Chapter 568: 568

At the Thirty-Three Skies of the Celestial Court, the huge blue cow was sleeping on hay in front of that familiar farmer’s cottage, while a young Daoist apprentice was busy cooking. As usual, the old Daoist was harvesting the blooming fruits and vegetables growing at the farm in his front yard.

“You’re here.”

The old Daoist looked up at Jiang He, his milky gaze glimmering as if he saw through Jiang He’s mind. There was a twitch in his face as he exclaimed in surprise, “You’ve ascended?”

Jiang He replied humbly, “While I was on the verge of death in the battle against the God Emperor and the Demon Emperor, I’d gained a little enlightenment… but it’s nothing worth mentioning.”

As a matter of fact, he wasn’t quite sure about his own current situation.

Did his Farm fusing into the world in his body count as a development for it?

Still, it was worth testing out how much his combat abilities had increased, and whether he could directly fight a Saint.

“I now have an idea of why the God Emperor and the Demon Emperor would personally come for your head.”

Taishang Laojun sighed emotionally. “If I were your foe, I wouldn’t be able to eat or sleep if I don’t kill you.”

“You must be joking, Your Holiness.”

Jiang He’s mouth twitched.

That’s the reason all of you want me dead?

The only thing that sets me apart from the rest is that my cultivation increases quicker than most… moreover, my talent isn’t outrageous, and my only pastime is tending to my farm… What’s the threat in that?

“Still calling me that?”

Taishang Laojun chuckled. “I heard from the Grandmaster of Heaven that you two are sworn brothers now. He was furious when he thought that you were killed, and was riding his Immortal-Slaying Sword to charge toward the God Emperor and the Demon Emperor. He would have waged a war between Saints if I hadn’t stopped him!”

Jiang He felt emotional right then, and Taishang Laojun added, “Since you’re now brothers with Grandmaster of Heaven, just call me Senior Brother like he does.”

“Senior Brother!” Jiang He called out.

What was stopping him from getting closer to the strongest Saint, after all?

Taishang Laojun stroked his beard and laughed.

After some small talk, the pair then talked business.

It turns out that Taishang Laojun had worked to hide Jiang He’s life sign, so that both the God Emperor and the Demon Emperor would believe he was dead even if they made a divination.

“You meant that… you wanted me to play dead, Brother?”

Jiang He was puzzled.

“I’ve read about your life and I know your attitude,” Taishang Laojun replied. “You would never rest since you now have a grudge against the Gods and Demons… however, you’re not a Saint yet, and you can’t protect yourself if you were up against the God Emperor and the Demon Emperor.”

“Now that you’ve played dead and escaped them, you should cultivate in secret. In the future, and after you’ve gained a certain extent of ability, I shall fight with you to wipe out the Gods and Demons!”

Killing intent flashed in Taishang Laojun’s eyes as he said that, and a frightening might burst out of his ancient body.

And yet…

“What’s going on?”

“I’m not actually feeling much fear under this might.”

Jiang He winked in confusion—had he become too arrogant, or did he have the power to protect himself from Taishang Laojun now?

After he awakened, he left seclusion after proving that he could still plant crops like he did before in his Farm, without testing the limits of his power.

Still, Jiang He estimated that his full power, coupled with the thirty-threefold strength of Esoteric Word: Power and channeling the world might from his body, meant he could wipe the floor Lord Swelling Sky anytime… though killing was uncertain.

After all, Saints were invincible and he had never killed one before, and hence did not have any experience in that…

Having thought about it, he decided to ask Taishang Laojun about it.

As such, he humbled himself, rose to his feet, and offered Taishang Laojun a fist palm salute, seeking his wisdom. “Brother, surely you’re aware that my career as a cultivator was shot, and therefore don’t know many things about cultivating.”

“What is it?”

Taishang Laojun stroked his beard and smiled. “I’ll answer anything to my knowledge.”

“How do I kill a Saint?”

Nonetheless, Jiang He found that question too general after he asked it. Saints differed in strength after all, and the difficulty between killing the God Emperor and the Demon Emperor and bottom-feeder Saints such as Lord Swelling Sky, the Lesser Saint of the Western Sect, would definitely be different.

Hence, he added, “How do I kill someone like Lord Swelling Sky?”

TaiShang Laojun was dumbstruck.

The strongest Saint of all worlds had a blank look on his mild, old face, before saying, “Are the fates of Saints to be spoken of so lightly? You’re not Saint and have yet to control space and time, and would hence definitely fail.”

“I can’t?”

Jiang He was a little disappointed.

Taishang Laojun explained, “Saints can leave their marks within the river of time with their power of space-time to survive from ancient times until present day. Even if you killed his present form, he could fish out his mark from the future or past to revive himself.”

“Past and future?”

Jiang He frowned. “That means a Saint would have three forms, and needs to be killed three times?”

Taishang Laojun was left speechless again.

Sure, that Saint did challenge you… but are you really so bent on killing him?

Nonetheless, Taishang Laojun patiently explained, “Bottom-feeder Saints like Lord Swelling Sky would at best be able to manifest a past-form—he wouldn’t be bottom-feeding if he could manifest all three forms.”

“Those who could manifest the three forms are elites among Saints such as the Grandmaster of Heaven and the Primeval Lord of Heaven. Of course, the strength of those forms vary in strength, which is why there is also a difference in power between elite Saints as well.”

Seeing that Jiang He had more to say and knowing what’s in his head, Taishang Laojun paused and added, “Of course… the manifestation of the three forms is not the full extent of a Saint’s power. Innate paragon treasures that fit the Saint could grant them greater power too.”

“Enlightenment over time also improves combat ability!”

“As for me…”

Taishang Laojun smiled. “Having lived endless days, I’ve reached new heights in controlling space and time. My living mark is laid throughout different timelines, which is why I’m peerless across worlds!”

Hehe.

Jiang He’s lips twitched.

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He would go that far?

Still, he did not dare to say anything. Instead, he thought about how he could create a cultivation method so he would grasp space and time…

“I’ve hidden news of your survival. Now, you can go to the depths of Chaos to search for new providence.”

Towards the end, Taishang Laojun suggested a plan of cultivation since there was nothing that could help ascension to Sainthood in any physical realm now. If Jiang He wanted to be Saint, he would need to journey to the depths of Chaos and seek Primordial Qi, which only existed at the birth of the universe.

“I’ll consider it.”

Jiang He replied. “I’m not going to leave after ascending my cultivation slightly… I’ll stabilize my cultivation first.”

“That’s good.” Taishang Laojun nodded.

***

Jiang He hid his presence after leaving Tushita Palace, sneaking out of the Southern Sky Gate before assuming a disguise at a divine city in the south.

For three days, Jiang He stayed in a tavern, until late in the fourth night…

Seated in a meditation pose, Jiang He stared at his own fist and breathed a long sigh…

“It’s been three days… and I can channel the power from the world in my body perfectly!”

There was a faint five-colored glow over his fist, a light that Jiang He called World Strength and was the manifestation of the world’s power.

And when he channeled it…

Ooom!

A frightening might erupted from his body, instantly enveloping the whole divine city. Every immortal in town sensed it and looked toward the tavern.

“A Saint’s might!”

Some of the elites present cried out and flew toward the tavern, but that might quickly withdrawn.

Jiang He was all smiles then.

“With World Strength, I would not lose out to Lord Swelling Sky without Esoteric Nine… still, after buffed with Esoteric Nine, I would only gain tenfold strength instead of thirty-threefold.”

“Even so, I could still wipe the floor with Lord Swelling Sky.”

Jiang He’s smiled broadened as he overlooked the world in his body. “As long as I farm enough crops and EXP, my body’s world would never stop expanding!”

“There might be just a river of stars and a planetary system now, but once it develops into a complete universe, I could destroy the God Emperor and the Demon Emperor with just one punch!”

In this very moment, Jiang He’s confidence ballooned.

He rushed out of the divine city in a flash.

Taishang Laojun, who had been watching him, quickly communicated to him, “Where are you going, Jiang He? You’re supposed to be dead, so don’t reveal yourself…”

“Don’t worry, Brother. I’m just going out for a stroll,” Jiang He replied.

He flew out of the Three Realms’ domain, teleporting endlessly across the universe and crossing over dozens of light years with each jump.

Soon, he was within the reaches of the Celestial Battlefield.

Then, two days later…

“Eh?”

Jiang He stared at the Insectoid Grand Luo ahead of him, among the stars.

He exclaimed in surprise, “How did I get to the insectoid’s domain in just the blink of an eye?”

He slapped the Insectoid to death and killed him, gathering his corpse and Spatial Ring into the world in his body. Then, turning toward the prosperous constellation ahead, he mused to himself for a long while before breathing a sigh. “Whatever… as the saying goes, I should make myself comfortable since I’m already here.”

“After travelling so far, how could I not pay them a visit?”

When the Demi-Saints of the Gods and Demons hunted him down, the Demi-Saints of the Machine race and the Insectoid race, as well as the cosmic behemoths all joined in…

“What was the Demi-Saint of Insectoids’ named again?”

Jiang He flew towards the Insectoids’ realm, but couldn’t remember the name or appearance of the Insectoid Demi-Saint, and eventually gave up.

“Whatever. If I’ve forgotten, I’ve forgotten.”

“They would have a limit to Demi-Saints anyway, and there would be less than ten of them left since I killed one in the Saints’ battlefield. I’ll just have to pay each of them a visit…”