Taiyi Dao Fruit

"Boom!"

A towering wave was swept aside in one strike, turning into a torrential downpour, nourishing the mountains and rivers below.

This was virtually indistinguishable from real rain, eliciting a remarkable expression from Manjusri Bodhisattva and the White Lotus Saint Mother watching behind.

Even though Jiang Li might not be as capable as before in clashing with the Supreme ones like the Great Venerable, his strength must still be immense. It was uncertain whether he could confront a third grade head-on...

A few inconceivable thoughts flashed through their minds as they intently watched the figure who still stood composed in the heavy rain.

Jiang Li still held the Human Species Bag in one hand, the other casually hanging by his side, motionless from beginning to end but emitting an earth-shattering aura.

Around him, layer upon layer of anomalies manifested, gathering into massive vistas of azure skies and vast lands, making him seem even more profound.

Upon seeing this, Guangli Bodhisattva's spear emitted strands of Buddha's energy, merging with his own. Scales appeared on his face and hands.

He was about to transform into a dragon body.

And this time, Guangli Bodhisattva was going all out.

The last encounter with Jiang Li was mainly to tie him down. Later, when Jiang Li pulled a substitution, Guangli Bodhisattva focused more on pursuit than on a full-fledged clash. Now, recognising Jiang Li's power, he planned to unleash his full potential, integrating the Dharma Manifestation of the Dragon Spear with his body to reveal the Bodhisattva Undying Body.

Having a Heavenly Dragon Body already, if he added the Bodhisattva Undying Body, his formidability could be described as the foremost among the Buddha Country's fourth-ranks.

However, as Guangli Bodhisattva's Qi Mechanism expanded, distant Yin energy also began to rise, gathering shadows in midair.

Meanwhile, Jiang Li's anomalies around him solidified, with Eight Sceneries appearing concurrently, making his body seem blurred as if he were in another dimension, incredibly remote.

"Hold on!"

Manjusri Bodhisattva suddenly called out, halting the escalating aura, "I have witnessed Benefactor Jiang's power, please cease."

The brief but fierce clash had proven Jiang Li's difficulty, and the shift of focus by the Yin Law Department to this location indicated they too might intervene here. The aim, of course, was to prevent the Buddha Country from taking hundreds of thousands of refugees.

As for Jiang Li, his silhouette was elusive, completely motionless yet seeming to be in another realm, ready to retreat at any moment. His departure would mean all efforts were in vain.

Given these factors, Manjusri Bodhisattva decisively halted the clash, opting for negotiation.

The magnificent aura abruptly dispersed, and Guangli Bodhisattva's figure flashed, crossing hundreds of yards in an instant back to the auspicious cloud, standing with hands behind his back, truly at ease.

And Jiang Li momentarily reigned in his Qi, signaling a temporary cessation as well.

"A wise decision,"

Jiang Li lightly chuckled amid the complex sceneries, tossing the Human Species Bag, "For these 710,000 believers and the Human Species Bag, Joyful Arhat, exchange it for your Buddha Country not acting against us for one month. And during this month, should there be attacks from others, you must intercept them."

"One month?" The White Lotus Saint Mother's expression shifted slightly, "Benefactor Jiang, you're quite the strategist. Why not just explicitly ask Buddha Country to aid you against the Yin Law Department?"

"If the Bodhisattva is willing, I'm not opposed to the idea," Jiang Li responded with a smile, "If the Bodhisattva is unwilling, I can also approach the Yin Law Department and hand over our achievements. Given the Human Species Bag, Joyful Arhat, and these hundreds of thousands of people, the Yin Law Department might just be tempted."

"That would trouble the Bodhisattva, having to snatch people and treasures from the Yin Law Department later on."

Machiavellian!

This thought flashed synchronously in the minds of the three from Buddha Country.

To say the Yin Law Department would be tempted, the three from Buddha Country did not believe it—they valued believers differently. Instead, they needed the souls of living creatures after death.

If Jiang Li was to trade with the Yin Law Department, it would likely be unsuccessful.

But the Buddha Country could not just watch this lucrative opportunity slip away.

Whether the bait was in Jiang Li's hands or the Yin Law Department's, they had to snatch it.

Human Species Bag, Joyful Arhat, and hundreds of thousands—a piece of fat such as this, if not seized, would simply defy the natural order.

"Jiang Shizhu," Manjusri Bodhisattva exclaimed, "you truly have a predestined relationship with Buddha."

Such silver-tongued individuals indeed belong in the Buddhist sect.

The Buddha Country needs people like you.

"You flatter me."

Jiang Li expressed his modesty, then directly said, "It seems the Great Master is ready to agree to this deal. If so, let us make our vows. I have heard that those with a Bodhisattva Dao Fruit have the ability to make grand vows. The three of you use the 'Bodhisattva Vehicle' to make your vows to ensure the deal goes through, and I will let Heaven witness, swearing to hand over the Human Species Bag and those hundreds of thousands within. Both parties will have a method of ensuring the other does not renege."

Although the content of this grand vow was somewhat unusual, it was undeniable that the 'Bodhisattva Vehicle' could indeed be used to make such vows.

And if vows made by the 'Bodhisattva Vehicle' were betrayed, there would be backlash, at best causing a regression in cultivation, at worst damaging the foundation. Even if the Buddha Country side was willing to pay this price, when the time came, with them suffering from backlash, even a direct visit by the third-grade Manjusri Bodhisattva might not suffice and might even cost them their lives.

The same constraints also applied to Jiang Li. Under the witness of Heaven, if he broke his oath, at best he would face Heaven's Punishment, and at worst he would lose his Life. The Buddha Country side need not worry about Jiang Li shirking his debts.

The three Bodhisattvas heard this, each silently calculating, then reaching the conclusion that Jiang indeed had no room to default on the debt.

This deal could truly be made.

However······

"Jiang Shizhu, why not each of us make our own oaths, supporting and watching over each other. We will help Shizhu fend off powerful foes, and the Shizhu in turn will fully assist our Buddha Country in Dharma Transmission. How about it?" White Lotus Saint Mother reasserted the suggestion, raising the same request.

"I too can make a grand vow; as long as Shizhu's enemies are not from my Buddha Country, I will certainly offer all my power to assist," Manjusri added.

Jiang Li: "Heh."

He revealed a polite smile.

'Thinking I'm unaware that you've colluded with the Jiang Family, huh?' Jiang Li thought to himself.

These baldies still don't know that the affair of the Buddha Country and Jiang Family colluding has been leaked. They still plan to earn off Jiang Li—Jiang Li had to admit, these baldies were as dark and crafty as expected from Manjusri, representing great wisdom among the Four Great Bodhisattvas.

Helping fully as long as not enemies of the Buddha Country?

In other words, if you're enemies of the Buddha Country, the vow means nothing.

And Jiang Li, he was bound to be an enemy of the Buddha Country, Jiang Family or not.

Jiang's possessions were not so easily taken.

"No need for more words; to prevent a long night full of dreams, let's proceed with the trade."

Jiang Li decisively rejected this insincere olive branch, raised three fingers, and swore, "Under the witness of Heaven, should Buddha Country's Manjusri, White Lotus, and Guangli Bodhisattvas make a vow using the 'Bodhisattva Vehicle' not to advance on us if I have not struck first within a month and also agree to defend against attacks from others, then I, Jiang Li, must deliver the Human Species Bag along with the Joyful Arhat and seven hundred and ten thousand people to the other party; should I violate this, I shall face Heaven's Punishment and not die a good death."

Straightforward wording, undeniable consequences, and virtually no loophole in the content······

The three Bodhisattvas weighed it in their hearts and really found no room for trickery.

The condition for striking was spelled out, meaning that they could not be blindsided by Jiang Li and struggle to counter. Jiang Li must deliver the goods, also ruling out any wordplay on his part.

For the three Bodhisattvas, should they make a vow, they too couldn't resort to wordplay. A vow arises from one's heart and corresponds to Dao Fruit; too much wordplay still wouldn't cheat oneself. Once violated, no matter how eloquent, no flowery speech could prevent backlash.

This trade might not be absolutely fair, but at least there was no flaw to be found.

After Jiang Li made his vow, a clear fluctuation appeared in the sky, signifying that the vow was accepted. Even though Heaven had just suffered damage, it was still on duty twelve hours a day, with no absence.

"Three Venerables, make your grand vows," Jiang Li held the Human Species Bag, saying, "I, Jiang, always treat others with sincerity, and also hope the three of you will treat me with sincerity, and not resort to any clever tricks. The content of the grand vow must match exactly what I have stated in my oath, with not a single error."