Grade Spirit Stones as a minimum. Their Storage Rings were piled full of High-Grade Spirit Stones and Top-Grade Spirit Stones, with only a pitiful few mid- and low-grade ones.

Jiang Li had no wish to flaunt his wealth, but he could not help it. He was so poor that all he had left were High-Grade Spirit Stones.

Sure enough, the moment the two boarded, several burly men with unfriendly gazes fixed their eyes on them. When they saw the breathtakingly beautiful Pure Heart Saintess in particular, wicked thoughts rose in their hearts.

They communicated with their eyes.

Pull a job? Pull a job! A red-lipped, white-toothed little monk rose and bowed to the men. He held prayer beads in one hand and looked about fourteen or fifteen. His dazzling, gem-studded kasaya shone so brightly that the men could scarcely open their eyes.

"This little monk believes you must not become obsessed with the appearance of flesh. Beauty is no more than a pink skeleton, passing clouds and drifting smoke. The deeper you indulge, the deeper you sink. Benefactors, please let go of your obsessions."

The little monk's words seemed to possess a strange charm that made people believe him unconsciously. The vicious-looking men became dazed, and their expressions softened.

Another passenger saw the little monk employing such an uncanny technique and walked over to the men as well. He let out a great shout, like a bell tolling beside their ears, jolting them awake.

The men came back to their senses and hurriedly thanked that passenger.

The passenger wore a white Confucian robe and held a paper fan inscribed with ink characters. His features were upright, and he was dressed exactly like a Confucian scholar.

"Many thanks to this Confucian Sect disciple."

There was only one kind of person in the Nine Provinces who dressed as a Confucian scholar: members of the Confucian Sect, one of the Six Great Sects.

Confucian Sect members took it as their duty to educate all under heaven. They emphasized benevolence, righteousness, propriety, and wisdom, frequently traveling through the various Imperial Dynasties to spread their teachings. Among the Six Great Sects, they were the most widely known; the Buddhist Sect came second.

The Confucian Sect disciple smiled slightly. "Sage Meng once said: 'The goodness of human nature is like water flowing downward. No person is without goodness, just as no water does not flow downward.' Though you all look fierce and rob homes and waylay travelers only because life has driven you to it, I believe you are all kindhearted people. Surely, in your hearts, you also believe yourselves to be good."

The Confucian Sect disciple's words were like sleep bugs burrowing into their ears, making them drowsy. Unconsciously, they muttered, "At the beginning of man, nature is inherently good."

A passenger surnamed Jiang accidentally coughed. The burly men snapped awake once more, fury rising from the pits of their gallbladders.

These two were actually using them to spar in techniques—one monk urging them to let go of their obsessions, and one Confucian scholar urging them to remember their goodness.

Did they think a few Golden Core cultivators like them were pushovers? The burly men drew their weapons, killing intent boiling around them. They set aside robbing Jiang Li and Pure Heart Saintess for the moment—first they would deal with the little bald one and the pretty-boy! The little monk and the Confucian scholar sighed at the same time. "Why must you force us to act?"

Nascent Soul pressure burst forth, instantly beating the burly men into begging for mercy.