Taiyi Dao Fruit

[Half-human and half-god: A descendant of humans and gods, exceptionally blessed, with infinite potential and greatly increased lifespan.]

[Saintly Physical Body: The physical body becomes sanctified, a true saintly body from rebirth. The body reaches the realm of immortal gods, transcending and becoming holy, its vitality unending, and it is exempt from the divine powers that counteract the Divine Fruit.]

[Eight-Nine Profound Skill: Master the profound mysteries of Eight-Nine, moving unhindered across the world. With the seventy-two transformations, achieve an indestructible body, full Divine Skills, manifest the heavens and earth, shrink and grow at will, avoid disasters and remove tribulations, with endless marvelous Dao.]

[Howling Celestial Dog: Grant a demon beast, the Howling Celestial Dog, the Howling Celestial Dog Dao Fruit, transforming it into a Daoist Soldier, elevating its divine powers to the fourth rank.]

[Heavenly Eye: Survey all directions, piercing through illusion and falsehood. With the Heavenly Eye open, one can see through the fluctuations of Qi mechanisms and the operations of all laws, resist attacks from Divine Essence, and even fixate the Primordial Spirit of others with the Heavenly Eye.]

Jiang Li's breathing momentarily became chaotic.

The Dao Fruit Divine Power of Qingyuan Miaodao True Monarch was not plentiful, only five in total, but each one was extraordinary.

[Half-human and half-god] could enhance potential from a fundamental level, [Saintly Physical Body] not only transformed the physical body but also negated certain restraints, and even the iconic Howling Celestial Dog had become a kind of Divine Skill, which even came with an additional Dao Fruit.

It was like a buy one, get one free deal. By accommodating the Dao Fruit of Qingyuan Miaodao True Monarch, one would also receive a dog. Xiao Tian was indeed fortunate.

After Jiang Li advanced, he would be able to use Xiao Tian for sacrificial cultivation, transforming it into a Daoist Soldier. As long as Jiang Li was willing to put in the effort, he could fully enable Xiao Tian to exert fourth-rank combat power. This Daoist Soldier was like a Magic Artifact with life, and its strength largely depended on its master.

For instance, The Immortal of Colossal Spirit of the Taiping Sect was inherently strong, but he was not considered the best among the fourth rank. However, because he was Zhang Zhixuan's Daoist Soldier, he could compete with the Primordial Lord Rain Master and even Tianxuan who had not activated the Third Grade Dao Fruit.

This was under the circumstance that Zhang Zhixuan was not nearby. If Zhang Zhixuan were to fully control The Immortal of Colossal Spirit, he could certainly make him join the ranks of a third-grade battle.

Of course, all the above was not the key point. The real key was [Eight-Nine Profound Skill].

Leaving everything else aside, the length of the description and the series of terms were enough to make Jiang Li sense the strength of Qingyuan Miaodao True Monarch's Dao Fruit.

Powerful indeed, powerful indeed.

"This is the Dao Fruit of Qingyuan Miaodao True Monarch, a Dao Fruit that no one in Yuxu Temple has successfully accommodated since its foundation," said Daoist Guang Cheng, looking at the divine statue with a somewhat sentimental expression. "Ever since an ancestral master attempted and failed to accommodate this Dao Fruit hundreds of years ago, dying and vanishing into the Dao, our temple has never seen anyone with the heart to try again. This Dao Fruit has remained untouched here for hundreds of years; it was unexpected that today it would react."

The spontaneous reaction of the Dao Fruit indicated that Jiang Li was well-matched with this Dao Fruit. The fitting conditions for Qingyuan Miaodao True Monarch's Dao Fruit were both easy and difficult to meet, relying ultimately on strength.

Although in reality, many factors contribute to the match, strength was the most essential one, even specified in the fitting conditions.

Jiang Li had caused a resonance, indicating he had reached the necessary standard of strength and held a considerable chance of succeeding in the advancement.

This rare display of sentiment came from Daoist Guang Cheng.

After so many years, the Dao Fruit of Qingyuan Miaodao True Monarch finally had its destiny. It was a pity that the one to accommodate it was not a purebred insider.

"However, even with sufficient strength, one must not underestimate the Three Calamities," admonished Daoist Guang Cheng with a serious expression.

"These Three Calamities are not ordinary Heavenly Tribulations. The calamities of thunder, fire, and wind; among them, Thunder Disaster falls from Heaven, governing the Yin Yang forces of life and death. Those who cannot withstand it will be destroyed body and soul. However, if one can see into one's heart and reflect with a Mental State upon the heavens and earth, it's also possible to avoid it with some cleverness."

"Fire Disaster is the Earth Fire from Kun Yin, rising from the spring's origin. Once this fire starts, it enters the body and cannot be dodged, penetrating right into the Mud Wall Palace. If one cannot bear it, the internal organs turn to ash, and the limbs decay."

"The last is Wind Disaster, the Bifeng wind. It blows into the six internal organs from the Heavenly Spirit, passes through the dantian, penetrates the Nine Orifices, causing bone and flesh to disperse, and the body to disintegrate."

"Among the Three Calamities, even the Thunder Disaster, which can be avoided with cleverness, requires a very strong Mental State and Perception to reflect upon heaven and earth. The other two can only be resisted with deep cultivation."

Yuxu Temple, with its long heritage and many predecessors who had braved the tribulations to accommodate Dao Fruits, knew the Three Calamities quite well. Daoist Guang Cheng did not hide anything and detailed the tribulations to Jiang Li and Gongsun Qingyue, providing them with a clear understanding of the dangers.

And then... it was gone.

"It's not too late to regret now," Daoist Guang Cheng reminded.

"Having come this far, my only regret would be failing to accommodate this Dao Fruit," said Jiang Li lightly.

"I believe in my junior fellow," stated Gongsun Qingyue confidently.

While they spoke, Jiang Li had sensed that aura and began drawing it out. The statue of Qingyuan Miaodao True Monarch shone brightly, seemingly coming to life.

Seeing Jiang Li's resolve, Daoist Guang Cheng refrained from further persuasion and said, "Then, Fellow Daoist, please rest here to prepare for facing the Three Calamities at your peak, resonating with the Dao Fruit, and readying for advancement. Gongsun..."

Suddenly, Daoist Guang Cheng's eyes widened slightly.

He noticed that the aura being drawn out wasn't just entwining Jiang Li but also connecting with Gongsun Qingyue.

A jade Lotus Lamp appeared above Gongsun Qingyue's head, casting down Pure Light, with her Qi Mechanism fluctuating as it was being advanced by the aura.

This reaction, which made Daoist Guang Cheng, who was about to ask Gongsun Qingyue to step out of the hall temporarily, shake his head and fall silent mid-sentence.

"The restrictions on Qingyuan Miaodao True Monarch's divine statue have been lifted, and it may be touched. However, it is best not to interact with the other statues as they are still protected by restrictions."

After leaving these words behind, Daoist Guang Cheng silently exited the grand hall, leaving the space to the two of them.

The heavy doors behind them slowly closed, and as Daoist Guang Cheng glanced back, he muttered softly with a sigh, "Youth is to be feared. But thankfully..."

Suddenly, Daoist Guang Cheng smiled, "This youth will soon become my disciple."

Fear of the younger generation is normal, once they become one of our own, it's others who should be feared.

"Senior brother is so confident, convinced that he can make him a member of the Yuxu Temple?"

A shadowy figure appeared beside Daoist Guang Cheng, frowning upon hearing his words.

This shadow rapidly solidified into a human figure, indistinguishable from a real person, dressed in purple immortal robe and wearing a lotus crown, similar to Daoist Guang Cheng's attire. However, he appeared to be older, around forty years of age, with a long beard tinged with strands of red and white, making for a rather peculiar sight.

Upon revealing himself, he too looked towards the grand hall and said, "The Ji Family and the Jiang family can swear oaths to Heaven, yet even these families couldn't maintain eternal harmony due to the Oath of Heaven, demonstrating that such oaths, no matter how foolproof, cannot withstand the fickleness of the human heart. Brother Guangyang, though selfish, is still our sect brother and more deserving of trust, while Jiang Li..."

The Daoist lowered his voice, "Brother Guangming had previously visited the Dinghu Sect to partake in the Sword Discussion Conference and had some interactions with the new Yaoguang Elder of the Dinghu Sect. According to him, this person allegedly earned cultivation resources by writing those Spring Palace Storybooks, and later became a son-in-law who married into a family, utterly disregarding his reputation. It seems a bit too unscrupulous."

Reputation is sometimes useful, but more often it isn't, hence the saying regarding empty fame.

Many praise others for not seeking false reputation, expressing disdain for such vanity. However, if someone completely disregards their reputation, without any taboo, it can easily invite the wariness of others.

As high-ranking members of the Mystic Sect, Daoists wouldn't judge someone based solely on one side of the tale, but facing someone like Jiang Li, they can't help but feel apprehensive.

"Indeed, oaths are not omnipotent and can't guarantee that Jiang Li will protect the Yuxu Temple's Daoist lineage," Daoist Guang Cheng nodded in agreement.

Then, in the next moment, his tone shifted, "But karma can. Brother Guangyuan, you don't practice the Divine Number and are unaware of the karma connection. Dao Fruit is the manifestation of karma. By accommodating Dao Fruit, we indirectly inherit that karma, and the higher the grade of the Dao Fruit, the stronger the karma. We cultivators interpret Dao Fruits according to the laws of karma, to become compatible with the Dao Fruit. Conversely, the more we merge with the Dao Fruit, the deeper the influence of karma we experience."

"Take, for example, the master of a Dao Fruit who is a protector of the Mystic Sect; then, its hosts would be drawn closer to this identity by the pull of karma. This may not be inevitable, but there's a high probability that even if they don't become protectors, they will grow closer to the Mystic Sect. That's where my confidence comes from."

"Brother means to say if Jiang Li accommodates the Dao Fruit of Qingyuan Miaodao True Monarch, then there's a chance he might become a member of our Temple in the future?" Enlightened yet concerned, Daoist Guangyuan said, "Following brother's rationale, couldn't brother Guangyang…"

Guangyang, also known as Jiang Biehe, a current member of the Yuxu Temple, has accommodated a Dao Fruit from the Yuxu Temple. If Daoist Guang Cheng's theory is to be followed, doesn't it mean that Jiang Biehe is even less likely to negatively influence the Yuxu Temple?

If that's the case, why would Daoist Guang Cheng consider abandoning Jiang Biehe and the Jiang family behind him?

Unless… there's a problem with Jiang Biehe.

"The Dao Fruit Guangyang accommodates originally belonged to someone from the Mystic Sect but ultimately turned to Buddhism."

Daoist Guang Cheng's expression became detached, with a hint of iciness. "Of course, this theory of karma is only a possibility, not a certainty. But I've discovered that the Jiang family seems to have connections with the Buddha Country. Moreover, on his way back to the Temple, Jiang Li helped confirm this point."

Daoist Guang Cheng wouldn't accuse someone of betrayal based merely on the nebulous concept of karma. However, if backed by facts, there's no need for second-guessing.

It's known that the Jiang family is involved with the Buddha Country, and not specifically Jiang Biehe. Thus, Daoist Guang Cheng can still tolerate him and isn't ready to purge their ranks, but it's enough to influence his stance.

Given the deep grudge between the Yuxu Temple and the Buddha Country, sparing Jiang Biehe is already a considerable concession out of respect for their years as brothers.

"Senior brother is being foolish," exclaimed Daoist Guangyuan. "How can we neglect such grave matters over sentimentality? I will apprehend Jiang Biehe right away. If he's innocent of any collusion with the Buddha Country, I'll apologize to him afterward."

Daoist Guang Cheng was in no hurry while Daoist Guangyuan was eager to immediately apprehend the brother suspected of treachery.

"I have plans for this matter. Brother, continue to oversee the Yuqing Hall and guard the Dao Fruit. Brother Jiang Li's matter will be entrusted to you, for I have other important matters to attend to."

Daoist Guang Cheng halted his junior brother's actions and then stepped out, vanishing amidst the shifting array.

Daoist Guangyuan stayed stationary in place for a moment, leaving a cryptic sigh that gradually dimmed and disappeared.

***

***

Inside the Yuqing Hall, the statue of Qingyuan Miaodao True Monarch grew increasingly imposing. Beams of light made contact with Jiang Li, their auras intertwining and making Jiang Li feel as if his cultivation of the "Form Tomb" had become somewhat easier.

Even without accommodating it, as a Dao Artifact, the Dao Fruit still significantly benefited Jiang Li.

However, as the connection between the aura and Jiang Li deepened, a certain link began to reveal itself.

Until a certain moment—

"Boom!"

Suddenly, the statue's luminance transformed into a tangible impact, striking Jiang Li, and what was a harmonious interplay of auras began to repel each other.

"Hm?"

Jiang Li forcibly resisted the impact, looking at the statue and then at the Treasure Lotus Lamp above Gongsun Qingyue's head.

Could it be the close relationship with his senior sister and the fact that she accommodated the Three Holy Mothers' Dao Fruit?

Good grief, this Dao Fruit seemed to retain some of its original owner's temperament.

Though the Three Holy Mothers' Dao Fruit wasn't the same as the person herself, and even if Gongsun Qingyue accommodated this Dao Fruit, he wasn't exactly Yang Jian's brother-in-law. However, the Dao Fruit wasn't a real person and naturally wouldn't listen to reason.

So...

"Better submit to me with good grace."

Jiang Li decisively reached out, stretching his hand toward the statue. A torrent of Primordial Qi aggressively entered the statue's light, merging with it and seeping in.

Aura and Qi Mechanism intertwined. Jiang Li forcefully maintained the connection, as Primordial Qi fought with the light. Suddenly, the statue began to tremble.