After all the sacrifices have been made to speed pass, who is still practicing hard skills?

In the thirteenth year of the Yuankang era of the Great Zhou Dynasty, on the ninth day of the ninth month.

Light rain and a slight chill.

Tai'an Prefecture, Taishan City.

Inside the Zhu family mansion, Madam Zhu, pale and emaciated, lay on the bed, her eyes glazed over, staring blankly at a piece of clear and bright jade in her hand.

This was naturally not the one passed down in her family. The original Qingming Spirit Jade had long been given to Jiang Che by her, and this one was one she had found again recently.

Although it is not the original, it can still convey feelings of longing.

Whenever she thinks back to her first meeting with Jiang Che, Madam Zhu always feels a sense of unreality, especially that night when Jiang Che impersonated Zhu Sheng, sneaked into her home, and unexpectedly developed a relationship with her.

No.

In fact, Jiang Che cannot be blamed for this. If anyone is to blame, it is her own fault for mistaking Jiang Che for Zhu Sheng, which led to the incident.

At first, Madam Zhu didn't have any feelings for Jiang Che; she only felt ashamed and indignant. It was only later, when that scoundrel went too far, that her defenses were finally broken down.

She had to pinch her nose and accept that ill-fated relationship.

What truly moved her was that after Zhu Sheng's death, the county magistrate oppressed the Zhu family, but Jiang Che stood up for her and shielded her from the storms of the outside world.

It was only then that she fell for him.

Otherwise, I wouldn't have complied with that little thief's many requests in the mourning hall.

At that time, the Zhu family was in dire straits, on the verge of collapse.

Her youngest daughter was immature, spoiled, and domineering, and her eldest son was away from home for a long time. If Jiang Che hadn't stood up for her, she really couldn't imagine what she would have faced.

Therefore, even though she later realized that something was wrong with Zhu Sheng's death, she still selectively forgot about it.

until
Both went to Taishan City. At that time, he was the city lord of Taishan City, with a bright future ahead of him. She, on the other hand, was just a widow with no family background, no power, and only slightly attractive looks.

If Jiang Che had stayed in Taishan City, she wouldn't have minded secretly being with him in private; as for a public relationship, she never even considered it.

She always felt inferior when facing Jiang Che.

She hates that I was born before you were born, and you were born after I had grown old.

She regretted not meeting him before she was married.
Later, when she learned that Jiang Che was in a marriage alliance with the prominent Beiling family and was about to marry the eldest daughter of the Qi family, she felt increasingly ashamed of herself. She knew that if she wanted, Jiang Che would definitely take her away.

However, she knew better that there were certain rules governing marriage alliances with powerful families. Jiang Che could have women by his side, but not women like her who would tarnish his reputation. Therefore, Madam Zhu ultimately refused to go to Tiannan.

As Jiang Che was leaving, she stood outside the city and watched for a very long time.

Even after that, she kept up with news about Jiang Che and knew that his future was even brighter than she had imagined. She was very happy for him.

Later, she heard that Jiang Che was getting married.

So, she asked Liu Zhi to deliver two Yuan Crystals that she had saved up. She knew that this amount was nothing to Jiang Che, who was now a powerful figure in the martial arts world, but she wanted to give him a token of her appreciation.

Of course, at that time, she also harbored some ulterior motives, hoping that Jiang Che had not forgotten her and might come to see her when he passed through Tai'an Prefecture.

However, it did not.

After that incident, they never crossed paths again.

Even now, she is lovesick and suffers from a serious illness.
"Mother, I'll go and beg my elder brother, I'll ask him to beg Brother Jiang to save you, okay?" Zhu Qingqing cried by the bedside, her eyes brimming with tears and her voice choked with sobs.

She really didn't want to lose her mother again.

From then on, she was left with no one to rely on.

"No need to trouble yourself."

Madam Zhu forced a smile.

"mother"

"He's currently wanted by the imperial court, which is the most difficult time for him. Don't cause him any trouble. In my life, I've missed out on many things and made many wrong choices, but this is the only one..."
Hehe, now I have no regrets. After I'm gone, don't let the news get out and let your older brother know. Just bury me on the highest mountain in Taishan City.

I...I want to see him."

Zhu Qingqing didn't know her mother was talking about Jiang Che; she only thought it was her eldest brother, Zhu Xu. She quickly continued to advise him. However, at that moment, the Qingming Spirit Jade slipped from Madam Zhu's hand.

He closed his eyes helplessly.

Overwhelmed with grief, Zhu Qingqing wept uncontrollably. What she failed to see was that at that very moment, a black torrent, invisible to the heavens and earth, swept across the sky above Tai'an Prefecture.

After closing her eyes, Madam Zhu felt very light, as if she were floating. She saw Zhu Qingqing kneeling beside her and wanted to speak, but the other woman could not hear her at all.

She knew she was dead.

Her body floated higher and higher, farther and farther away. She seemed to see a figure drifting in front of her, becoming clearer and clearer, as if it were smiling at her.

Madam Zhu felt relieved and smiled without any regrets.

suddenly.

Above the sky, amidst the black torrent, a giant hand pierced through the heavens, emerging directly from the black torrent and seizing Madam Zhu's soul.

Then, silence returned to the world.

Immortal Realm, Great Qian Dynasty.

Jiang Che's gaze was calm. He saw the scenes before Madam Zhu died. If he might have been somewhat moved before, now, it was just a ripple.

However, regret is still regret.

He may not have had deep feelings for Madam Zhu, but when he first heard the news of her death, he felt a strange sadness. He couldn't do it before, but now that he had the ability, he didn't mind giving her a new life.

He preferred to retrieve the reincarnated form directly from the river of time, rather than the reincarnated one.

And since the person has already died, it is difficult for them to have any impact, and their stress will be very small.

Looking at the illusory figure with weak soul power before him, Jiang Che thought for a moment, and instantly the laws converged, and the immortal essence and spiritual energy gathered, transforming into a physical body. He then flicked his finger.

Madam Zhu's soul flowed into her body.

After a while.

Madam Zhu's fingers twitched. She opened her eyes blankly, not understanding what had happened. Wasn't she dead? How could she suddenly be back... until she saw the familiar figure before her.

There was disbelief and surprise in his eyes:
"Jiang Jiangche?"

Jiang Che smiled calmly and nodded slightly:

"Congratulations on your ascension, Madam! This is the Great Qian Immortal Realm!"

"What...what is going on? How did I get here?" Nestled in Jiang Che's arms, Madam Zhu was still in a daze, feeling as if it were a dream.

They even thought it was her fantasy before she died.

"Don't be afraid."

Jiang Che patted her shoulder and told her the whole story with a smile, including that she was actually dead and that he had used his great supernatural powers to cross the river of time.

They retrieved her soul and rebuilt her life. "The River of Time, Resurrection"—this was simply beyond her comprehension, but she didn't want to delve into it. She simply looked at Jiang Che expectantly and asked:

"So, I've been brought back to life?"

"Yes."

"Have you severed all ties with everything from the past?"

"Ah."

"Then... then are you willing to accept me?"

"If you were unwilling, why would I have pulled you from the river of time, my lady?"

"Thank you, Jiang Che."

Madam Zhu was finally relieved and nestled happily in Jiang Che's arms.

"Just thank me verbally?"

"I'm fine with anything." Madam Zhu understood instantly, and a blush rose to her face.

"From now on, you will begin a new life in the Immortal Realm."

"From now on, please don't call me Mrs. Zhu anymore, just call me Mrs. Jiang, okay?"

"it is good."

Shortly after.

The Grand Ceremony of the Immortal King.

To host this Immortal King's Palace, the human race spared no effort, and even though it was only a short hundred days, the palace was still made incredibly grand.

They forcibly built a celestial palace for Jiang Che in the sky.

Here, Jiang Che also met the Hall Master of the Inheritance Hall, whom he had only heard of but never seen. The Hall Master was both surprised and shocked by Jiang Che's attainment of Dao.

Because the other party's return to the human race occurred after he went into seclusion. At that time, he had to take risks for the sake of the human race, but everything changed after he came out of seclusion.

He wasn't even needed; the human race was already revered by all races.

Therefore, he felt not only gratitude towards Jiang Che, but also awe.

He was also the one who organized this Immortal King Ceremony.

Above the heavens, the Milky Way shone brightly, and dazzling beams of celestial light intertwined like brocade, proclaiming the grand occasion of the Great Luo Immortal King's celebration. Immortals gathered, their robes fluttering in the wind, their faces radiating reverence for the Immortal King and joy for the grand ceremony.

The melodious music seemed to drift from beyond the heavens, bringing a sense of peace yet also inspiring excitement.

Above the void, laws intertwined, and immortal light shone brilliantly. Jiang Che, clad in a golden robe, exuded an aura of majesty that commanded the submission of all immortals. Behind him followed several other figures.

The Qi sisters, the Imperial Preceptor Yaoyue, the Ancient Emperor of the Underworld, Qingqing, Madam Jiang, and others were all present, appearing alongside Jiang Che to share in his current glory.

Jiang Che's gaze swept over the thousands of immortals below, and every immortal and cultivator instantly felt a strong and terrifying pressure, as if the Heavenly Dao was watching them.

This caused countless immortals present to bow their heads in awe, and they all bowed respectfully to the figure at the head of the table.
"Greetings to the Supreme Emperor of the Vast Heaven!"

"Greetings to the Supreme Emperor of the Vast Heaven!"

"Greetings to the Supreme Emperor of the Vast Heaven!"

The loud and unified sound shook the heavens and the earth, surging with celestial energy, even changing the color of the clouds in the sky, as if cheering for this glorious era.

Suddenly, as Jiang Che's thought arose, dazzling fairy flowers bloomed in the void, like stars falling to earth, adding a touch of mystery and fantasy to the celebration.

When the fairy flower blooms, it emits a strange fragrance that stirs the hearts of countless immortals.

This was no ordinary phenomenon, but rather a celestial fragrance generated by Jiang Che mobilizing the power of the laws, which could be considered a gift from Jiang Che to the assembled immortals.

This grand event at the Immortal King's Palace can be described as a momentous occasion for all races.

Perhaps out of fear, or perhaps to try to improve relations and make amends, the various races, led by the Dragon and Phoenix races and the other immortal races, offered countless rare and precious treasures for this grand ceremony.

These treasures encompass almost one-tenth of the top-tier immortal treasures in the Immortal Realm.

Tens of thousands of years of accumulation have now fallen entirely into Jiang Che's hands. And yet, they should be grateful, because if Jiang Che wanted to, he could easily annihilate all races.

Fortunately, none of what they had imagined happened.

Instead, Jiang Che took the initiative to forgive them.

How could they not show some sincerity in response?
It should be understood that although the myriad races of the Immortal Realm have not been wiped out, they are all vassals of the human race, and they themselves need to offer a large amount of immortal treasures and resources every year.

With these things, the development of the human race will almost certainly be put on a fast track.

With so many resources, perhaps in a hundred or a thousand years, the human race will become the undisputed number one immortal race, dominating all races in the immortal realm. This is Jiang Che's true reward to the human race.

This is what they deserve.

Countless immortals were captivated by it, feeling their understanding of the rules of heaven and earth becoming increasingly profound. In just a moment, they could save themselves decades or even centuries of arduous cultivation.

When the immortals came to their senses, they had all gained something, more or less, and they all expressed their gratitude to the figure at the head of the table.

"Thank you for your grace, Your Majesty!"

"Thank you for your grace, Your Majesty!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

"All immortals, you may dispense with formalities!"

Soon, the celestial music continued to fill the air, and one by one, fairies from the Ice God Clan began to dance gracefully. Their movements were light and ethereal, as if they were weaving through clouds and mist, giving the audience a glimpse of the beauty of the celestial realm.

Her graceful figure added even more color to this grand ceremony.

In fact, the fairies of the Ice God Clan are always cold and aloof, and they never show any mercy to outsiders. They can all be called ice queens.

However, this so-called Ice Fairy is no match for the Great Luo Immortal King. In fact, the Ice God Clan's Grand Elder flocked to her after the humans only revealed a little bit of information.

Immediately dispatch the fairies of the clan to perform a dance for Immortal King Jiang Che.

At this moment, they showed no trace of coldness. Each of them was smiling radiantly, displaying their charm to Jiang Che, even though they were all at least True Immortals.

However, if they could be taken in by Jiang Che as his personal maid, it would still be a blessing they could never hope for in their entire lives.

This was also the Ice God Clan's goal—to get closer to this Great Luo Immortal King. Unfortunately, her goal was ultimately going to fail, as Jiang Che no longer cared about beauty.

Amidst the enchanting dance, the Ice Soul Fairy was filled with regret. If she had taken the initiative back then, she would have definitely caught Jiang Che's eye. But she had made several vows at the time.

Ever since Jiang Che attained enlightenment, she has felt that she missed out on a great opportunity!

On the Sendai, Jiang Che sat high above, looking down at the scene of ten thousand immortals bowing in reverence, a faint smile in his eyes.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

Originally, I didn't intend to write about Madam Zhu, but having reached the ending, it seemed inappropriate not to, so I decided to include it and simplify the previous regrets. (End of Chapter)