Taiyi Dao Fruit

Compared to Heavenly Thunder, Earth Fire seemed more Yin-damaging, sourcing from Qi and blood, consuming flesh as kindling, instantly igniting Jiang Li's entire body. Ethereal flames flickered over him, moving upwards, piercing the Mud Ball Palace, igniting Qi and blood and then scorching True Qi.

Even so, the illusory flames, with Jiang Li at the center, spread rapidly, covering a vast expanse of the chaotic ground in the blink of an eye, and then burning upward, vaporizing moisture.

In a short span of time, the vast peak was engulfed in flames, burning upward consuming water vapor, drifting into clouds, and downward melting ice and snow, penetrating deep into the mountain rocks.

Jiang Li's breath also became weaker in this continuous blaze.

...

...

Golden vapors turned into a clear, water-like round mirror, clearly reflecting the mountain peak burned by Yin Fire, where a figure struggled amidst the flames, helplessly watching his Qi continuously fall.

This was the mountain's interior, untouched by daylight, surrounded by rock with only the suspended vaporous round mirror emitting a faint golden light.

Yun Jiuye stood before this round mirror, his eyes unblinking, not missing a moment of the scene within.

And around him, dense Yin Qi filled the darkness, revealing the vague shape of a figure clad in black armor.

This figure, gazing at the same scene, witnessing Jiang Li's weakening Qi, suddenly said, "Jiang Li is about to face consecutive tribulations. But even with his foundation, he can hardly withstand the loss from Heavenly Thunder and Earth Fire; his vitality has already begun to wane."

"Not necessarily."

Yun Jiuye shook his head, "Sixth Brother has always been cunning and scheming, and when he shows signs of faltering, there's an eight or nine out of ten chance he still has strength in reserve. When he is injured, eighty percent of the time, the injuries are superficial and of no major consequence."

Yun Jiuye could be said to be strategically patient, not hesitating to assume the worst when conjecturing about Jiang Li's plans.

Or perhaps, the label of Jiang being treacherously deceitful was so firmly affixed that it couldn't be torn off. The impression of the Jiang family's inherently malicious younger generation was deeply rooted, and his enemies had to be extra cautious.

This was not called cowardice; it was being responsible for one's own life.

There had already been numerous precedents of those who had fallen at Jiang Li's feet, serving as examples for those who came after.

"My only chance is this one; if I can't remove him now, even if I reached fourth-rank later on, I might not surpass him," Yun Jiuye said slowly, "The others' opportunities might only come once as well. Buddha Country, Immortal Palace... So many people want to deal with Jiang Li, yet they've all held back because they know this chance is rare."

The leak of Jiang Li's promotion was the greatest opportunity—all those who bore grudges against him wouldn't let this chance slip away.

Just as it was for Buddha Country and Immortal Palace, so it was for Yun Jiuye, and even individuals from the Taiping Sect and the Ji Family.

"Amidst the chaos, this time let Sixth Brother be thoroughly extinguished," said Yun Jiuye coldly.

The two of them continued to watch the mirror, observing Jiang Li endure the scorching of the Yin Fire.

Jiang Li coughed up blood.

Wait!

Jiang Li's expression became haggard.

Wait!

The flames that had long enveloped Jiang Li began to wane, revealing his form, scorched and marred...

Yun Jiuye clenched his teeth in silence, finally deciding to wait a little longer.

...

...

"Cough, cough, cough—"

Jiang Li coughed repeatedly, his palm covering his mouth stained with evident traces of blood.

'To think I've endured until now, my blood might be coughed up in vain.'

Jiang Li subtly wiped his hand, appearing exceptionally weak, as if his body was depleted, 'He can really endure, can't he? Or have they reached a tacit agreement?'

As time passed, Jiang Li's attitude towards crossing the tribulation was not optimistic; instead, it grew more solemn.

The enemy's patience meant there must be someone among them acting as a nexus, coordinating all parties, causing Jiang Li's protracted baiting to yield no catches.

'Fine, you keep waiting, I don't believe you can wait it out.'

Jiang Li quietly circulated Innate Qi, stirring up the winds.

After using Thunder to invite Fire, it was now time for Flames to engender Wind.

Jiang Li harnessed the course of nature, actively drawing in the wind. A fierce gale was rising across this land, mixing with the aftereffects of Thunder and Fire, becoming vicious and Yin-damaging.

Just as the wildfire seemed to abate, Jiang Li immediately drew the Third Calamity, aiming to cross the tribulation in one fell swoop.

He refused to believe the enemy could still withstand at this point.

If they could also endure this, then Jiang Li might as well pass the Three Calamities, advance to fourth-rank, and see who would prevail then.

The winds rose aggressively, rapidly accelerating, threatening to cause a violent gale, to advance to fourth-rank, yet unexpectedly, at this moment—

The tribulation wind suddenly calmed, and even the icy winds of Kunxu became gentle, almost ceasing completely.

Within a thousand miles range, the winds gradually disappeared, until not even a ripple stirred.

"So this auspicious place harbors dangers... here," Jiang Li sensed the change in the winds, his mind clearing.

"Buddha Country, indeed, they are intent on participating."

He didn't have to think hard; he knew that the calming of the winds was because the end of the one-month period had not yet been reached. Regardless of which faction had quelled the winds, their goal was inevitably linked to Buddha Country's entrance into the fray.

The situation took an immediate and drastic turn, triggering another bout of coughing from Jiang Li.

"But cough, cough, cough—"

His coughs were heart-wrenching, rendering him as deflated as a punctured ball, utterly prostrating himself.

The momentum of crossing two calamities in one go was hindered, and his vigor greatly diminished. His Physical Body seemed unable to rally, resulting in blood-stained palms from his coughs.

At the same time, a light circulated on his brow, surveying all directions.

Unfortunately, still no one launched an attack.

'It seems they're determined to wait for Buddha Country to enter.'

Meanwhile, inside Yuxu Temple, Daoist Guang Cheng soared in golden light, racing through the sky at lightning speed, covering hundreds of miles.

Streams of Buddha Light entered his eyes, and he saw on that snowy plain, nine Arhat Dharma Forms standing, surrounding the central Dragon Subduing Arhat, who simultaneously raised a dark green pearl.

Invisible fluctuations spread from that pearl, stopping the winds wherever it passed, bringing rare calm to the constantly howling winds of the Kunxu Mountain Range.

"The Wind Stabilizing Pearl!" said Daoist Guang Cheng, looking at the pearl and speaking in a deep voice.