Taiyi Dao Fruit

The Guangming Daoist, who had once represented the Retro Party at the Sword Discussion Conference, was now in front of the furnace, tending to the fire. Daoist Guang Cheng was also present. As for Guang Yuan and Yin Tulong, one was stationed at Yuqing Hall while the other was resting.

Seeing Guangling bring Jiang Li over, Daoist Guang Cheng was the first to speak, "Our Yuxu Temple's cultivation emphasizes the union of man and magic artifact, allowing the tangible to be refined into the intangible, turning the physically present magic artifacts into formless ones, and yet still able to integrate the Dao Fruit Divine Powers related to the magic treasures. With the artifact carrying the Dao, one can refine a unique artifact belonging to oneself, recreating those lost or destroyed Ancient Treasures from the Dao Fruits. Generations of successors have cultivated in this way; due to a preference for Sword Control, it has also become known as one of the two greatest Qi Blades in the Mystic Sect."

Jiang Li was naturally aware of Yuxu Temple's renowned secret skill, but this was the first time he had heard such inside information, which was only known to the insiders of the sect.

The so-called Qi Blade technique of Yuxu Temple was actually a manifestation of refining the solid into the void, and at its core, it involved using the artifact to carry the Dao.

The simplest way to achieve this was to use the Dao Fruit Divine Power as the Dao, combining it with the refining of the magic artifact, blending and refining the two until they become one with the cultivator. Then through continuous cultivation, one enriches the life-bound artifact, giving it substance.

In doing so, it is as if the Ancient Magic Treasures contained in the Dao Fruits have been recreated. Although not as powerful as the original, because of the unity of person and artifact, in the future, it may be comparable to, or even surpass, the original.

The Chaos Sky Ribbon, Qiankun Ring, Fire-tipped Spear of Yin Tulong, the Heavenly Gang Saber, Wu Hook Double Swords of Jiang Biehe, and even the Yin Yang Two Extremes Sword of Daoist Guang Cheng, all qualify as artifacts carrying the Dao.

However, as far as Jiang Li knew, the Dao Fruit of Guang Chengzi did not contain the Yin Yang Two Extremes Sword. The true name of the twin swords should be Twin Swords, which was not as intimidating as its current name. Moreover, although Guang Chengzi was known as the Ancestor of Sword Immortals, his most famous magic treasure was not the Twin Swords...

It can only be said that this Daoist had a real talent for secrecy. If Jiang Li hadn't known the inside story, he could have been deceived like everyone else.

First, Guangling Daoist had informed him about the Third Grade Daoist Artifact, and now, Daoist Guang Cheng explained refining the solid into the void, with a hidden agenda behind it all, which made Jiang Li inwardly admire Daoist Guang Cheng's strategy.

This move was really generous, almost like an otherworldly version of Wang Duoyu.

Sure enough, Daoist Guang Cheng said, "The armor is not yet complete, and now is the time to imprint it. If it receives the essence energy and Divine Thought of the artifact's master to refine it, then when controlling the artifact in the future, it will be in perfect harmony with the will, as easy as commanding one's own limbs. Now, listen to poor Daoist's explanation."

"Heaven attains one for clarity, Earth attains one for tranquility, Divinity attains one for spiritual life, the valley attains one for abundance, all things attain one to thrive. With clarity, tranquility, spiritual life, abundance, and life, the Six Qi nourish all, the manifold spirits gather, and with one's body, one may cut through Heaven—silent and mighty, they are my mandate, they are my strength."

As the incantations were recited, various anomalies evolved from the Six Qi, revealing mysterious mechanisms.

On the surface, it was about the method of controlling artifacts, but in reality, it was about using the artifact to carry the Dao and refining the solid into the void.

[As Daoist Guang Cheng recited the incantations, Jiang Li's mind and spirit moved instinctively, with merely a thought giving rise to motion in the Primordial Qi, manifesting the Six Qi. But at the same time, the fate and causality contained within the Dao Fruit were also influenced, subtly swaying towards the Yuxu Temple's influence.]

Moving the Dao Fruit with causality and leading causality with the Dao Fruit, Jiang Li looked at the words that appeared on the Karma Collection, silently estimating the degree of Daoist Guang Cheng's Yi Dao accomplishment.

The profundity of this Daoist's understanding of causality and divination was no less than Tianxuan's, and his expertise was different from that of Wind Queen's Qimen. It was truly an eye-opening experience for Jiang Li.

Starting with the Dao Fruit to approach causality was indeed an unconventional method.

And as for Daoist Guang Cheng's investment...

Swallow it!

Jiang Li chose to swallow it in one gulp.

He was currently seeking investment, aspiring to rise above his successors and catch up with the old fellows at the third grade. He had to consume everything edible to accelerate his advancement and overtake the competition on the curve.

As the situation evolved, the hearts of the third-grade powerhouses were also restless. Perhaps tomorrow, or even in the next moment, some third-grade might attempt to break into the second grade.

To claim a place for oneself in this great era, one must not miss any opportunity for progress.

As for causality, that would be left to the future self, trusting in the wisdom of the future.

His thoughts moved effortlessly, with the Innate Qi perfectly evolving the corresponding Qi mechanism, forming a wisp of ethereal energy.

"...The essence of the Three Yang, the features of the Three Yin, one thought returns to Yin and Yang, one Qi transforms chaos..."

As the incantation and Divine Intent entered his ears and eyes, Jiang Li pointed a sword finger, infusing his essence, Qi, and spirit into the ethereal energy, directing it straight into the Taiji Eight Trigram Furnace.

His intent and perception felt as if they had detached from the body, following the Qi into the furnace to witness the True Fire refining the objects, within the thousand transformations of the flame light, a silver suit of armor hung silently.

The rudimentary artifact embryo was becoming refined, as patterns reemerged upon the armor, endowed with an indestructible charm. At first glance, one could recognize the armor's defensive capabilities.

A misty aura entered the armor, and Jiang Li's perception and intentions followed suit, as if directly donning a version of the armor, causing the silver armor to stretch as though worn by an invisible person.

The method of artifact refining practiced by the Retro Party sounded mystical, requiring harmony between the artifact and the user, and alignment with celestial movements, using the advantage of location, not as pragmatic as the approach of the Reformist Party. However, this method of refining wouldn't exist if it were without its profound mysteries.

It could even be said that if it weren't for the End of Dharma era, the Reformist Party might not have emerged at all.

One could only conclude that times had changed, not that this method of refining was ineffective.

As for Jiang Li, he had now created the "Yiyuan Jinghui," taking a contrary approach, which suited him quite well, even if it seemed somewhat outdated.

Even in the future, when Jiang Li's cultivation technique progressed, he might very well be able to…

At this thought, a red light appeared on Jiang Li's body, his aura bright yet not blinding, with countless scenes flashing within it — the Fire Cultivation, the Divine Farmer tasting Hundred Herbs, and the evolution of time.

The journey of the Human Race blinked past in a brief moment, a profound sense of greatness stirring within Jiang Li's heart.

'The Ochre Whip is resonating with me…'

'To achieve a feat that will influence the Human Race for five thousand years…'

Jiang Li recalled the Promotion Ceremony of the Emperor Dao Fruit and instinctively clenched his fist.

Would reversing the environmental changes of the world and returning to the era before the End of Dharma count as influencing the Human Race for five thousand years?

It might not even be necessary to restore the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Mechanism; just initiating a change might impact countless years to come.

Jiang Li knew he wasn't one to bless all living beings with his character, but if he could do so while growing stronger, he wouldn't hesitate to lend a helping hand.

Just like reversing the environmental changes, it was within the scope of benefiting himself while conveniently affecting the future.

'In that case, advancing oneself truly is the urgent matter at hand. As long as my strength increases and Dao Fruit achieves Perfection, there could truly be a possibility of going against the flow and accomplishing this feat. With that, advancing to Third Grade would be as natural as the flow of water.'

And to advance quickly, naturally, it meant being a protector, slaying demons and monsters, the immediate primary goal…

Jiang Li's thoughts whirled, and with a single thought, kill intent arose.

"Kill intent!"

In the valleys of Liangzhou Province, next to a majestic statue, Gongsun Qi had just stepped out from the Yellow Cloud, when he looked up at the sky.

In his eyes, the already shifting Ziwei Emperor Star seemed to be pushed by an invisible force, starting to accelerate away from its position at the North Pole.

"Heaven unleashes killing intent, moving stars and changing lodgings; but this killing intent doesn't seem to come from heaven and earth, but rather caused by man moving heaven. This is... Heaven and Man Combined."

Gongsun Qi, who had remained placid in the face of Earth Uncle, a Third Grade old monster, now had a solemn expression, "Who is behind this?"

No one in the world understood the Heavenly Dao better than him. If there were signs of Heavenly Killing Mechanism, it should have been instigated by Gongsun Qi himself. But now, with another's thought invoking killing intent and triggering changes, Gongsun Qi felt a chill in his heart.

What was more crucial was —

"This killing intent is targeting the Taiping Sect, or rather... me."