Only at the Mahayana Stage Does the Reversal System Appear - Chapter 234

Chapter 234 Abstract Painter Jiang Li

[Quest: The once-a-century Yunshui Secret Realm is about to open. Only Jindan-stage cultivators can enter. Geniuses are countless. Within this secret realm lies the magical item “Breakthrough Grass,” which can help you awaken your Celestial Spiritual Root prematurely. Please obtain this “Breakthrough Grass” within the Yunshui Secret Realm.]

[This quest cannot be abandoned.]

[Quest Rewards: A tub of medicinal bath to aid in awakening your Celestial Spiritual Root, a Mind Control Gu, and a set of the Yin-Yang Harmony Technique.]

“Breakthrough Grass?”

Jiang Li was somewhat surprised. Breakthrough Grass only works for cultivators at the Nascent Soul stage and below, allowing a breakthrough to a minor realm without any side effects, but it can only be taken once. He hadn’t imagined that Breakthrough Grass could also awaken Celestial Spiritual Roots.

Celestial Spiritual Roots are naturally radiant, disguised as the Five Spiritual Roots. Only by achieving the Nascent Soul stage with the Five Spiritual Roots can their true form be revealed, allowing for rapid advancement in cultivation and becoming invincible among their peers. However, achieving the Nascent Soul stage with the

Five Spiritual Roots is incredibly difficult, requiring both determination and luck.

Throughout history, cultivators who recognized their inherent spiritual roots have achieved remarkable success, the most notable being the 72nd Human Emperor, Jiang Li.

“If one can harness the gift of these spiritual roots during the Golden Core stage, one’s foundation will be incredibly solid. Reaching the Nascent Soul stage will be a breeze, and one’s combat power will definitely surpass that of a Nascent Soul beginner!”

Jiang Li believed this system quest would be very helpful!

“I discovered my spiritual roots during the Foundation Establishment stage, so I’m set.”

During the Foundation Establishment stage, Jiang Li was cornered, his spiritual roots burned, and he survived the ordeal, forcing his spiritual roots to awaken. This greatly aided him in the early stages of his cultivation.

Jiang Li purchased a weed-like object from the system store. It looked unassuming, but it turned out to be the Realm-Breaking Grass.

The system didn’t offer any prompts.

“Tsk, it seems it can only be obtained in a secret realm.”

Jiang Li had once visited the Cloud and Water Secret Realm with Yu Yin and was very familiar with it.

The Cloud and Water Secret Realm was left behind by an immortal in the Nine Provinces who excelled in painting. Since the painting immortal left no legacy in the Nine Provinces, this secret realm was considered a legacy of the immortals.

Jiang Li journeyed through the secret realm and ultimately obtained the inheritance of the Painting Immortal.

The Painting Immortal’s divine consciousness left behind a mission to examine Jiang Li’s painting skills.

It’s unclear if Jiang Li’s paintings are abstract, but they’re certainly very abstract.

The Painting Immortal’s divine consciousness glanced left and right, unable to discern what Jiang Li had painted.

“…Are you painting an elephant or a wild boar?” the Painting Immortal’s divine consciousness asked uncertainly.

“I’m painting Yu Yin,” Jiang Li answered truthfully, nearly sending Yu Yin into a rage.

Yu Yin and Jiang Li tied for first place; Jiang Li failed, but Yu Yin passed.

With Jiang Li at the forefront, the Painting Immortal’s divine consciousness was extremely pleased with Yu Yin.

However, Jiang Li hadn’t seen Yu Yin use her painting skills in centuries, wondering if she’d abandoned them or was simply cultivating them.

“The mission reward is quite interesting,” Jiang Li said, eyeing the two rewards: a Heart Control Gu and a copy of the Hehuan Gong. Considering

the previous mission, which had asked him to travel to the Gu Immortal secret realm to find a Taoist partner, the Hehuan Gong’s usefulness was self-evident.

And then there’s the Mind Control Gu. Every time Jiang Li saw it, he associated it with something unhealthy.

Jiang Li felt the system’s interpretation of its use was definitely different from his own.

“Maybe there’s something wrong with my thinking. I’m reflecting on it.”

Jiang Li concluded that it was influenced by the Ma Zhuo couple.

“I’d better expel him.”

…

As the mission description stated, the opening of the Yunshui Secret Realm was a major event, destined to be a gathering of geniuses. Not to mention the interconnected spatial passages, more talented cultivators were present than ever before.

For example, Jiang Li spotted Li Er, a genius cultivator who had once been a member of the Dharmakaya Sect.

“That little fox is quite interesting. Are you from the Beast Taming Sect?” Li Er was observing with great interest the little fox perched on the shoulder of a Jindan cultivator.

The little white fox arched its back, baring its teeth, trying to scare Li Er away.

“I’m Qin Luan, a true disciple of Dingfeng Temple in the Great Zhou Dynasty.”

“You’re incredibly lucky! Even the Beast Taming Sect doesn’t have such a fine spirit beast,” Li Er said with a smile. A nine-tailed celestial fox that had reached the Fusion Stage—the Beast Taming Sect couldn’t afford to keep such a beast.

“Brother Li, where are you from?”

“What are you doing here?” Jiang Li patted Li Er’s shoulder.

Li Er was startled. He’d managed to evade the divine sense of a Tribulation Stage cultivator without being noticed, and he’d thought he’d seen a ghost.

It was Jiang Li.

Jiang Li’s disguise wasn’t particularly sophisticated, but a Tribulation Stage cultivator could detect it.

“Are you attracted to the Painting Immortal’s Divine Mind? Don’t forget you’re married.” Jiang Li looked at Li Er with a strange look.

The Painting Immortal’s Divine Mind depicted a stunningly beautiful woman from the Jiangnan water towns, her tenderness captivating many cultivators, captivated by her presence and eager to return to the Cloud and Water Secret Realm.

Unfortunately, the Cloud and Water Secret Realm only admits cultivators at the Jindan Stage. Those who entered the secret realm a hundred years ago were either dead or no longer at the Jindan Stage.

Aside from this, Jiang Li couldn’t think of any other reason for Li Er to come here.

After all, what high-level cultivator would go to a place like this?

“What are you talking about? I’m devoted to Cheng’er!” Li Er was indignant, then dejectedly said, “It’s because our wedding anniversary is coming up, and I found that the token of love my wife gave me was broken.”

“What token of love?”

“A ten-thousand-year-old crystal glazed coral tree.”

“…Isn’t that thing extinct?”

“Indeed, Cheng’er has the last one, and now it’s completely gone. So I thought of using the art of painting to draw a fake one to fool people. But after much thought, no one in Jiuzhou has the art of painting skills that can deceive my Cheng’er. Might as well ask the painting immortal’s divine consciousness to help draw one for me.”

Li Er’s wife, Cheng’er, the sister of the Dragon King of the West Sea, was a true dragon, at the Fusion Stage. Jiuzhou did have Fusion Stage cultivators skilled in painting, but Li Er didn’t have the confidence to use their things to deceive his wife.

Li Er simply regretted not learning the Taoist technique “Returning Wind and Returning Fire.” Otherwise, he wouldn’t be where he is now.

“You could try asking Yu Yin for help; she’s probably good at painting,” Jiang Li suggested.

Li Er didn’t think it was a good idea. “Do you think she’s keeping it a secret for me, or will she just tell Cheng’er?”

“Let’s take a gamble?”

“Get lost.”

“What are you doing here?”

“Searching for the Boundary Breaking Grass.”

Li Er looked at Jiang Li with a strange look. He was desperate to level up, right? Something only useful for those below the Nascent Soul stage, and you’re already in the Mahayana stage, and you still want to use it?

If the Boundary Breaking Grass could help Mahayana upgrade, Li Er would eat it every day.

“Human Emperor.” Yuan Wuxing was the first to recognize Jiang Li, instinctively.

“Late Nascent Soul stage, not bad.” Yuan Wuxing’s rapid improvement wasn’t just due to his natural talent; he must have had some extraordinary encounters while traveling the Nine Provinces.

Qin Luan’s team was growing larger, including Yuan Wuxing and his apprentice, Song Ying, Little White Fox, and Aguna.

“Mr. Jiang.” With Yuan Wuxing’s reminder, Qin Luan and the others realized that this unremarkable figure was actually the Human Emperor Jiang in disguise.

The little fox’s eyes widened.

She hadn’t encountered the Human Emperor this often, even as the ruler of Qingqiu.

“Are you interested in the Dao of Painting?” Jiang Li asked Qin Luan.

Yuan Wuxing interrupted, “He knows nothing about the Dao of Painting. He only drew maps on his quilt when he was a kid.”

Qin Luan retorted, “Who says he doesn’t know the Dao of Painting? I can draw a circle with my bare hands!”

Yuan Wuxing scoffed, “I can also beg for alms with my bare hands.”

(End of Chapter)