Taiyi Dao Fruit

Hidden like a needle in cotton yet unavoidable, along with the display of control, whether deliberate or incidental. If things really go as Tianxuan has planned, taking one step at a time to the very end, let's not even mention Gongsun Qingyue's aspiration to be the first wife, Jiang Li himself would be neatly dealt with.

The past standings of the trio of mentor and disciples, the future remains the same.

"I originally thought I'd be the fisherman benefiting from the fight between the snipe and the clam, but looking at it now, where's the fisherman's benefit? The relationship between hunter and prey can reverse at any time, and until the end, no one knows who the prey is."

Jiang Li felt a sense of urgency pressing on him, "I must advance to the fourth-rank as soon as possible."

He was just one step away from eating his fill the hard way, and he did not wish to fall before dawn, becoming the second Feng Manlou.

Only by advancing to the fourth-rank could he stand on equal footing with Tianxuan in terms of power, and stabilize his position within the Sect. Otherwise, he could expect to be perpetually suppressed by an aggressively advancing Tianxuan.

Gongsun Qingyue was beaten to the point of no return, while Jiang Li still played the least knowledgeable person. Tianxuan still held the upper hand, her phoenix eyes sweeping around, her authority as a mentor unbreakable.

She looked towards Jiang Li and asked, "Disciple, have you decided on your Fourth Grade Dao Fruit?"

The teacher knows the student best, Tianxuan who used to monitor Jiang Li every day could be said to understand him the most in this world. As soon as she heard Jiang Li wanted to go to the Yuxu Temple, she knew he had a target.

Otherwise, even if he had some unresolved matter with the Yuxu Temple, he wouldn't waste time on it at this juncture.

"Yes," Jiang Li did not conceal anything and told the truth, "Disciple fancies the Dao Fruit of the Qingyuan Miao Dao True Monarch from the Yuxu Temple."

"Qingyuan Miao Dao True Monarch," Tianxuan's voice paused for a moment, seeming to remember this Dao Fruit, "This Dao Fruit, it has been over a thousand years since anyone last took it on, right? The advancement method of the Qingyuan Miao Dao True Monarch is extremely dangerous, requiring one to pass through the Three Calamities of wind, fire, and lightning to advance, with failure resulting in death. The Sect previously had ancestors who witnessed this Dao Fruit's Promotion Ceremony who said that the most basic requirement to advance this Dao Fruit is a cultivation comparable to the fourth-rank, otherwise, it would be difficult to survive the Three Calamities, certain death."

"The ancestor who went to witness the advancement that time also ended in failure. The fifth-rank cultivator from Yuxu Temple who attempted to contain the Dao Fruit died on the spot. After that, for hundreds of years, no one from the Yuxu Temple sought to advance to this Dao Fruit."

"Having a strength comparable to the fourth-rank while still being in the fifth-rank, and that's just the basic requirement, no wonder," Jiang Li nodded.

For cultivators to advance, they rely on the Dao Fruit to enhance their level, in the hope of cultivating a higher power.

This is the method of cultivation after the End of Dharma.

Yet, the Qingyuan Miao Dao True Monarch requires the opposite, to possess the power of a fourth-rank cultivator before reaching that level. This power is not only quantitatively demanding but also requires extremely high standards in quality and control.

It can be said if one meets this standard, then the difference between them and a fourth-rank is just in their Divine Skills.

Such a requirement may have been achievable before the End of Dharma, but afterwards, its difficulty might be even greater than the promotion from fourth to third-rank.

Looking at the situation, one can see that while it was still possible to achieve a fourth-grade advancement, cultivators advancing to the third grade in the past few hundred years, although rare, still existed. However, no one suitable for the Qingyuan Miao Dao True Monarch Dao Fruit has been seen for a thousand years.

But for Jiang Li, this requirement has already been proven to be a fact.

Jiang Li, he has met the requirements for cultivation. At least containing the Qingyuan Miao Dao True Monarch Dao Fruit no longer meant certain death.

Therefore, for him, the priority now is not about advancing, but how to get the Yuxu Temple to agree to part with the Dao Fruit, allowing Jiang Li to advance.

"Although Yuxu Temple is part of the Mystic Sect Sanqing Sect, it has deep connections with both the Ji Family and Jiang family, just like when Luu Tianpeng entered the Dinghu Sect back in the day. The Jiang family had ancestors who joined the Yuxu Temple, and not just one."

Tianxuan continued, "Shen Hou and Yin Tulong are willing to let the matter of the Great Circle Sword slide easily, partly because of this reason. Your desire for the Qingyuan Miao Dao True Monarch's Dao Fruit is not impossible."

As she spoke, Tianxuan suddenly approached, came beside Jiang Li in front of Gongsun Qingyue, and whispered in his ear.

After a long while, when Gongsun Qingyue's face was turning green with envy, Tianxuan stepped back and asked, "Do you understand?"

"I understand," Jiang Li nodded.

"Good."

Tianxuan nodded and then looked toward Gongsun Qingyue, "As for you, Qingyue, your Dao Fruit should also have reached Perfection. You cultivate the Drought God Palm, based on the Fire Element, but should you wish to advance to the Nine Heavens Mysterious Lady in the future, though it pertains to yang, it's of Qianjin's Virtue. You must not let your fire nature become too overwhelming; instead, advance with the Dao Fruit of the Wushan Divine Woman."

As she spoke, Tianxuan gently lifted her hand, and a streak of red light flew out, landing in front of Gongsun Qingyue, condensing into the shape of a spirit grass.

"The Wushan Divine Woman, being the Daughter of Emperor Yan, naturally belongs to the Fire Element. However, the Goddess died unwedded and her Essence Soul lingered on the grass, also incorporating the Wood Element, which has mitigated some of the fire nature. This happens to be quite suitable for your cultivation body. And as the Divine Woman is an imperial daughter, it fits your status as a descendant of the Human Queen. Although she's the Daughter of Emperor Yan, it's nothing untoward."

During her speech, a red glow flashed on that spirit grass, clearly resonating well with Gongsun Qingyue.

"Thank you, Master."

Gongsun Qingyue reached out to accept the spirit grass, suppressing the dissatisfaction in her heart and sincerely thanked Tianxuan.

Even if she felt slighted again, now that Tianxuan had given her a Dao Artifact, Gongsun Qingyue still had to express her gratitude.

'Is this what they call a slap followed by a gentle stroke?'

Jiang Li watched from the side, and he couldn't help but feel suffocated for Gongsun Qingyue, admiring the high level of play by Tianxuan.

Previously, Sister had taken the initiative, allowing her to repeatedly challenge authority. Now, with Tianxuan's proactive move, Sister's strong offensive proved ineffective.

"Between mentor and disciple, there is no need for thanks," Tianxuan said with a slight smile, "On this trip with Jiang Li to Yuxu Temple, remember to try to advance on the way so that you can lend a hand. As for me, I shall return to Divine Capital first, to finalize the merits of this battle and may also arrange a strategic marriage."

She was actually going along with Gongsun Qingyue's wishes and heading to Divine Capital.

But seeing Tianxuan's calm and composed behavior, Gongsun Qingyue felt as if she had lost.

For a moment, Gongsun Qingyue didn't know whether to be happy or despondent.

As for Jiang Li, the most significant sense of crisis in his life had emerged in his heart.

...

...

"Brilliant, truly brilliant!"

Feng Manlou held a book in his hands, marveling at the changing text within.

In his view, there were two red lines on the pages of the album, nearly tangled into knots, while ancient characters flickered ceaselessly, altering the content.

"Judging by this trend, the day when the Calamity of Romantic Entanglements erupts is not far off. Very good, I love watching men and women fight. With Tianxuan's strength, even if my junior is comparable to fourth-rank now, he'll have difficulty contending with her. She will surely beat my junior to his knees, making him a husband who respects his wife, just like me."

Feng Manlou chuckled at this thought, feeling a sense of schadenfreude, as if he had dismantled someone else's umbrella after getting himself wet.

While he was engrossed in the marriage certificate, a palpitation suddenly surged in his heart.

"Hm?"

Feng Manlou shifted his gaze from the marriage certificate, extended his hand, and conjured an image resembling the Star River, which then materialized a shadow of a bronze pot.

He saw that the pot's mouth opened and a vast aura billowed out, enveloping a great banner as it materialized.

On that great banner, countless characters flashed past, arranging themselves into shapes like names.

"Heluo God has gained assistance; his avatar's Qi Mechanism is nearing that of his main body… Interesting."

Feng Manlou watched the great banner with great interest and murmured, "It seems you've gotten involved with that top disciple of the Dinghu Sect."