Taiyi Dao Fruit

"Daoist Guang Cheng is in what kind of Mental State, if he didn't want to intervene, even if I spoke eloquently like the blooming lotuses, it wouldn't provoke him to act."

Manjusri simply shook his head without any regret and said, "Moreover, this is not necessarily a bad thing. Choosing not to intervene suggests that Daoist Guang Cheng believes Jiang Li needs time, but Jiang Li's potential was interrupted. How can mere time restore that?"

"At least," Hui Lun said thoughtfully, "it might allow his injuries to heal."

"He has the Ochre Whip and the Divine Farmer's Cauldron by his side; injuries were never an issue. Even if he was injured during the tribulation, vomiting blood and weakened, those two treasures of the Jiang family would be enough to help him recover quickly," Manjusri spoke slowly, seeming to have a comprehensive grasp of the situation, "The key issue is the disruption of his momentum. The lingering power of the Heavenly Tribulation weighs on his mind, which needs time to recuperate. However, once the month is up, he will face attacks from all sides during his tribulation, like a blade hanging over his heart. How could it possibly not affect him?"

Just as ordinary people might suppress various distractions with sheer resolve in times of crisis, focusing intensely, but afterwards, the tremors invade their hearts and their emotions become difficult to stabilize.

Cultivators, especially one at Jiang Li's level, naturally wouldn't be disturbed by a crisis for long like ordinary people, but a Heavenly Tribulation is no ordinary crisis. Facing the divine might, especially the aura of the Three Calamities Level, Manjusri did not believe Jiang Li could remain completely unaffected.

Jiang Li was currently facing this exact situation.

The only solution would be to not undergo the tribulation and not seek advancement.

But this too would play right into the hands of others.

Now, with changing times and surging developments, this moment presented the best opportunity for advancement. If they miss this chance, there might not be another. Besides, if the Buddha Country could use the Wind Stabilizing Pearl to obstruct Jiang Li's tribulation today, they could do so again in the future.

The Heavenly Tribulation is tremendously grand and difficult to conceal from others. If the Buddha Country is willing, they could fully intervene time after time, helping Jiang Li stabilize the wind disasters.

And it's only this time that the Buddha Country harbors the intent of a siege, hence they wouldn't obstruct with the Wind Stabilizing Pearl.

So, unless Jiang Li gives up advancing to fourth-rank using the Qingyuan Miao Dao True Monarch Dao Fruit and seeks a different Dao Fruit, he best undergo the tribulation after the month is up.

After hearing the explanation, all Arhats agreed, saying in unison, "Great Master, your strategic calculations are brilliant."

······

······

Elsewhere, Daoist Guang Cheng, swift as lightning, returned to the Yuxu Temple in golden light, and instantly found himself back in the previous pavilion.

Shen Hou had not left yet, and seeing Daoist Guang Cheng return in such a short time, with the weather still calm, he realized the matter was tricky.

"Senior brother, who are the strong forces at work here?" Shen Hou asked.

"Buddha Country."

Daoist Guang Cheng uttered these two words but refrained from elaborating, instead asking, "Junior brother, you also hail from a noble family. What plans does the Jiang Family have now? Do they truly intend to collude with the Buddha Country and betray our Yuxu Temple?"

"Please, senior brother," Shen Hou replied with a wry smile, "My noble family has long been in decline. You asking me is less useful than asking Fellow Daoist Jiang; he certainly understands family schemes better than I do."

"Is that so?"

Daoist Guang Cheng remained noncommittal, merely gazing deep into Shen Hou's eyes, which seemed like two ancient wells captivating the mind, creating a profound atmosphere that made Shen Hou's smile falter.

"A fool would act like that," Shen Hou pondered for a moment before replying, "At Yuxu Temple, I am definitely one of the Twelve Golden Immortals. Even if I needed support, I would find ways to involve our temple instead of forsaking the near and seeking the far, seeking aid from the Buddha Country. Am I some high-ranking figure in the Buddha Country?"

"Junior brother speaks wisely."

Daoist Guang Cheng, having heard this, suddenly laughed, dispersing the feeling of deep solemnity as if it was an illusion.

After speaking, he once again rose into the air, riding the golden light from Yuxu Peak to the snowy peak where Jiang Li was facing his tribulation.

The peak had snapped off a section after being ravaged by Thunder and Fire, all snow entirely melted, revealing the pockmarked surface of the mountain, where even glimpses of dark fire could be seen flickering among the cracks and holes.

Jiang Li currently sat cross-legged on the charred ground, his face pale as golden paper, his breath weak, with remnants of blood on the corners of his mouth, his form loose and slack, with an illusory firelight not yet completely dissipated.

Gongsun Qing Yue had already arrived at the scene, using the Treasure Lotus Lamp toi heal Jiang Li, with each sweep of the falling Pure Light causing the Divine Light behind Jiang Li to flicker slightly.

There was also a diminutive Daoist clad in Battle Armor, standing on the Wind and Fire Wheel, protecting Jiang Li.

Upon seeing Daoist Guang Cheng arrive, Yin Tulong furrowed his delicate brows and huffed, "To think that in prestigious Yuxu Temple, only a sick Daoist like myself, dragging an injured body, comes to aid Fellow Daoist, truly a disgrace."

"Who can say otherwise when Junior Brother Yin, whose strength surpasses the fourth rank, even with injuries, is only below me and Junior Brother Guang Yuan."

Daoist Guang Cheng stroked his beard, offering a compliment to Yin Tulong, then approached Jiang Li and revealed the interceptors, "It is the Arhats from Buddha Country who have used the Wind Stabilizing Pearl to halt the wind, making it difficult for the wind disaster to occur."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Li, who was closing his eyes for Breathing Control, slowly exhaled a puff of blue smoke, quite puzzled.

"Another empty battle, it's really hard to catch a big fish these days."

His complexion visibly improved at a noticeable rate, his breath still weak, but from looking at the injury, it had already mostly healed.

Jiang Li shook his head and said, "That's not all; Buddha Country should still have connections with the Immortal Palace."

Buddha Country, restricted by their grand vows, can't take the initiative, but the Immortal Palace has no such restraint.

Clearly, Jiang Li was showing signs of being at death's door, barely hanging on, yet there was no movement from the Immortal Palace. This was either because the Immortal Queen, due to Yuxu Temple's strength, forcibly held back her intentions to act, or it was because Buddha Country had established a connection with the Immortal Palace.

Because of the grand vows, if Manjusri Bodhisattva had noticed that Jiang Li was in danger, he must act to assist.

Should the people from Immortal Palace actually attack and Daoist Guang Cheng fails to block in time, then Buddha Country must step in and ensure Jiang Li's safety.

That was the security assurance brought by Jiang Li's predicament.

After considering the situation, Jiang Li felt that the reason was very likely the latter.

Because even if the Immortal Queen knew of Yuxu Temple's formidable strength and hesitated to act against Jiang Li, how would she know if she didn't try?

To try lightly was no loss—if they couldn't beat him, they would just retreat. With the Plain Cloud Realm Flag, the forces of Immortal Palace could still withdraw without a problem.

Not even trying would imply knowing that trying would be futile.

Daoist Guang Cheng also thought of this, saying, "The Immortal Queen and Manjusri are enough to prevent me and Junior Brother Guang Yuan from acting. Twenty-five days later, if Fellow Daoist still wishes to advance, I fear he will face both Heavenly Tribulation and man-made calamities simultaneously, a situation fraught with extreme peril."

And this was just the overt threat.

Jiang Li was not optimistic enough to believe that he had only provoked two enemies.

Forces more eager to see Jiang Li dead than the Immortal Palace and Buddha Country were more than one, and the time of crossing the wind disaster would certainly be lively.

Daoist Guang Cheng said this, obviously asking for Jiang Li's opinion.

—whether to continue.

Regarding this, Jiang Li's expression remained unchanged, his determination the same as before the tribulation.

"This is a trial."

He removed his clothes.

Jiang Li shed his damaged Cloud Clothes, his thoughts moved, and white garments automatically took shape while his hair, freed from the damaged headdress and slightly curled due to the lightning, fell down, "If a person wants to reach the peak, he must endure hardships, he must sweat. Difficult as it is, when he stands at the peak, he will find, all of it, was worth it."

"This very moment is a trial of climbing to the peak. The stronger the enemy, the more joy I will have when I bury the enemy and ascend to the peak."

"It seems, Fellow Daoist, you have not been influenced by Manjusri's psychological tactics," Daoist Guang Cheng showed a smile.

Whether to advance or retreat, Daoist Guang Cheng could accept both—advancing shows bravery, and retreating is not necessarily cowardly. The most crucial thing is not the advance or retreat, but maintaining that stable mindset.

If one were to lose composure over this, it would be rather disappointing.

Fortunately, Jiang Li did not disappoint Daoist Guang Cheng.

"Because I don't believe I will lose," Jiang Li thus spoke.

How could he think he would lose, and how could he become unsettled from fear of failure?