Taiyi Dao Fruit

The next day, at dawn, as the sun began to rise,

Near Donglin City, within a hundred miles, a bizarre odor gradually began to pervade; the blood and bones saturating the land were rotting, causing nausea upon inhalation.

Fortunately, Jiang Li and others had already planned to retreat. The remaining Heavenly Soldiers and refugees were packing up, preparing to leave.

"Senior Brother Qi, I'll need your assistance in going to Xixiang County to refine the Revolver. By the way, Elder Yun should be in Xixiang County right now."

While speaking, Jiang Li glanced at Feng Manlou, giving him a meaningful look.

Then he said to Luu Wangji, "The clan is in your hands now."

As he spoke, Jiang Li took out a Jade Talisman and handed it to Luu Wangji, "This is the Dao Fruit of the Mao Ri Star Official. Keep it for now to foster the Qi of Yang and facilitate your future promotion."

Luu Wangji didn't respond verbally, just clasped his fists in a salute.

The battle in Donglin was perilously fierce. Although the Jiang family members cultivated the Innate Qi, many were still killed or injured during this great battle. Luu Wangji and others had narrowly escaped death. But, this battle also triggered a rapid metamorphosis within the clan, a mix of losses and gains.

After arranging everything, Jiang Li bid farewell to the others, ready to set off with Shen Hou and Yin Tulong.

When it came to bidding farewell to Feng Manlou, this elder brother suddenly said, "I received a message that Heluo God's avatar has greatly increased in power, nearly approaching his sealed true form. It's possible that this Demon God has garnered the support of some significant figure."

'Approaching the sealed Giant Snake Baqi...' A thought flashed through Jiang Li's mind.

"This message should be true; the Great Venerable of the Demon God Sect indeed possesses the ability to control the movements of the demon, ghost, and monster under him, especially the Devil Cultivators. He claims that these beings can seek his protection, perhaps because he has control over them," Tianxuan communicated telepathically.

In other words, the message was credible.

However, the key point was not the increase in Heluo God's power but that so-called significant figure.

Previously, Heluo God had been hiding within the Upper Pure Sect. Jiang Li had intentionally set a trap for him, sending Yun Jiuye to investigate the people of the Upper Pure Sect, hoping to set them against each other. However, no significant events transpired from that; instead, Yun Jiuye teamed up with the powerful members of the Upper Pure Sect to curb the Taiping Sect, which only added trouble for Jiang Li.

If it weren't for Jiang Li cleverly exploiting Buddha Country, the previous best choice would have been to have Yun Jiuye and the powerful members of the Upper Pure Sect come to their aid.

'Has Heluo God teamed up with Gongsun Qi? Or has he always been associated with Gongsun Qi?'

A thought flashed in Jiang Li's mind, leaving him wary of Heluo God, 'Perhaps it's time to think about dealing with this viper.'

With his plan set in mind, Jiang Li finally bowed to Tianxuan to bid farewell, saying, "Master, your disciple is leaving."

This trip to Kunxu was necessary to advance to the fourth-rank, and then return to deal with that Old Demon.

"If there's an urgent matter, communicate through the seal in the Wordless Heavenly Book, and I will come immediately," said Tianxuan.

As he spoke, he looked towards Gongsun Qingyue, "Qing Yue, take good care of your junior brother."

His light words carried a tone that was part instruction to a servant and part reminder from an elder, depending entirely on how one interpreted them.

Hearing this, Gongsun Qingyue nodded slightly without showing any emotion, saying, "Yes. And thank you, Master, for bothering with our marital connections."

No matter what, Jiang Li was to marry Gongsun Qingyue, not Gongsun Yuanxi; it would be best to save any concern.

These sentiments were precisely conveyed to Tianxuan.

The master and disciple maintained calm expressions, but beneath the surface, there was a turbulent undercurrent.

After performing this scene of filial piety and kindness, Jiang Li and Gongsun Qingyue took off on the wind, alongside the Dragon Whisker Tiger carrying Shen Hou and Yin Tulong, heading towards Yong Province.

Thus, they flew out for about thirty miles when suddenly, Buddha Light surged up, and strands of Buddha's energy coalesced into nine Arhat Dharma Forms, surrounding them as if laying siege.

"Is the master from Buddha Country planning to break the agreement?"

When Jiang Li witnessed this scene, he revealed a smile that was not quite a smile. "If that's the case, it truly breaks my heart. I treat others with sincerity and did not expect to be met with hostility in return."

As soon as they appeared, the many Arhats had a dignified presence, but upon hearing Jiang Li's words, they all seemed unable to maintain their composure.

This Jiang Li truly caused more chaos in people's hearts than a Heavenly Demon from beyond this realm, making it difficult for these Arhats, who possessed the Divine Skill of "Killing Thieves," to cope.

Yaoguang Elder joked, "The monks here did not come to break the agreement, on the contrary, we are here to fulfill the great vows of the Bodhisattvas."

Among the nine Arhats, Tota Arhat, standing at the front, solemnly said, "To ensure the safety of a few individuals, we monks are willing to act as protectors in person, to prevent minor harassment."

To monitor them as well, right?

Jiang Li had to admit that the people from Buddha Country were quick thinkers and didn't let momentary emotions cloud their intelligence.

Since it was about protection, then let it be open and straightforward monitoring. If Jiang Li's side did not agree and made a move, that would be even better, as it would allow Buddha Country to retaliate with full justification.

However, Jiang Li seemed not at all angered by this; he even thanked them, saying, "Then we appreciate the Arhats leading the way."

Speaking thus, Jiang Li unapologetically soared into the sky with the others, regarding the nine Arhats as nothing.

Though the nine Arhats harbored ill intentions, they were obligated to fulfill the grand vows set by the three Bodhisattvas, thus they encircled Jiang Li and the others, flying and walking like protectors, and collectively headed towards Yong Province.

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Luchuan County.

The recaptured Jun City had been taken back again. Inside the city government office, Yun Jiuye was looking at the freshly received intelligence report, with the fading ghost shadows gradually disappearing in front of him.

Jiang Li and others were guarded by a group of Arhats, quite a spectacle that could be seen from miles away, and naturally, the Yin Law Department was not left unaware. Indeed, not long after Jiang Li left, the Yin Law Department sent the news to Yun Jiuye.

"Going to Yong Province at this time, is it aimed at the Jiang Clan members in Jiang's Ancestral Land or to seek assistance from Yuxu Temple?"

Yun Jiuye frowned in thought.

His instincts and experience were telling him that Jiang Li certainly had a grand scheme, but he found it difficult to discern Jiang Li's intentions.

Regarding this Sixth Brother, Yun Jiuye felt he was becoming increasingly unfathomable.

Even though they had never formally clashed, he felt he was gradually being left behind.

Jiang Li's progress was too fast.

"Promotion."

A vast voice suddenly arose, followed by a vertically shaped boat-eye slowly opening in front, "The Dao Fruit of Qingyuan Miao Dao True Monarch at Yuxu Temple is said to be one of the most challenging fourth-grade Dao Fruits to promote to. Without cultivation comparable to fourth-grade, promoting to this Dao Fruit is undoubtedly lethal. Coincidentally, Jiang Li meets this criterion."

"Promotion?" Yun Jiuye was profoundly shocked. "So soon?"

He did not know that Jiang Li had cheated using the power of the Borrowing Wind Pavilion to accelerate time, effectively gaining an extra year, and he had assumed Jiang Li had just promoted to fifth-rank not long ago, yet now he had already achieved Dao Fruit Perfection.

His initial thought was disbelief, but upon further reflection, it was not impossible.

"Master."

Yun Jiuye saluted the vertical eye, "What should I do?"

"Kill him."