We Agreed On Experiencing Life, So Why Did You Immortals Become Real? - Chapter 1

Chapter 1: Five Hundred Years of Late Start

On the Jiuzhou Continent, atop Jilei Mountain.

Dark clouds gathered, lightning flashed and thunder roared. Bronze thunder flickered in the clouds, like dragons and snakes crawling behind them, resembling gods and ghosts.

The overwhelming might of heaven was as terrifying as a mountain, beckoning with fear. The rumble of thunder was like the beating of drums beside one’s ears, deafening.

The mighty thunder poured down, transforming into plasma, surging towards the figure standing with his hands behind his back on the top of Jilei Mountain. The figure allowed the thunder to fall, unmoved.

After the thunder tribulation, Jiang Li gazed at the sky with anticipation.

However, the sky was only clear after the clouds had dissipated, not the golden ladder to immortality he had hoped for.

“I can’t ascend,”

Jiang Li muttered dejectedly, filled with melancholy. This was his fifteenth attempt to transcend the tribulation to immortality. Striving for immortality

through tribulation and ascension was not just some vague legend, but there was clear evidence. Even on the Jiuzhou Continent, there were still immortal lineages, immortal artifacts and techniques, and even those who had seen the ladder to immortality.

According to those old-timers, thousands of years ago, great cultivators often achieved immortality on the Jiuzhou Continent. As long as they survived heavenly tribulations, the immortal realm would lower the ladder to heaven to welcome them.

However, for unknown reasons, the immortal realm stopped lowering the ladder, severing the path to ascension, leaving countless great cultivators lamenting and dying in depression.

Jiang Li, having traveled to the Jiuzhou Continent five hundred years ago without any cheat codes, rose from obscurity through hard work, wisdom, and luck, overcoming numerous hardships and dangers. He finally reached the highest realm of cultivation on the Jiuzhou Continent, the Mahayana Stage, becoming the contemporary Human Emperor and the undisputed foremost being of the Jiuzhou Continent.

Transmigrating to the world of immortal cultivation and being unable to ascend is truly a pity.

Jiang Li once wondered if he had cheat codes, such as a system or a personal assistant, to avoid some of the detours he had taken.

Then he felt relieved. Why dwell on this now? With or without cheat codes, he had reached his current position. And looking back now, weren’t those extra steps he had taken a joy?

[Host information detected, counterattack system activated.]

[Name: Jiang Li] [

Age: 518]

[Identity: Contemporary Human Emperor]

[Cultivation: Mahayana Stage]

A mechanical voice echoed in Jiang Li’s ears.

Jiang Li subconsciously opened his spiritual sense, alert, but as he heard the voice clearly, he froze for a moment, a surge of excitement or frustration welling up in his heart. He jokingly cursed, “Isn’t your system too late?”

Despite the scorn, he still had to activate the system.

[This system is a counterattack system, helping the host defeat all those who look down on them.]

[Host, please accept the newbie gift package.]

Hearing the word “counterattack,” Jiang Li felt a deep unease, but he suppressed it and said, “Accept.”

As soon as he finished speaking, a large pile of items appeared out of thin air in front of him.

He sat cross-legged and counted the items.

The moment he opened the small medicine bottle, he could smell a refreshing fragrance that lifted his spirits. It was the scent of a top-grade elixir.

Twenty top-grade Qi Gathering Pills, miraculous for those in the Qi Training Stage.

A top-grade foundation-building pill, capable of helping those in the Qi training stage achieve a perfect foundation.

Ten low-level talismans, including two strength talismans, two speed talismans, two concealment talismans, and four tranquility talismans.

One hundred and fifty low-level spirit stones.

A fragmented copy of the Taoist technique “Four Twos to Move a Thousand Pounds,” which the system thoughtfully annotated.

[“Four Twos to Move a Thousand Pounds” is a secret of the Daoist sect. Learning a fragment grants invincibility during the Qi training stage. A complete copy can be obtained for 100,000 source points.]

[Current source points: 0]

Jiang Li gazed at this vast pile of items, speechless.

Wasn’t this beginner’s gift pack a bit too beginner-friendly?

Jiang Li carefully examined the items. Perhaps the most valuable was this tattered-looking Taoist technique, not only tattered but also incomplete.

“And “Four Twos to Move a Thousand Pounds”…”

Jiang Li pondered for a moment, then pulled out a brand new book from his storage ring, also titled “Four Twos to Move a Thousand Pounds.”

This was handwritten by the Dao Sect’s leader and gifted to Jiang Li. It also contains the insights and annotations of Dao Sect elders.

Generally, extremely powerful Daoist techniques have a certain realm threshold. For example, the Houtu Sect’s “Cadling to the Central Plains” requires Jindan-stage mana to activate, while the Heart Demon Sect’s “Butterfly Transformation into Yin and Yang” also requires Jindan-stage mana to activate.

The greatest advantage of “Four Twos to Move a Thousand Pounds” is that it has no restrictions on spiritual energy. It emphasizes the principle of force following the mind, defeating the strong with the weak. It is ideal for combat against opponents of higher rank, and is a rare Daoist technique with no threshold threshold.

After carefully comparing the two books and confirming the contents were identical, Jiang Li couldn’t help but wonder, “They’re both good materials, but why are they all for the Qi Training Stage?”

“System, what is my cultivation level?”

a mechanical voice chimed in.

[Dacheng Stage.]

“Did you give me the wrong beginner’s gift pack? It’s not the Qi Training Stage beginner’s gift pack, but the Dacheng Stage beginner’s gift pack?”

[Verification confirmed.]

“What is my cultivation level?”

[Dacheng Stage.]

“What level is the beginner’s gift package you gave me suitable for?” [

Qi Training Stage.]

“Did you give it to the wrong person?”

[After verification, it’s correct.]

“My level…”

[Mahayana, correct.]

“Alright.” Jiang Li was speechless. “You can answer quickly.”

Jiang Li didn’t know whether to call this system rigid or intelligent.

[Newbie mission issued. This mission cannot be refused or avoided.]

[Failure penalty: You cannot activate the remaining system functions.]

[System functions include: shop, spiritual energy infusion, avoiding inner demons, spatial movement…]

[Newbie Mission: Jiang Yixing, relying on his status as the clan leader’s son, repeatedly bullies you. Defeat Jiang Yixing.]

Jiang Li’s mind was filled with questions.

Jiang Yixing, such a familiar name. Who was he?

Turning back to the beginning of his time travel, Jiang Li finally remembered who Jiang Yixing was.

Jiang Li’s father was the previous clan leader. His father’s death left him and his mother alone. His mother later died of a serious illness, leaving Jiang Li without a parent.

After his parents’ deaths, Jiang Yixing, relying on his father’s status as the current clan leader’s son, bullied everyone, especially Jiang Li. This gave him a strange sense of accomplishment. Jiang Yixing was the most talented of the entire clan, so no one could say anything. Jiang Li, too, was a loser. After being bullied, he did nothing, constantly complaining, and eventually died of anger.

He had traveled through time.

After crossing over, Jiang Li decided that staying in this family was more harmful than beneficial, so he ran away.

This happened five hundred years ago.

Judging from today’s perspective, Jiang Yixing, the so-called most gifted person in the family, would at best reach the Foundation Establishment stage in his lifetime, then slowly work his way up to the late Foundation Establishment stage. The chances of achieving the

Golden Core stage were slim to none. The Foundation Establishment stage’s lifespan is the same as that of ordinary people, at 140 years, while the Golden Core stage’s lifespan varies from one person to another, ranging from 200 to 300 years.

Regardless of whether Jiang Yixing ultimately reached Foundation Establishment or Golden Core, he was now doomed!

And most importantly, this novice quest was not meant for him now!

“System, what era is it now?”

[Yanli Year 4300.]

“It’s Yanli Year 4800!”

Jiang Li finally understood the source of his uneasiness and sense of disharmony. This crappy system had activated five hundred years too late!

[Please refer to the system’s assigned time.]

Jiang Li trembled with anger.

“I request a quest change.”

[The quest cannot be changed.] “

Jiang Yixing is dead!”

[Please refer to the time determined by the system.]

“I’m currently in the Mahayana stage. How can I defeat Jiang Yixing, who’s in the Qi Cultivation or Foundation Establishment stages? Is that even appropriate?!”

[Please complete the novice mission.]

“Restart the system.”

[Please complete the novice mission.]

“Uninstall the system.”

[Please complete the novice mission.]

Jiang Li nearly spat out blood.

He should have guessed the meaning the moment he saw the word “counterattack.” What the hell is this counterattack system? As the current Human Emperor, the strongest being in Kyushu, who could he counterattack?

“What a lousy system! What use is it to you!”

Jiang Li resolved to ignore this system. It had been turned on five hundred years late, and it was still asking him to defeat a dead man. How could he possibly win? A moral victory?!

…

Beneath Jilei Mountain, countless powerful cultivators awaited the Human Emperor’s tribulation. These were either leaders of great sects, rulers of dynasties, or even ancient monsters who had lived for millennia.

These sect leaders possessed astonishing levels of cultivation. If the immortal realm hadn’t been so obscure, they would have long since retreated into seclusion, seeking to transcend tribulations and ascend to heaven. Some had even transcended the tribulation of becoming an immortal, though their number of tribulations was far less than Jiang Li’s.

They came not to see if Jiang Li could transcend tribulations, but to see if ascension was possible after surviving.

However, this tribulation was destined to disappoint them. Beyond the tribulation of becoming an immortal, there was no legendary ladder to immortality.

Immortality was unattainable, the thought inevitably crossed the sect leaders’ minds.

Although they had anticipated this, a faint gloom still clouded their hearts.

As Jiang Li descended from the mountaintop, even those unfamiliar with his demeanor could sense his disappointment.

Had he only transcended tribulations once and failed to ascend, Jiang Li wouldn’t have been overly disappointed. However, this sudden appearance of a system had led him to believe he had some kind of golden finger that would aid his ascension, only to discover it was a useless one.

The elders and masters of the sects could naturally see Jiang Li’s unusual state of mind, but they still put on a joyful expression and congratulated him.

“Congratulations to Emperor Jiang Ren on surviving another heavenly tribulation.”

“Not at all.”

“Just watching from the sidelines is terrifying, but Emperor Jiang Ren passed it safely. I’m sure his cultivation has improved!” “

It was just a fluke, just a fluke.”

“If Emperor Jiang Ren can ascend, he will be a dominant force in the immortal world!”

“The path to ascension is long and arduous, and we must all work together.”

“Emperor Jiang Ren must come to my sect and teach the untalented younger generation about cultivation. Emperor

Jiang Ren must give me a favor.” “Senior Zhang, what are you talking about? I’ll remember your teachings to you. In the future, I’ll share my cultivation experiences with Senior Zhang, and I’ll let you sit in.”

“It’s a pity that the immortal world is so far away from us, its location is uncertain, and the boundary is so thick. Otherwise, with Emperor Jiang Ren’s cultivation, he could have broken through the boundary with force!”

“Everyone knows that your Mount Xumi lineage is the most adept at spatial manipulation. If anyone could locate the immortal realm, it’s you!”

Jiang Li treated the various sect leaders politely, thanking them one by one and promising to travel to various sects to share his expertise in the future, much to their delight.

After bidding farewell, Jiang Li summoned the system again. The words of the Mount Xumi Buddha had just given him inspiration.

“System, can you send me to the immortal realm?”

[The system will later unlock spatial teleportation capabilities, allowing it to take the host to the immortal realm.]

“Can you send me there now?” Jiang Li was overjoyed. This system was indeed somewhat useful, truly a true gold finger.

[Host, please complete the novice mission first.]

Jiang Li patiently explained to the system, “First, send me to the Immortal Realm. From there, I’ll reach the Underworld. I’ll find Jiang Yixing in the Underworld and defeat him, completing the mission.”

[Host, please complete the novice mission first.]

“Can you please be flexible and give me credit? You can’t let me kill someone.”

[Host, please complete the novice mission first.]

“Broken system!”

Jiang Li felt like this wasn’t a golden finger, but a middle finger from heaven.

He cursed the system for its uselessness while trying to figure out how to complete the mission.

For example, finding someone named Jiang Yixing and beating him up, or finding someone to force him to call himself Jiang Yixing and beating him up, or dancing on Jiang Yixing’s grave…

Of course, these are all alternative plans. The first option is naturally to go to his hometown to see if Jiang Yixing is still alive. Maybe he can get a longevity pill. Oh, one is not enough, he needs more than ten, then he can barely survive to this day, or get enlightenment from a master and break through to the Nascent Soul stage. With the natural lifespan of around 500 years for the Nascent Soul stage, he can just live to this day…

In short, aptitude is not the only determining factor. For example, Jiang Li is a good example. Without his hard work and the little help from his natural spiritual roots and the infinite Dao body, he would not be able to cultivate to the Mahayana stage.

(End of this chapter)