Taiyi Dao Fruit

The following afternoon,

Jiang Li walked past Kaiyang Hall, still carrying the dampness on his body. As he approached the Daoist Law Pavilion, he caused Elder Wan, who was playing a game against himself, to show a surprised expression.

"What, have you awakened a Water Spirit Physique?" asked Elder Wan incredulously. "That shouldn't be right. You are a descendant of Emperor Yan, if you have any special physique, it should belong to the Fire Element."

"It's just that I took a bath before coming here," Jiang Li said expressionlessly.

Indeed, it was just a bath, albeit a slightly long one.

Speaking, Jiang Li approached and handed over two books to Elder Wan, saying, "These are the secrets of Louguan Swordsmanship and the Six Ding and Six Jia Protection Talisman. I am returning them now."

"Two days late, but considering your special circumstances, I won't punish you," Elder Wan accepted the books and said, "After all, these special circumstances were caused by me."

If it hadn't been for his challenge to defeat ten opponents, Jiang Li wouldn't have actually set up a challenge at the Fengyun Platform. Considering the responsibility, Elder Wan felt this unscrupulous young man might blame him.

Taking the two books, Elder Wan then took out a Jade Token from his sleeve and handed it to Jiang Li, "Your Jade Token. Senior Brother Qi asked me to pass it on before he went to Si Fan Valley."

During the previous competition on the Fengyun Platform, Jiang Li had hung his Disciple Jade Token on a long banner and let the challengers transfer money themselves. After the competition ended, he was taken away by Feng Ziyang, and naturally, the Jade Token was also left behind, temporarily safeguarded by Qi Changsheng.

And this Senior Brother Qi, this time, was reliable enough not to make Jiang Li run to Si Fan Valley to retrieve his identity Jade Token.

Jiang Li took the Jade Token and concentrated his senses; the count of good deeds appeared in his mind.

—Five thousand four hundred good deeds.

Noticing this number, he frowned and thought, and the Karma Collection began to flip forward.

'Jiang Baichuan, Dingzhen, Cai Zhiying, Yi Yang... a total of twenty-eight people, missing two hundred good deeds.'

The identity Jade Token was infused with its owner's essence blood; hence, no one else could use the good deeds inside it. Even though Jiang Li agreed to share the earnings with Qi Changsheng twenty-eighty, he had to wait until he got his own Jade Token to distribute the shares.

That meant someone had enjoyed a free ride on Jiang Li's account without paying the entry fee to the Fengyun Platform.

Jiang Li's gaze sharpened as he reviewed the records in the Karma Collection.

Then, he found the freeloader.

"Lu Wangji didn't contribute any good deeds; he went straight up to compete," Jiang Li said indignantly. "He wouldn't even pay two hundred good deeds. This guy had better not revert to the surname Jiang in his lifetime. I don't acknowledge such a clansman."

[I've noted this vendetta.]

The Karma Collection dutifully recorded this debt.

"Two hundred good deeds,— is it really worth quibbling over?" Elder Wan, listening at the side, couldn't help but laugh and cry.

"Even a mosquito's leg is flesh."

Jiang Li retorted, then sat opposite Elder Wan and asked, "By the way, elder, do you know about the Yin Talisman Seven Skills?"

"The Yin Talisman Seven Skills?" Elder Wan showed a thoughtful expression. "I remember, that's a Zongheng Dao exclusive, combining magic and martial arts, though exceptionally difficult to cultivate, it has no realm requirements. The stronger the cultivator, the stronger this technique becomes, and vice versa. This skill has quite the connection with our sect's Yin Talisman Scripture, it's said to have been developed after researching the Yin Talisman Scripture. Why do you ask?"

Jiang Li didn't intentionally conceal his motives, and straightforwardly said, "I inadvertently obtained one of the Seven Skills and found it extremely arcane, so I wanted to consult some Daoist scriptures for reference."

In fact, Jiang Li was looking to gain experience for the "Three Teachings Unification" ability.

"Three Teachings Unification" had the function of assisting in cultivation. The deeper Jiang Li's understanding of the essence of the Three Teachings, the faster and more exceptional his comprehension of the Three Teachings' cultivation techniques became. Jiang Li had now stabilized his footing and no longer worried about when he might be abruptly killed, naturally paying attention to this ability.

Moreover, the Yin Talisman Seven Skills discussed the origins and were also related to the Mystic Sect, enhancing Dao Fruit abilities and aiding in the study of the Yin Talisman Seven Skills.

"Follow me," said Elder Wan.

Elder Wan rose and led Jiang Li into the Daoist Law Pavilion and to a corner on the first floor, where he opened a small door.

Inside the small door was another world entirely—an expansive room filled with bookshelves, with only a space in the middle cleared for a desk. Volumes, both ancient and new, were displayed on the shelves, a dazzling array.

"This is my personal library; it contains the scriptures of the Three Teachings as well as the knowledge of a hundred scholars. Here, you should be able to find the books you want," Elder Wan said, his face barely hiding his pride.

Every collector enjoys showing off their treasures to others, and Elder Wan was no exception.

Seeing Jiang Li's surprised expression made Elder Wan even more pleased.

"I didn't expect Elder Wan to have this hobby," Jiang Li remarked.

"It's half hobby, half for the sake of cultivation," replied Elder Wan. He nodded then shook his head, walking ahead between the shelves and said, "When you reach the Eighth Rank, you'll understand—the higher the realm, the deeper and clearer the perception of the world, and you'll be able to detect the Five Vile Qi more clearly. If one is not mentally stable enough, one might accidentally absorb this Qi into one's body, causing major damage to one's foundation even if it doesn't lead to death."

"Otherwise, why do some outer elders remain trapped at the Seventh Rank, unable to advance any further? It's not that they don't want to move up, but that they can't. Their realm is insufficient; even if they succeed in advancing, it ends in death."

Jiang Li thought about the Five Vile Qi he had sensed before and deeply agreed.

The mere instant of perception had let Jiang Li understand the ominousness and destructiveness of the Five Vile Qi, and high rank cultivators who sensed this Qi day and night were like walking on the edge of a cliff—the pressure was imaginable.

Without an exceptionally strong mental state, even if one didn't die from the evil Qi invading the body, one would likely suffer from mental aberration due to enduring constant pressure.

Five Turbid Evil World—at this moment, Jiang Li truly understood the severity of the Five Turbid Evil World.

"I appreciate the instruction," Jiang Li replied respectfully.

"It's good you understand," said Elder Wan, rolling his eyes. He took a book from the shelf in front of him and handed it to Jiang Li, "With such a heavy heart, you might suffer because of your mental state. Read more books and nurture your mind. This is my private room, so I won't charge you any good deeds."

"Thank you, Elder," Jiang Li said, taking the book and bowing deeply, filled with gratitude.

Once Elder Wan had left, Jiang Li straightened up.

This elder truly treated him as a junior—not just sharing his heart but exceeding the responsibilities of an elder.

Such generosity...

"I feel unworthy," Jiang Li murmured softly.

Usually so smooth and shameless, an intangible barrier now emerged within him.

Jiang Li had grown accustomed to this world, but he had never fully integrated, maintaining a deep and hidden detachment from everyone.

It was this detachment that sometimes made him faceless and shameless, because he didn't care. He didn't care about other's opinions, nor even his own dignity.

Elder Wan's generosity was profound, yet Jiang Li had never truly responded with sincerity.