Taiyi Dao Fruit

Jiang Li's techniques were secretive and unorthodox, and all the other attendees possessed paper bodies, lacking their full strength, unable to detect any clues; Tianpeng, even if he noticed anything, might not understand why such effects occurred.

Only another victim—Gongsun Qingyue—could discern the truth in the first place.

Jiang Li's gaze locked onto the young man who had blatantly pointed out his possession of the "True Intent Technique Python" and fanned the flames.

The paper body that the youth inhabited was not his true body; as long as one knew how to control the Divine Essence, it wasn't impossible to appear before others in a different guise, so...

Jiang Li stared straight at the young man's chest, as if trying to pierce through the false façade to see the exaggerated and boastful pectoral muscles hidden beneath.

The other, sensing the scrutiny, instinctively tensed and subconsciously crossed their arms, as if to gain some sense of security. Then they lowered their hands and returned the intense gaze.

"Next, it's my turn," Gongsun Qingyue said in a male voice, striding forward with a menacing aura, "Qingyang, experience the magic of your junior brother."

"Magic shouldn't have anything to do with weapons, right?" Jiang Li inquired, turning to Tianpeng.

To be honest, Jiang Li wasn't exactly eager to face off against this senior sister. Being at a lower realm was one thing, but Gongsun Qingyue also knew his techniques—catching her off guard and defeating her would be hard!

However, Tianpeng wore an eager expression like someone who wanted to watch the excitement unfold, and cheerfully said, "You may use any means to fight your enemies, just show the breadth of what you've learned."

Naturally, that meant they were going to fight.

As soon as the words left Tianpeng's mouth, Gongsun Qingyue had already made her move, with no regard for martial virtue.

She did not use the flying swords witnessed the other day but conjured fire instead, sending five crimson Fire Snakes soaring through the air.

Just like Jiang Li, Gongsun Qingyue didn't want to expose her identity either, so naturally, she didn't use her signature magic.

But even if she wished to conceal it, Gongsun Qingyue was still an expert in Star Observation and Divination—those five Fire Snakes circled and danced erratically, blocking all of Jiang Li's retreat paths in what seemed like a haphazard manner.

Fortunately, Jiang Li also paid no heed to martial virtue.

Before Tianpeng could even finish speaking, Jiang Li had already quietly channeled his True Qi, ready to burst forth. Facing the Fire Snakes, Jiang Li's fingers traced in the air, and a Freezing Ice Talisman instantly formed, sending forth a piercing chill against the incoming Fire Snakes.

"Bang!"

Ice clashed with fire, instantly producing dense steam—not enough to spread far, but sufficient to obscure Jiang Li's figure.

The Fire Snake, superior to an unclassified Freezing Ice Talisman, saw Gongsun Qingyue flip her hands and direct the nimble firelight through the steam, relentlessly strangling its target.

Simultaneously, a layer of Invisible Power enveloped her body, and faint collision sounds were heard near her waist.

'This rascal, he really does want to repeat his old tricks,' Gongsun Qingyue thought with a surge of inner resentment as she heard the noises.

"True Intent Technique Python" turned mental strength into Telekinesis; it was invisible and traceless, hard to detect. If used in combination with the Bending Flower Hand, it was akin to a ghostly hand—a defense incredibly difficult to guard against. However, it was Gongsun Qingyue who had taught Jiang Li this technique, so how could she not be aware of its potency?

Using the same "True Intent Technique Python," an Invisible Power enveloped her, isolating her from external forces and utterly cutting off Jiang Li's chance to employ the Bending Flower Hand to defeat his enemy.

In that moment, Jiang Li unleashed six moves, all aimed at Gongsun Qingyue's sensitive acupoints, only for her to easily block them. At the same time, Gongsun Qingyue, from a distance, controlled the Fire Snakes; steam was sliced apart, revealing Jiang Li's figure.

'What meticulous control.'

While admiring Gongsun Qingyue's response, Jiang Li quickly computed strategies using the Karma Collection. Formulas and drafts rapidly flitted across the pages; he leapt up, evading the ambush of two Fire Snakes and, using Telekinesis to control his body from the outside, twisted mid-air like a Wandering Dragon, just brushing past the remaining three Fire Snakes.

Afterward, Jiang Li pressed a palm to the ground to borrow strength to spring up and dash forward, materializing a long spear in her hand and unleashing several streaks of cold stars into the air.

"Six Harmonies Spear Technique, used for initial foundation building." Qi Changsheng exclaimed softly upon seeing this.

The other onlookers also showed looks of astonishment.

From the start until now, Jiang Li had displayed swordsmanship, hand techniques, spear skills, and even magic. In these four areas, she indeed possessed considerable skill.

Facing the piercing cold stars from above, Gongsun Qingyue immediately abandoned the Fire Snake, spread her five fingers wide, and shoved them forcefully forward.

"Boom!"

Explosive flames burst forth in front of her, with Gongsun Qingyue's palm turning a vermillion red, exhibiting fierce power as she shot out brilliant flames.

"Some among the spectators who observed said in a subdued tone, ""Dual cultivation of magic and martial arts, and this hand technique resembles the sect's supreme Drought God Palm..."" but it shouldn't be possible. Even if she is Eighth Rank, she still shouldn't be able to cultivate the Drought God Palm."

The Flame Palm met the cold starlight, which was promptly drowned out. The raging Flame Power scorched Jiang Li's body, prompting a faint golden light to emerge.

During the cover of steam, she had quietly employed the Six Ding and Six Jia Protection Talisman.

Under the constraints of limited strength, the amulet's power significantly diminished; however, since everyone was equally handicapped, it was as if it hadn't diminished at all.

Nevertheless, given that Gongsun Qingyue's realm was two ranks higher than Jiang Li's, even without exerting her full strength, the Flame Power still penetrated the protective golden light, leaving Jiang Li with a sensation that her body was about to combust. A paper man's body is, of course, particularly prone to burning.

Jiang Li's form faltered, and she plummeted from midair to the ground, where the weapon in her hand transformed into a long blade. As she rolled on the ground, her sword light struck in succession, aiming for Gongsun Qingyue's legs.

This was the Earth Lying Blade technique she acquired during a pursuit task—a swordsmanship that coordinated with tumbling and rolling.

Gongsun Qingyue immediately pressed both palms downward, unleashing an overwhelming wave of hot air that enveloped Jiang Li's entire body.

However, at that moment, an invisible gentle force adhered to her body from behind.

It didn't collide but swept over her back as softly as a palm. Even with telekinesis safeguarding her, Gongsun Qingyue still felt a trace of pressure.

This Jiang Li had truly learned to adapt on the fly, transforming the "True Intent Technique Python" into an expansive force from a focal point and using it on her.

That brushing force traveled down along her spine, all the way...

Gongsun Qingyue promptly gathered her energy and released it as a shockwave, her True Qi exploding from her body to disperse the force, while she sprang back like a coiled spring.

"I concede," she said with an extremely frustrated tone.

Continuing the fight was not impossible, and Gongsun Qingyue even felt that she had a great chance of winning, but if things proceeded this way, she feared that Jiang Li would take complete advantage. Even though there was a barrier of force, and even though it wasn't Jiang Li's own palm, nor could he feel the touch, Gongsun Qingyue still couldn't accept it.

Therefore, she had to concede.

Therefore, it was exceptionally frustrating.

Neither of them wished to reveal their identity, but her strength was still superior to her opponent's, and she should have taught this ruffian a lesson. Instead, she had been defeated a second time. This thought alone almost made Gongsun Qingyue want to vomit blood.

"Thank you for yielding."

Jiang Li performed an agile kip-up to stand, extending her hand to dust off non-existent dirt, exuding the demeanor of a master, and showing no sign of the underhandedness she displayed earlier.

She dispelled the long blade, stood with her hands clasped behind her back, gazed around at the surrounding crowd, and declared with resonating confidence, "Who else is there?"