Taiyi Dao Fruit

"Within this temple, we have the armor and blade forging methods of the Qingyuan Miaodao True Monarch; I am willing to craft armor for you, Fellow Daoist, to aid in your cultivation," Yin Tulong explained, seeming to notice Jiang Li's confusion.

This was also a gesture of goodwill from Yuxu Temple, a way of increasing Jiang Li's sense of belonging.

It seemed that Master Guang Cheng had made up his mind that Jiang Li would become a protector of Yuxu Temple and had come to deliver the benefits early.

'But I really don't want to be the Emperor...'

Jiang Li always felt that Daoist Guang Cheng had a curious misunderstanding about the promise of that day, but it was not easy to explain.

Whenever he hinted at it subtly, he would respond with an "I understand" in exactly that manner.

After all, this was about the Emperor's position; who would openly declare such intentions? Even if it were true, one would first have to decline thrice before accepting, and after ascending to the throne, perhaps add a line like "You have truly burdened me."

So, Daoist Guang Cheng "understood."

Jiang surmised that even if he were to clarify that he had no intention of taking the Emperor's seat, Daoist Guang Cheng might still not believe him.

There was no helping it; Jiang's reputation for being full of cunning strategies was already well-known throughout the land. Deceptive and cunning, that was the kind of person these strategies suited.

Probably only those who knew the ins and outs of the Emperor Dao Fruit would believe that Jiang Li had no interest in the title of Emperor.

"Then I must thank my Fellow Daoists for their kindness," Jiang Li responded without further politeness, effectively accepting the offer.

There was no point in him saying anything else; this affair would be followed by another, so he might as well accept it. Besides, Jiang Li was quite curious about the armor of the Qingyuan Miaodao True Monarch.

As for weapons, there was no need; he was now unafraid of being corroded and assimilated by the All Heaven Divine Sha, could use the Godslayer Spear for long range, and the Great Circle Sword for short. If all else failed, he could still extend his iron fists and tear apart fourth-rank demons with ease.

Body Sanctification was just that powerful; those who had used it, even of third grade, would attest to its quality.

"This is very good; I shall inform my senior brother that we can start crafting it. There is still time, Fellow Daoist; you should rest a bit more."

After finishing, Yin Tulong leaped up, with Wind and Fire Wheels appearing beneath his feet, whisking him away with a roar.

"Quite the fiery rush."

Jiang Li appraised the young Daoist's temperament and, not wanting to disturb Gongsun Qingyue by entering the house, stayed outside to quietly sense the Dao Fruit and observe its derivation.

Although he had advanced in realm not too long ago, having only been a day, during that day he had already fought with various fourth-rank opponents, including Wuzhiqi who contained the Dao Fruit of Sun Wukong; it was likely that he had gained something from these encounters.

Turning the pages of Karma Collection forward, after flipping through roughly a hundred pages of secretive bedroom matters, Jiang Li finally saw the previous records.

[Fought with the bearer of the Great Sage Equalling Heaven Dao Fruit, no victory or defeat but had the upper hand, Dao Fruit stirred, further integration achieved.]

'The Great Sage Equalling Heaven's aspect, huh? No wonder it seems deeply imbued with demonic nature, and furthermore, Erlang God fighting the Great Sage is quite the professional matchup.'

Seeing this, Jiang Li thought while continuing to flip through the pages.

He had also fought with Guangli Bodhisattva, Jiang Biehe, and others; perhaps there should be some gains.

Erlang God was a war deity, and the Derivation Method must revolve around battle.

And as Jiang Li predicted, combat could enhance the Dao Fruit, but the effect didn't seem to be ideal, at least not as good as the fight with Wuzhiqi according to the records.

'Even though the battle outcomes were substantial, the effects are not as ideal, it seems to be about the opponents. Demon Suppression suits the Dao Fruit integration better; the others also work but are not as effective as Demon Suppression. But I wonder how participating in a war that involves an entire dynasty might influence it?'

Considering that Yang Jian had participated in the Deification War, Jiang Li speculated that this should also have significant effects. While pondering, he turned the page.

"Hm?"

Jiang Li's thoughts suddenly halted, realizing that among those hundred pages of secretive bedroom matters, there were also instances of Dao Fruit integration. Though it was just a fleeting glimpse, with his current eye power, he could fully capture this piece of information.

[Taiyin Energy entered the body in large amounts, Dao Fruit slightly stirred, further integration achieved.]

[Close relationship with the bearer of the Three Holy Mothers Dao Fruit led to a stirring of causality, Dao Fruit sensed and further integrated.]

Jiang Li looked at the two lines of records, slowly raising a question mark.

The latter record was understandable, but the previous one... Could it be that this Yang Jian also had a fondness for Chang'e?

After giving it some thought, the divine skill "Carry Mountains and Chase the Sun" seemed quite similar to Hou Yi shooting down the suns in that it also made nine suns fall, so there might be a connection between the two. The drama from his previous life that had corresponding scenes seemed plausible upon scrutiny.

However...

"It shouldn't have to do with Taiyin itself."

Thoughts flickered in Jiang Li's mind, with swathes of text emerging in his sea of consciousness, "It should be related to the Eight-Nine Profound Skill."

He had acquired the divine skill of the "Eight-Nine Profound Skill," as well as this cultivation technique. Because of the divine skill, he had entered the threshold directly, and he could even employ transformations, but he had not actually undergone proper cultivation of it.

At this moment, as he sensed the Dao Fruit, the methodology of the Eight-Nine Profound Skill circulated in his mind, and with Jiang Li's present wisdom, understanding this cultivation technique wasn't too difficult.

As the name suggests, the essence of the Eight-Nine Profound Skill lies in the numbers eight and nine. Eight is the ultimate of the Yin numbers, and nine is the ultimate of the Yang numbers; eight and nine, in fact, encompass the numbers of Yin and Yang, which could also be said to cover the transformations of Yin and Yang.

The focus of this cultivation technique was on transformation, encompassing the changes of Yin and Yang, with all things and phenomena included in it. As for the formidable physical body, that was actually a byproduct of the transformations.

Jiang Li carefully examined this skill and found it to be quite similar to the "Form Tomb," at least in principle.

Unfortunately, with Jiang Li's current realm, he was still unable to determine which of these two cultivation techniques was superior.

Returning to the main point, since the Eight-Nine Profound Skill's intent was on the transformations of Yin and Yang, its cultivation naturally could not be separated from Yin and Yang. Jiang Li had absorbed a great amount of Taiyin Energy in a short time, which combined with his own Yang energy, and with the divine skill operating spontaneously, this corresponded to the practice of the Eight-Nine Profound Skill.

Progress on the Eight-Nine Profound Skill naturally also fit the causality of Qingyuan Miaodao True Monarch, rightfully qualifying as a derivation of the Dao Fruit.

One could even say that if Jiang Li practiced the Eight-Nine Profound Skill to a high level now, the Dao Fruit might directly reach Perfection.

"Unfortunately, the practice of this skill requires an amount of resources that could be called vast, as the transformation through Yin and Yang naturally requires refining all encompassed by Yin and Yang. Where in the world today could one find so many resources for cultivation? It's only because I can convert Ten Thousand Qi through Innate Qi, and also have the 'Form Tomb' as a reference, otherwise I would really only be able to use the Eight-Nine Profound Skill as a divine skill."

If it were someone else, let alone cultivating to a high level, even beginning the practice would be thanks to the fortune of the Dao Fruit.

Only Jiang Li had Innate Qi, and also had the "One-foot Hammer" continuously providing True Qi, which made his cultivation possible.

Even so, Jiang Li was unable to advance rapidly in this skill.

After all, although the "One-foot Hammer" was an unending, shamelessly relentless divine skill, the amount it could recover had a limit, and it could not provide a vast amount of Innate Qi all at once...

Vast?

Jiang Li stretched out his hand, and a small cauldron flew out from his sleeve.

Wasn't there a vast amount of Essence Qi right here?

The Divine Farmer's Cauldron contained the remains of a Golden Crow, and even after so many years, through the End of Dharma, the Golden Crow interred within the Divine Farmer's Cauldron had not completely settled. The supremely Yang Essence Qi continuously flowed within. Even used by successive Jiang family masters, every Family Master was able to awaken the Divine Farmer's appearance with the help of the Divine Farmer's Cauldron.

In the past, Jiang Li could not withstand the True Sun Fire, unable to truly utilize this precious cauldron, but now it was different.

The nine in the Eight-Nine Profound Skill, that's already present.

As for the eight, the extreme of Yin...

Jiang Li thought of the records in the Karma Collection and revealed a mysterious smile.

He now really wanted to go back to the dream realm, to say to that fairy, "Fairy, I want you to help me cultivate."

Additionally, since intimate relations with Gongsun Qingyue could invoke fate, that too could be arranged together, similarly aiding his cultivation.

In short, the method of deriving this Dao Fruit was Battle Battle Battle!

A great battle in various senses was the unparalleled method for deriving this Dao Fruit.

Jiang Li felt he had attained enlightenment and no longer needed the Yuxu Temple to inform him of the Derivation Method.