Taiyi Dao Fruit

"You don't understand."

Buddhist Zhen Ru sighed lightly, "The most important aspect of practicing Buddhist Law is spiritual awakening, not faith in incense, nor anything else. Your decision-making, based on weighing gains and gratitude, only shows that you still don't understand. Nonetheless, at least you are willing to make such a choice, which is better than remaining deluded. I just hope you will come to understand this one day."

As he spoke, a golden lotus drifted out of the Stone Pavilion, slowly flying to the severed arm of Guangli Bodhisattva and attaching itself to the wound.

The golden lotus bloomed gradually, and a new arm grew out from within the lotus, replacing Guangli Bodhisattva's lost limb.

"Thank you, Chief," Guangli Bodhisattva immediately gave his thanks.

This gesture confirmed Guangli Bodhisattva's allegiance under the Awakened, ready to serve him.

After the formalities, Guangli Bodhisattva discussed the prior situation with his superior, or rather, his collaborator Manjusri Bodhisattva.

"Manjusri and Guanyin's Disciple have now reached a consensus, and they are connected with the Jiang Family, alongside their collaborator White Lotus Saint Mother, who seems to have established a foundation in secret. Chief, if you wish to rectify the atmosphere in Buddha Country, you must first break the alliance between the two Great Masters," said Guangli Bodhisattva.

"There's no need to worry about this," Buddhist Zhen Ru shook his head, "Manjusri will naturally be handled by that Jiang Shizhu. He is a member of the main Jiang Family and is completely incompatible with Jiang Shizhu, like water and fire."

Jiang Shizhu? Jiang Li?

And Manjusri is a member of the main Jiang Family?

A chill ran through Guangli Bodhisattva's heart, both from the Awakened's grasp of the situation and Manjusri's identity.

Thinking of how Manjusri was promoted by the Awakened in the past, there must have been prior calculations.

However, with this, there was no need to worry about Manjusri gaining more power.

Especially since Jiang Shizhu, with his strong abilities ranking within fourth-rank, with few equals, and backed by the Gongsun Family, had enough support to counterbalance Manjusri.

Jiang Li, moreover, would likely continue to expand his influence; his reputation alone was enough to support his ascending status.

After today's battle, Jiang Li was destined to become renowned throughout the world.

······

······

"After today, my disciple will become renowned throughout the world."

In the spacious hall, Tianxuan looked at the Fire Eye within the Ghost Gate, saying, "To kill Jiang Li, you even cooperated with people from Buddha Country, which has connections with the main Jiang Family. You claim to be against the Jiang Family, yet you end up collaborating with the enemy."

His words seemed to have a significant effect, the flame within the Fire Eye flickered, and the scorched cracks it caused began to widen.

A cold hum mixed with the wails of countless tortured souls emanated from the Ghost Gate.

"The main Jiang Family is digging their own grave, and removing them is only a matter of time," the voice of Earth Uncle resonated as if echoing from the abyss, "The deeper their collusion with Buddha Country, the more reason our clan has to strike. When Buddha Country invades on a large scale, it will be time to deal with the Jiang Family as well, and even Heaven will have no reason to punish us."

Considering that Great Zhou is nominally shared by the Ji Family and the Jiang Family, if the latter invites foreign enemies, it could be seen as a betrayal of their alliance, allowing the Ji Family to act righteously without fear of heavenly punishment.

As the saying goes, with age comes cunning, and Earth Uncle, having lived so long, is not one to be idle.

Tianxuan had to admit the old man was shrewd.

If it weren't for the next statement, Tianxuan might have applauded Earth Uncle.

Unfortunately, there was no "if."

Because by doing this, it only showed that in Earth Uncle's heart, someone posed a greater threat than the main Jiang Family.

Sure enough, Earth Uncle continued gravely, "Compared to the doomed dogs of the main Jiang Family, the young Jiang Li is more urgent to eliminate. He can bend and stretch, despite rumors of him merely being an affiliated son-in-law, he remains unconcerned, showing great ambition. With his exceptional talents, if not removed now, he may become a grave threat in the future."

"With me here, that will never happen."

Tianxuan's eyebrows lifted sharply, her tone cool, "Rather than worrying about Jiang Li, you might want to consider Ji Jiji. His ambitions are now blatantly apparent; does the ancestor truly want a ruler from Yellow Heaven over his head in the future?"

"I shall decide on that matter myself," Earth Uncle stated decisively.

"I shall also decide on the matter concerning Jiang Li," Tianxuan's resolve was no less firm than Earth Uncle's.

"Yuan Xi, you will regret this."

As his voice faded, the Ghost Gate abruptly descended, sinking into the ground and severing the connection between yin and yang, thus cutting off Earth Uncle's line of sight.

"The old fellow truly believed he could handle everything perfectly, not fearing the danger inherent in raising a tiger. How could Gongsun Qi be so easily manipulated?"

Tianxuan's face showed a dark expression.

"Or could it be that he too was ensnared by Gongsun Qi's path?"

The power of the Ji Family was indeed not weak. Even though the Emperor was sealed, there was still Tianxuan, Ji Lingguang, and even the Yin Law Department, rulers appointed in various provinces. The main reason for allowing the Taiping Sect to cause chaos in Liangzhou was to guard against the power of the Dragon Palace in the southern Three States, and the suspect return of the Jiang family from overseas.

The difficulty of maintaining too vast a territory lay in the scattered power that needed stabilization in all regions.

But even so, trying to control a supreme figure like Gongsun Qi was pure fantasy.

The reason Gongsun Qi retreated before was not his own lack of strength but because Heaven had descended with power.

Or did Earth Uncle think he could use Heaven's power to check Gongsun Qi?

Thinking of Gongsun Qi's probing action in this battle at Kunxu, Tianxuan cursed inwardly for his cunning.

'Yun Jiuye will die, losing value maybe one of the reasons, another reason is that Gongsun Qi wants to show weakness.'

Fearing the targeting by Heaven, even unable to save his own direct disciple, it indeed served as a manipulable point. If Earth Uncle truly believed he could balance Gongsun Qi, then after Yun Jiuye's death, he would likely further deepen that impression.

Yun Jiuye had intended to escape through the underworld before his death, which also indicated that there must have been someone from the Yin Law Department following him on this trip.

Tianxuan thought so, deeming this possibility not small.

Compared to the submission of the weak, the temporary weakness shown by the powerful was undoubtedly far more effective.

There was no need to make deliberate gestures, just inadvertently showing a bit of helplessness could stir up a brainstorm in others.

Thinking of this, Tianxuan felt that she should immediately talk to Jiang Li.

She waved her hand to close the doors of the great hall, set up a prohibition, then remotely sensed the mark, communicating with the others through the dream realm.

The Dao Fruit given to Gongsun Qingyue was not chosen at random, as the Wushan Divine Woman also had the power to enter the dream realm, which made communication between Tianxuan and Gongsun Qingyue more direct and much easier.

She could even project the shadow of her Primordial Spirit through dreams.

Earlier, she had been able to meet the Immortal Queen with an illusion, thanks to this type of communication.

However, before it looked like a double operation, it seemed like the arrival of the Primordial Spirit, but in reality, it was mostly about bluffing, but now it was truly giving it full effort.

Connecting through the Primordial Spirit's mark, sensing a consciousness extremely familiar and even deeply interactive with the Primordial Spirit, Tianxuan wove together the dream.

...

...

Night fell silently, and Yuxu Temple also welcomed the calm after the great battle.

Sitting on the couch in a guest room of Yuxu Temple, Jiang Li was stroking Gongsun Qingyue's hair, resting with his eyes closed.

Though the meeting place between Gongsun Qingyue and the Immortal Queen wasn't yet at West Kunxu, it was still thousands of miles away from Yuxu Temple. Gongsun Qingyue, just flying back, was barely manageable. After all, she wasn't Jiang Li, who could cross a distance of thousands of miles in a short time at fifth-rank, even without showing fatigue.

And an elder like their master didn't help either.

Thus, after returning to Yuxu Temple, Gongsun Qingyue found Jiang Li and they both went to rest in the guest room of Yuxu Temple.

Both were cautious to the bones, even if they had formed an alliance with Yuxu Temple, they had to ensure safety while resting. Hence, the scene now, Jiang Li resting with eyes closed, furthermore serving as a leg pillow for Gongsun Qingyue.

Although a man giving a woman a leg pillow was somewhat unconventional, considering it was Jiang Li's first experience, he was eager to try it.

Which led to the scene now.

Gongsun Qingyue lay on Jiang Li's legs, deeply asleep, while Jiang Li felt novel and simultaneously sensed the Dao Fruit Divine Power.

Just when the two of them were enjoying their peaceful times, an invisible fluctuation emitted from Gongsun Qingyue's body, and Jiang Li felt a familiar pulling sensation.

"Is there a situation over at Divine Capital?"

Jiang Li whispered, calling out, "Xiao Tian, protector."

A red shadow dashed from some corner and sat down by Jiang Li's feet, while Jiang Li rode the wave of fluctuation and entered the dream realm.