I Am Human Emperor Jiang's Older Brother

The old man kneeling inside the Jiang Family Ancestral Hall was the Jiang Family's eldest elder, and also the Jiang Family Patriarch.

Seeing the Linen-robed Elder arrive, the Jiang Clan Leader trembled as he leaned on his cane and rose, paying the respects of a junior with delight on his face. "Old Ancestor, you emerged from seclusion two days ahead of schedule. Have you broken through the Nascent Soul Peak and entered Spirit Transformation?"

The Linen-robed Elder shook his head and said regretfully, "How could entering Spirit Transformation be so easy? It is only a pity about those dozen or so infants. Their blood sacrifice did not help my cultivation much. It seems that if I wish to break through to Spirit Transformation, I cannot rely solely on sacrificing infants. I must seek another method."

The Jiang Clan Leader's regret flashed away in an instant. "An Attendant just sent word that the parents whose children were taken are spreading the news throughout Green City. They even made a scene outside the City Lord's Mansion. I fear this will be difficult to suppress. It would be good for Old Ancestor to change methods as well. We have stolen too many infants these past years. People have already begun suspecting us."

"Who?"

"A Golden Core Stage Rogue Cultivator named Yuan Wu Xing. He has been trying to sneak in during our ancestral rites for the past several years."

The Linen-robed Elder sneered, utterly unconcerned. "It seems he noticed that the frequency of our ancestral rites is close to the frequency at which children vanish. A mere Rogue Cultivator—capture him and use him for a blood sacrifice."

"Oh, and since those foolish commoners and shrews who lost their children keep making trouble, capture them as well and sacrifice them together. Let them reunite with their children."

"Yes."

"How touching. Then why don't you go down below and reunite with your own parents?"

"Who?" The Linen-robed Elder turned back with an angry glare, looking to see who dared speak so disrespectfully. At the same time, he retreated rapidly. He had not sensed anyone arriving.

Anyone who could evade his senses was either a cultivator at the Nascent Soul Peak like himself who excelled at concealment arts, or a Spirit Transformation cultivator.

He unleashed several spells in succession, but Jiang Li scattered every one of them.

Without another word, Jiang Li stepped forward and slapped him, sending the Linen-robed Elder flying into the table holding the ancestral tablets. The tablets scattered across the floor, and half the Linen-robed Elder's teeth were shattered by the blow.

"You!"

The Linen-robed Elder was greatly shocked. He could sense that Jiang Li was also at the Nascent Soul Peak, yet his opponent moved so quickly that he could not even react.

Jiang Li himself could not count the life-and-death battles he had experienced in his lifetime. His combat experience was incomparably rich. Even if he suppressed his cultivation to the Nascent Soul Realm—no, even to the Golden Core Stage—he could still easily defeat the Linen-robed Elder.

Jiang Li remained expressionless and silent as he fought. He pinned the Linen-robed Elder against the table and hammered him with punch after punch, each one heavier than the last. During it all, he even heard the system notification.

Congratulations, Host. You have defeated Jiang Yixing. Novice mission completed.

Hearing the system notification brought Jiang Li not the slightest joy. He continued ruthlessly beating Jiang Yixing with the strength of the Nascent Soul Realm.

He feared that using any greater force would kill Jiang Yixing outright.

The moment Jiang Li scanned the Space Node with his Divine Sense, he recognized that the Linen-robed Elder was Jiang Yixing.

Jiang Li had changed his appearance, so Jiang Yixing did not recognize him as Jiang Li.

"Do you know... who I am... I am Human Emperor Jiang... Jiang Li's... older brother..."

Jiang Yixing spoke in broken fragments. Having lost half his teeth, his mouth leaked air as he spoke.

"Is that so?!"

"Human Emperor Jiang's older brother!"

"What grand prestige!"

"Even the Human Emperor is not as impressive as you!"

"You made an ancestral tablet for yourself!"

"You know you deserve to die, is that it?!"

"Or did you fake your death for the outside world?!"

Jiang Li's fury was almost unbearable. Jiang Yixing had invoked his name to commit acts of the Demonic Path and caused countless children to die. It made Jiang Li feel that he, too, bore a share of responsibility for their deaths.

With every sentence, he threw another punch. He continued until blood flowed from Jiang Yixing's seven orifices and he was delirious before finally stopping.

Jiang Li picked up the tablet bearing Jiang Yixing's name and snorted coldly.

"Using the Faith Power from ancestral rites to wear away the resentment of the infants within your body. A clever little trick."

Jiang Li grabbed Jiang Yixing by the ankle and dragged him outside. As they passed through the door, Jiang Yixing's head slammed hard against the doorframe with a bang. The Jiang Family had long since heard the commotion in the Ancestral Hall. The moment they saw Jiang Li emerge, they all attacked, seeking to kill this thief.

Aside from a few people, the Jiang Family had long believed Jiang Yixing dead and did not recognize him. Thus, when they attacked Jiang Li, they did not avoid Jiang Yixing. Several attacks landed on him, but compared with Jiang Li's fists, they were neither painful nor itchy. Jiang Yixing would not die from them.

Using only his free hand, Jiang Li blocked every technique and knocked down all who attacked, as easily as turning over his hand.

"Senior, what are you..." Yuan Wu Xing followed behind, utterly stunned by Jiang Li's actions. Flattening the Jiang Family and capturing the true culprit was something he had never even dared imagine.

"Of course, we are going to make this matter bigger," Jiang Li said as though it were only natural.

"M-make it bigger?" Yuan Wu Xing could not understand what Jiang Li intended. He only felt that this Dao Sect Emissary possessed unfathomable Mana and acted in ways impossible to predict.

"Otherwise, how will we see exactly how many people dare shield the Jiang Family? Is it the lord of one city, the lord of one prefecture, or someone higher up...? I want to see just how big a fish this can hook." Jiang Li smiled without a trace of warmth.

It would be one thing if the Zhou Emperor did not know. But if he knew of Jiang Yixing's actions and concealed them, then Jiang Li should not blame him for no longer recognizing that friend...

Yuan Wu Xing's blood surged as he listened. This was going to turn the heavens upside down! "Go gather the parents whose children were taken. Tell them the culprit has been found and is being tried at the City Lord's Mansion."

"Yes!"

The Qing City Lord's surname was Zeng. He believed his official career had gone exceptionally smoothly. Starting as a minor clerk, he had continually caught the eye of influential people and risen step by step. Now, he had even obtained the position of Qing City Lord, a seat countless colleagues would crack their heads over to attain. By attaching himself to the Jiang Family, even though he had never personally met His Highness the Human Emperor, was that not equivalent to attaching himself to the Human Emperor?

One had to know that several previous Qing City Lords now held positions of tremendous authority. The highest-ranking among them had become a prefectural governor, which City Lord Zeng envied greatly.

As usual, City Lord Zeng was preparing to rest early. Evening was approaching, and though it was not yet time to leave work, no one would say anything if he, as City Lord, left half an hour early.

But just as he was about to rest, a subordinate informed him that someone outside had a major case and wished to request the City Lord's judgment.

City Lord Zeng was very displeased. A major case meant it could not be resolved in a short while, and his time off work would have to be delayed.

"Go tell that person outside that I have matters to attend to and have gone out. Tell him to return tomorrow."

"My lord, according to that person, he has captured the culprit who stole the children. It is Jiang Yixing, the supposedly dead old master of the Jiang Family. That Old Master Jiang has now been beaten senseless by him. The people rushed here upon hearing the news, and our entrance is already packed so tightly that not even water can pass through."

"You bastard, why did you not say so earlier?!" City Lord Zeng turned pale in shock. He kicked the tactless subordinate to the ground, hurriedly straightened his robes and cap, and took his seat in the main hall.

"Who is making such a clamor outside? Bring them in!" City Lord Zeng sat high in the main hall, his expression solemn and imposing.

Jiang Li paced into the hall, carrying Jiang Yixing as though he were a chick. At his side was Yuan Wu Xing, too excited to contain himself yet trembling with fear. Behind them were more than a dozen weeping parents, who kicked and cursed Jiang Yixing. Further behind came the crowd of onlookers.

Great Zhou Law clearly stipulated that local officials must conduct trials openly.

At this moment, City Lord Zeng utterly hated that law. Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, it would be difficult for him to shield the Jiang Family.