"The beauty often sleeps, I brought her to the Golden House three years ago and she's been sleeping ever since, rarely waking up. Even if there's a large commotion outside, she'll not be disturbed." Dream River Emperor explained, otherwise, they wouldn't dare to make such a big fuss, similar to experiencing a Heavenly Tribulation.
"None of you are allowed to look, the beauty is mine!" Dream River Emperor could not control himself, but was pulled out of the Golden House by Jiang Li, bringing him back to his senses.
Seeing this, Emperor Wei and Zhang Konghu hurriedly left the Golden House too; they almost lost their control just like Dream River Emperor.
"Where did you find this person?"
"During the original West Hunt, I alone came across this beauty sleeping under an old tree deep within the forest. I felt that my mortal body was unworthy of touching the beauty, so I used the Void Traction to bring her back to the palace, built the Golden House, and lodged her inside. Didn't you feel anything when you saw the beauty, Emperor Jiang? "
"Feelings? Quite beautiful."
"That's it?" Emperor Wei asked.
"She's the most beautiful woman I've ever seen."
"That's it?" Zhang Konghu asked.
"Yes."
"Don't you feel a desire to possess and admire her?"
"No."
"It seems Emperor Jiang has an extraordinary character." All three of them could only make such a comment.
"This woman has great significance, I need to make a trip to the Red Dust Pure Land to confirm some things. I hope you two monarchs can guard your hearts, don't be blinded by beauty, and Kong Hu, keep an eye on the door of the Golden House for me. Don't let anyone enter before I come back."
After giving instructions, Jiang Li still felt uneasy and broke a jade piece to deploy a large protective array.
Perhaps because he put all his bestowed talents into fighting and cultivation, Jiang Li knew nothing about formations, alchemy, and artifact refining. Now, all his formation deployments relied on jade slips given to him by the Sect Master of the Dao Sect.
He had tried learning these things many times, but after many attempts, he utterly gave up any hope of mastering such skills in cultivation.
Now, Jiang Li just hopes that he can ascend to the Immortal Realm after all, as it's said that after becoming a roaming Heavenly Immortal, one can grasp all kinds of skills. Maybe by then, he'd be able to learn one or two of the hundred cultivation skills.
I hope this system can really help me ascend.
...
In the west of Jiuzhou, two significant sects caught the most attention, one being the compassionate Buddhist sect, the other being the Red Dust Pure Land, consisting only of women.
The Buddhist sect was well-known for accumulating virtue and merit through good deeds for a better afterlife, while the Red Dust Pure Land was almost hidden to the world, with very few leaving, and people only hearing about it without seeing it. Thus, there were many rumors about it but they are hardly reliable.
There were rumors that the women in Red Dust Pure Land saw clothes as filth and thus, went naked. Jiang Li knew this wasn't true.
It was said that the disciples of the Red Dust Pure Land must marry any man who touched them. Jiang Li knew this wasn't true.
They said that the disciples of the Red Dust Pure Land were peaceful and never showed anger. Jiang Li knew this wasn't true.
They said the founder of Red Dust Pure Land was the most beautiful woman ever, even causing the Buddha to waver. Jiang Li knew this was true.
Jiang Li stood outside the Sect Protection Array, loudly announcing, "Jiang Li pays his respects to Red Dust Pure Land, please forgive my impromptu visit!"
"Since it is an uninvited visit, we won't entertain."
A familiar voice, filled with an undisguised sense of disgust, came from within the formation. It was from the leader of Red Dust Pure Land, the Daoist of Clear Déisre.
Jiang Li knew the reason behind her aversion. Clear Desire Daoist fell in love with a Buddha's child from Mount Sumeru, but he had malicious intentions and was slain by Jiang Li. Although Clear Desire Daoist later found love in another Buddha's child, she still held onto the grudge against Jiang Li for her previous lover's death.
Later, there was a vital tree in Red Dust Pure Land on the brink of death, so they put a bounty to the world, stating that anyone who could bring it back to life could choose one item from their treasury.
Jiang Li revived the tree and went to claim his treasures. Clear Desire Daoist did honor the agreement and allowed Jiang Li to choose from the treasury, but her words were often full of sarcasm. Annoyed, Jiang Li decided to take the keys to the treasury instead, causing the disciples of Red Dust Pure Land to descend the mountain and find ways to make money, creating many poignant love stories.
It was only after ten years that Jiang Li returned the key.
"Master, Jiang Li, Emperor Jiang has come to visit, we can't just ignore him..."
Another familiar voice came from inside the formation, clear and pleasant to the ears.
The Sect Protection Array opened, and Jiang Li saw two Daoist nuns dressed in white robes standing at the gate of the mountain. Both were extraordinarily beautiful; one with a look of disgust on her face, oftened radiantly smiling.
The latter, the saint of Red Dust Pure Land, Pure Heart Saint. Her cultivation and prestige in the sect had already surpassed her master, Clear Desire Daoist.
She had once secretly told Jiang Li that the only reason she was reluctant to take the position of the sect leader was due to one reason.
The term Daoist Pure Heart didn't sound good to her.
"Emperor Jiang is as charismatic as ever, carefree and content. Pure Heart admires that." Pure Heart Saint greeted Jiang Li with a radiant smile, contrasting with her usual unfriendly demeanor.
Daost Clear Desire was thinking to herself, when has Jiang Li ever come to visit without a motive? Yet you're saying carefree and content, he must certainly want something.
"After so many years of not seeing each other, Pure Heart Saint remains so gentle, much better compared to a certain rude Daoist."
Pure Heart Saint laughed while covering her mouth, causing the veins on Clear Desire Daoist's forehead to bulge. She quickly reassured herself, 'you can't beat him, you can't beat him...'
"The reason for my visit today is to seek counsel." Jiang Li stopped joking and spoke seriously.
"Please, Emperor Jiang, let's continue our conversation up the mountain." Pure Heart Saint invited Jiang Li into Red Dust Pure Land.
After getting up the mountain, Jiang Li shared the situation of discovering the beautiful woman in the Dream River Dynasty. Pure Heart Saint and Clear Desire Daoist realized the seriousness of the matter.
"I suspect that it's your Sect's Founder. She has resurrected!" Jiang Li finally voiced his suspicion.
Jiang Li had never seen the founder of Red Dust Pure Land but had witnessed her true face in the treasury. At that time, he was so amazed that it left him with a deep impression.
In Jiuzhou, there's the concept of reincarnation but resurrection of the dead was unheard of. Jiang Li's words were sincerely against common sense. However, Pure Heart Saint and Clear Desire Daoist didn't immediately refute.
They were rather acknowledging Jiang Li's words!
After all, their founder couldn't be explained by ordinary laws.
When the Stairway to Immortality was not yet severed, an Immortal descended and resided in Jiuzhou without returning to the Immortal Realm.
This Immortal maiden was beautiful like a saint, with a charm that outshone everything else. Not just men, but even women at the Transcendence Tribulation Stage, couldn't resist her charms.
According to the Immortal maiden, her beauty made many prominent figures in the Immortal Realm smitten and wanting to possess her. Not wanting to be caught in the violence, she had to flee to Jiuzhou.
The situation in Jiuzhou was no better than the Immortal Realm. Wherever this Immortal maiden went, disputes would arise. But unlike in the Immortal Realm, as an Immortal, she was basically invincible in Jiuzhou. Even if a dispute arose because of her, it's quickly suppressed.
When Active Stone of Dao Sect heard about such a woman, he personally went to see her and after seeing her, he praised that this woman was, in fact, the embodiment of the "beauty" of the Heavenly Dao. Who could resist the charms of the Heavenly Dao?
Initially, people thought Active Stone of Dao Sect was describing the beauty of the Immortal, but after witnessing her charm that surpasses age, gender, and species, it was discovered that Active Stone of Dao Sect was speaking the literal truth.
This woman is the embodiment of the "beauty" of the Heavenly Dao.
The Immortal maiden opened up the Red Dust Pure Land in the west and called herself Red Dust Immortal.