We Agreed On Experiencing Life, So Why Did You Immortals Become Real? - Chapter 14

Chapter 14: The Jiang family has made contributions, but their contributions do not outweigh their faults

“So you are Jiang Li’s ancestor. Your humble descendant pays homage to the ancestor, Jiang Li.” The Jiang clan leader was shocked by Jiang Li’s appearance. Recalling his previous visit to Yuan Wuxing’s house and his exposition on the “power of faith,” he blushed, but quickly reacted, throwing away his shame and prostrating himself.

Jiang Li smiled without saying a word.

“The old ancestor often recalled the childhood he spent with you, saying that it was the happiest moment of his life. He also said that you were kind-hearted and would give money to help poor people when he saw them.”

“The old ancestor said that he was young and frivolous, and could not distinguish right from wrong, and he had caused trouble for you. Now he feels extremely ashamed every time he thinks about it. He wants to say sorry to you in person, but the old ancestor has limited talent and is afraid that he will not live to see you again. You regard the world as the public interest and never enter your home. It is really too difficult to see you!”

“Troubled by the inner demon, the old ancestor accidentally fell into the devil’s way and prolonged his life in an opportunistic way!”

Clan leader Jiang burst into tears and spoke sincerely. It seemed that he wanted to take out his heart and lungs for Jiang Li to see. The onlookers were also infected by the tone of Clan leader Jiang. They felt that it was understandable for Jiang Yixing to practice the devil’s way, and it was not impossible to understand and forgive. Since ancient times, it has been difficult to have both public and private interests. Emperor Jiang Ren took the people’s life as his own responsibility and cared less about his family. This was inevitable.

Alas, Jiang Yixing didn’t even get a chance to say “I’m sorry.”

Yuan Wuxing’s face was quizzical, as he felt a sense of déjà vu.

“Our Jiang family is descended from both Jiang Yixing’s ancestors and yours. With an elder as the Human Emperor, we, the younger generation, dare not disgrace your name. Aside from our ancestor’s fall into the devil’s way, we have never done anything that harms the world. Our Jiang family has also worked hard to cultivate friendships and generate wealth, using these connections and resources to pave the way for the city, transforming Qingcheng into a great city. This is evident to all the people of Qingcheng!”

The people of Qingcheng nodded silently. They had heard from the elders that Qingcheng’s growth was inseparable from the efforts of the Jiang family.

Although Qingcheng was once called a city, it barely bordered on the city walls, and most people didn’t recognize it. After all, what city didn’t even have a single Jindan cultivator?

Back then, people from other places would argue with the Qingcheng people, often calling them country folk and uneducated.

Today, Qingcheng is one of the most prominent cities in Tianqing Prefecture. Qingcheng residents walk with their heads held high, and everyone who sees them will say, “Qingcheng people, you’re amazing!”

“We consider ourselves part of the Human Emperor Palace, and we always hold ourselves to the standards of the Palace. We only ask that the Palace, and you, acknowledge that our Jiang family has not brought shame upon it!”

“Ancestor Jiang Li, we, your humble descendants, ask on behalf of the Jiang family: can we join the Palace?”

Clan leader Jiang looked up at Jiang Li, his eyes filled with longing. Everyone around him secretly strained, wishing to say “yes” in Jiang Li’s place.

Jiang Li nodded gently and said, “You wish.”

“The Palace of the Human Emperor houses seventy-two sages of the Human Emperor. None of them established their family’s influence within the Palace, let alone had a family join. What merit do I, Jiang Li, have to allow the Jiang family to enter the Palace?”

“You are the most powerful Human Emperor. No one will complain if you set a precedent,” Clan leader Jiang said quickly.

The people around him nodded silently. Indeed, as the most powerful being in the Nine Provinces, Emperor Jiang Renhuang wasn’t arrogant or reckless. Rather, he was a bit too content. Not to mention cultivators in the Tribulation Crossing stage, even those in the Nascent Soul stage were far more arrogant than Emperor Jiang Renhuang. He would violate laws and customs without hesitation, such as kidnapping a bride at a wedding or looting after an auction, claiming it was the privilege of the powerful.

If Emperor Jiang Renhuang wanted to bring the Jiang family into the Human Emperor Palace, the people would probably just laugh it off and not object.

Someone in the crowd shouted, “Emperor Jiang Renhuang, aren’t all the Jiang family bad people?”

This remark ignited a huge uproar, with people shouting, “Jiang family join the Human Emperor Palace!” The people in Qingcheng were especially vocal, especially the ones shouting loudest.

The parents of the lost children objected, but their voices were too weak at the moment.

One parent angrily questioned those around them, “The Jiang family devours children to cultivate the devilish ways. How can such a family be qualified to enter the Human Emperor Palace?”

The person being questioned scornfully replied, “Let’s not even mention that Jiang Yixing, the Jiang family’s ancestor, was loyal and righteous, but he was only momentarily blinded. Just look at the Jiang family’s actions over the past three hundred years. Qingcheng has expanded, the people have settled down, and the cultural atmosphere is rich. There are far more spiritual inspirations than anywhere else, benefiting countless cultivators. Isn’t such merit enough to atone for the sin of cultivating the devilish ways? Don’t you have a sense of community?”

The parent was speechless, unsure how to respond.

Similar conversations occurred in many other places, and without exception, Jiang Li overheard them all.

Jiang Li floated ten feet above the ground and shouted, “Qingyun!” so that everyone present could hear him.

Jiang Li smiled and said, “I heard everything you said. It’s very good, very well said, especially the line ‘Such merits are not enough to atone for the sins of practicing the devil’. ‘ Putting aside the content, it makes a lot of sense.”

The man who had spoken earlier raised his lips slightly and puffed out his chest. Being praised by the Human Emperor was a lifelong honor, and it was he who had initially called for the Jiang family to enter the Human Emperor’s Palace. But Jiang Li’s next words quickly dampened his laughter.

“I never thought I’d hear such remarks again in my lifetime. Brother Ji, I heard that I suggested that the Great Zhou should add an IQ tax to replenish the national treasury.”

Emperor Jizhi of Zhou nodded in agreement, “Brother Jiang, you have a point. This matter should be put on the agenda for the three ministers to discuss.”

The man, his face flushing, argued, “Rewards and punishments are clear, and merits and demerits offset each other. What’s wrong with that?”

Whether merits and demerits offset each other or not is a highly controversial topic, and the man didn’t believe Jiang Li could answer it.

While others might struggle to answer this question, it was easy for Jiang Li.

A murderous aura swept through the venue like a violent storm, chilling everyone to the bone. Jiang Li barely paused, and an invisible force grabbed the man’s shirt and pulled him in front of him.

He grabbed the man’s neck and sneered coldly, “I’ve fended off the invasion of extraterritorial demons three times, and saved Jiuzhou three times. In other words, I’ve contributed greatly to your survival. So, it’s only natural for me to slaughter you! No one will complain!”

“Let…let me go…” The man struggled erratically, unable to break free.

“Why? I’ve saved you three times, why can’t you just let me kill you? How can you be so devoid of a sense of community? Killing you would bring me joy, but how can you lack any sense of self-sacrifice?” Jiang Li remained unmoved. His gaze betrayed no mercy, only endless arrogance and cruelty!

“Let…let me go…” The man’s heart pounded with remorse.

He felt that the legend was true. Before ascending to the throne, Emperor Jiang Ren might have actually fought against the demon from outside the domain, resulting in the tragic deaths of the entire city, leaving no trace of their bodies!

(End of this chapter)