Chapter 104: Chapter 104: Meeting of the Jiuzhou Council
Translator: 549690339
In Jiang Li’s view, the schemes of the Heavenly Demons from beyond the realm were quite peculiar. For instance, the Heavenly Demons had indirectly established the God-hidden Cult, with strict secrecy measures in place. They could have widely advertised the Respected God-hidden, plunging the Nine Provinces into chaos.
Apart from the God-hidden Cult, the outer-realm Heavenly Demons had also anonymously published books such as the “Cultivation Handbook”. By pretending it to be very old books and selling them at roadside stands, they misled novice cultivators with incorrect cultivation knowledge. For example, they claimed that the Yang energy is at its peak at the third period of the day noon and was ideal for cultivation. This information was erroneous because they didn’t clarify that it would only be useful for cultivators in the early stages of Foundation Establishment. Though Qi Cultivators would face no substantial issues at the onset of utilizing this method, and might even absorb spiritual energy faster, this could damage their foundations over time and hinder their future cultivation progress.
When Qi Cultivators discover this knowledge, which others are not privy to, they might secretly cultivate, astounding others and follow the wrong cultivation methods further and further, ultimately resulting in irreparable damage to their foundations.
However, after Jiang Li became the Human Emperor, he advocated for a reduction in sectarian prejudice, a public universal cultivation method, and the rectification of cultivator misconceptions, thus minimizing the impact of the Heavenly Demon’s “Cultivation Handbook”.
The outer-realm Heavenly Demons also spread rumors, claiming that they were actually here to save the Nine Provinces and had shown restraint towards the Nine Provinces, hoping that the people would realize this and choose not to resist the Heavenly Demons, submitting willingly to their demise.
Surprisingly, some believed these absurd tales, thinking that the sky demons were so powerful and yet the Nine Provinces could still withstand for nine thousand years. That must mean that the demons weren’t using their full strength. Thus, they voluntarily established the Outer-realm Heavenly Demon Cult, claiming that the Heavenly Demons possess vast divine skills and that after people were killed by them, their souls would journey to a beautiful world. A world devoid of worries, filled with beautiful women, fine wine, and gastronomical delights.
However, the Outer-realm Heavenly Demon Cult was long ago eradicated by the combined forces of the Imperial Palace and other powers.
Beyond that, outer-realm Heavenly Demons also tried to tamper with the history of the Nine Provinces, altering the aesthetical preferences of cultivators and so on. Some of these influences had been eliminated, while some were not regarded seriously and took their effect. Jiang Li finally realized that these were the crafty plots of the outer-realm Heavenly Demons.
Most of the measures taken by outer-realm Heavenly Demons did not involve direct killing, but rather subtly undermined the foundations of the Nine Provinces, wearing it down over time. This method was silent yet penetrating and hard to defend against. Without the innate divine ability of the White Snow Spirit, it would have been really hard to discern whether it was a foolish person at work or the workings of the Heavenly Demons.
Now that Jiang Li knew what kind of measures the outer-realm Heavenly Demons had implemented, he naturally needed to address it promptly.
“Kong Hu, notify all the forces with cultivators in the Body Integration Realm. There will be a Nine Provinces Council meeting at the Imperial Palace in ten days. The meeting will have only one agenda, to solve the remaining issues left by the outer-realm Heavenly Demons.”
The power to convene a Nine Provinces Council is unique to the Human Emperor, who can call upon all major forces to unconditionally attend the meeting to discuss problems. This is usually only done in the face of significant issues that require a combined effort from all the forces to resolve. Jiang Li hasn’t utilized this power for decades.
The various schemes laid out by the outer-realm Heavenly Demons require the collective efforts of the major forces in the Nine Provinces to be resolved. The power of the Imperial Palace alone is insufficient, plus this is the responsibility of the other forces as well.
“In ten days, come to the Imperial Palace for the meeting,” Jiang Li advised the White Snow Spirit next to him, “Or you can accompany me back to the Imperial Palace now.”
White Snow Spirit shook her head: “I want to familiarize myself with the Kylin avatar first and sort out the matters with the feudal lords, so as to prevent them from causing another uproar.”
Now she was already a pure-blooded White Marsh Emperor, even if the feudal lords didn’t accept her identity as the White Marsh Emperor, the fate of the kingdom would. Under the blessing of the kingdom’s destiny, a Transcendance Tribulation Stage White Marsh Emperor suppressing a few feudal lords would be no big deal.
Jiang Li nodded. Before he left, he warned White Snow Spirit not to divulge anything about the God-hidden Cult. White Snow Spirit fully understood the severity of the matter and respected Jiang Li’s concerns.
When Jiang Li returned to the Imperial Palace, he listed out every single scheme of the outer-realm Heavenly Demons and distributed them among the major forces.
When the tenth day arrived, representatives from the Nine Great Empires, Six Great Sects, Four Sea Dragon Palace, and other sects or large nations with Body Integration cultivators in charge, all arrived at the Imperial Palace.
Despite Jiang Li being able to kill those in the Body Integration realm as easily as squashing ants, in reality, those in the Body Integration realm were incredibly powerful entities in the Nine Provinces.
Within political courts, Body Integration Realm cultivators were senior officials of the first rank, with great power and authority. The Sects that had Body Integration cultivators could even influence who would be the next emperor!
Those in the Body Integration Realm could live for two thousand years. For a sect, they were their central pillars, an everlasting foundation that lasted for a thousand years!
The relations between the various forces were complex. It was not uncommon for two forces to simultaneously have marriages alliances and blood feuds. In other places, if these forces met, they would fight until blood was drawn. But here in the Imperial Palace, they would obediently sit down and comply with the arrangements by the Imperial Palace, with the most they could do is to “huh” at each other, daring not to take any further action.
All the influential figures, with great power and prestige, sat obediently at the table. The Divinity Transformation Stage protectors of the Human Emperor served them tea and they would hurriedly hold up their tea cups and even courteously thanked them for it.
If this was happening outside, they wouldn’t even show any courtesy if a Divinity Transformation Stage cultivator were to wash their feet, let alone serve them tea.
The Nine Provinces Council was held in the main hall of the Imperial Palace, where a round table was placed. The representatives of the various forces sat around it.
Jiang Li sat in the position directly facing the entrance. The closer a force was to Jiang Li, the stronger that force was. While the closest to Jiang Li was naturally the Dao Sect represented by Bai Hongtu, followed by representatives from the Five Major Sects, the Nine Major Empires, and the Four Sea Dragon Palace.
Jiang Li explicitly stated that a Heavenly Demon from beyond the realm had once infiltrated the Nine Provinces and carried out numerous schemes. These schemes continue to influence the Nine Provinces to this day and require the combined efforts of various forces to resolve.
However, Jiang Li did not mention the grade of the Heavenly Demon.
The forces discussed in whispers among themselves, as they had never heard of the outer-realm Heavenly Demons plotting intrigues. Usually, the Heavenly Demons couldn’t communicate and only arrived in the Nine Provinces to start killing.
Jiang Li maintained order and continued his speech. Jade pendants with identical content were distributed to everyone. He explained one by one the tasks to be undertaken by their respective forces.
In general, it was left to the nations to carry out the main tasks, while the responsibilities of the sects served as support.
For instance, destroying the “Cultivation Handbook” written by the Heavenly Demons mostly fell under the responsibilities of the nations, whereas the sects needed to inspect if any of their disciples possessed such a book.
Although it is universally acknowledged in the cultivation world that the time at the third period of the day – noon is most ideal for cultivation, it is only useful to cultivators in the initial stage of foundation establishment. Young cultivators who were new to the path of cultivation liked to take shortcuts and believed that as Qi-cultivation-stage cultivators, using the cultivation methods of the foundation establishment stage would surely put them ahead of others. This was their lucky break.
As for these people, Jiang Li could only say that they should save them if they can; if not, at least prevent them from passing on their foolishness to others.
In addition, there were remnants of the Outer-realm Heavenly Demon Cult, etc. These people did not have much impact but were very unpleasant, they needed to be the focus of attention as well..
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