Taiyi Dao Fruit

Regarding the locust god's so-called admiration, the Giant Spirit remained noncommittal, merely saying faintly, "What does the Fellow Daoist from the Upper Pure Sect intend to do?"

A gentle breeze brought a touch of snowy whiteness, drifting close and hovering in mid-air, startlingly transforming into a tiny paper figure.

A white light shone brightly, and the paper figure took on an illusory form, resembling a Daoist with an indistinct face.

The Daoist performed a gesture of respect and said, "The Sect Leader has given orders for this poor Daoist to act on opportunity and determine whether to employ the heavy treasure imprint."

As he spoke, a phantom emerged from the Daoist's body, taking the shape of a gourd that was blurred and indistinct, yet when it appeared, both the Primordial Lord Rain Master and the locust god felt a looming sense of crisis.

The mere imprint possessed the power to threaten them, suggesting that this heavy treasure was very likely a Second Grade Dao Artifact.

But that was all.

"Is that all there is?" Zhang Zhixuan said somberly.

"That is all," the Daoist replied, "as per the Sect Leader's command."

Apart from the Daoist and the heavy treasure imprint, there was nothing else. The Upper Pure Sect was not willing to commit all their resources to the Taiping Sect.

Whether it was framed as a conflict between the Three Pure Ones Sect and the Three Emperors Sect, or a lack of confidence in Zhang Zhixuan, in the end, the Upper Pure Sect was willing to exert effort, but not their full might. Even to some extent, the collapse of the Taiping Sect could be advantageous to the Upper Pure Sect.

After all, the main force spreading the Three Emperors Sect's faith was the Taiping Sect.

Once the Daoist had finished speaking, his figure gradually dissolved, and even the paper figure turned to flying ash.

The gaze of the Giant Spirit swept over the ashes, the specific expression in his eyes obscured, only the flashes of thunder light revealing Zhang Zhixuan's unrest.

Suddenly, the Giant Spirit's eyes blazed white, and his Divine Thought left his body, sweeping the surroundings like lightning bolts, plowing through the earth, "Come out!"

One of the lightning bolts swept through mid-air, stirring up the winds, and a Dragon Whisker Tiger leapt out of the breeze, agilely dodging the Divine Thought lightning, and gracefully landing nearby.

Beneath his chin grew three long whiskers, a Daoist with an aura of immortality sat on the tiger's back, tugging at his whiskers as he said, "It seems my Fellow Daoists have vexations. I wonder if this poor Daoist could offer modest assistance and relieve you of your troubles?"

His words were spoken with genuine sincerity, yet they made everyone present feel a sense of looming ill-fate, an urge to leave immediately.

The land of Liangzhou Province was rife with killing intent and Evil Qi, worsened by the locust god spreading plague. With such extreme peril, if one's Qi Shu were disturbed at this juncture, one might become susceptible to the influence of Evil Qi and murderous intent.

There had been many historical figures who had suffered from this affliction, who, for their entire lives, were wise and valiant, only to perform a foolish act at a critical point leading to either a rapid deterioration of circumstances or outright ruin.

In hindsight, it was considered that they had been temporarily deluded, a single errant thought leading them astray.

And now, one such individual capable of unsettling Qi Shu had appeared—Daoist Shen Hou.

Both the Primordial Lord Rain Master and the locust god were on guard, while the injured Marquis of Wind simply took refuge behind the Giant Spirit. Among those present, it was only the Giant Spirit, controlled by Zhang Zhixuan, who remained calm, his eyes flashing with thunder light as he gazed at this unwelcome guest.

"Your ill-fate is contained, not showing the slightest bit—it's indeed much stronger than before."

The lips of the Giant Spirit did not move, but from within came the voice of Zhang Zhixuan, "And yet, you act for the Jiang Clan and now seek to aid my endeavors in Yellow Heaven, is this not amusing?"

The battle at Kunxu Mountain left many dead, but some secrets were still leaked.

For instance, it became known to a certain cunning figure from Yellow Heaven that Daoist Shen Hou had betrayed Yuxu Temple at a critical moment and stolen the Dao Fruit of the Yuxu, revealing his true identity.

Let alone the fact that recently, a Jiang Family Elder travelled to the Divine Capital and the Tianxuan fought for Jiang Li to secure the position of Jiang Family Master. The first thing said outright exposed the Jiang Family's circumstances, labelling them as rebels and traitors.

"Ha."

Faced with Zhang Zhixuan's questioning, Daoist Shen Hou laughed heartily, saying, "Hence, I am here only as Shen Hou, not as Jiang Clan's Shen Hou. Moreover, as Jiang Li now seeks to brand the main family as a Rebel Party and usurp the position of power, you share a common enemy with the Jiang Family, Fellow Daoist."

In two sentences, he first clarified that the matter was unrelated to the Jiang Family, then he brought up the antagonism between the Jiang Family and Jiang Li.

The former statement was to assure that his involvement wouldn't trigger sensitivities, while the latter explained his reason for acting, to gain Zhang Zhixuan's trust.

However, if Shen Hou wished to detach himself from the Jiang Family, the modest assistance he spoke of...

Zhang Zhixuan's voice turned colder, "I do not cooperate with monks."

If it wasn't the Jiang family's main branch, then it was someone from the Buddha Country.

"I didn't expect Sect Hierarch Zhang to have this aversion?" Daoist Shen Hou seemed quite surprised as he spoke.

"However, please rest assured, I have come to help, not to create more chaos. The Buddha Country also shares the Ji Family's aversion, and if involved, they might just make things worse. Actually, I am here to bring good news to Sect Hierarch Zhang."

Daoist Shen Hou smiled and said, "Before long, a guest will visit Yuxu Temple, and then that person from the Immortal Palace will have the leisure to come down the mountain. How to use this opportunity, Sect Hierarch Zhang, I trust I need not elaborate."

Everyone present was highly astute, and they understood the implied meaning in Daoist Shen Hou's words at once.

Currently, Yuxu Temple and the Immortal Palace were at a stalemate, with the Immortal Queen not daring to leave the palace lightly for fear of attacks by third-grade forces. But if someone could hold back Yuxu Temple, even just Daoist Guang Cheng, it would be enough to free up the Immortal Palace.

The one who could lend support to the Taiping Sect was neither the Jiang family's main branch nor the Buddha Country, but the Immortal Palace, the Immortal Queen.

In this way, there was no need to worry about consequences, nor for Sect Leader Zhang Zhixuan to go against his will, a situation with multiple benefits.

"That's all from me. How you act from here on is up to you, Sect Hierarch Zhang."

Having said all this, Daoist Shen Hou offered a bow from his seated position and then departed on his Dragon Whisker Tiger with the wind, without any intention of staying.

But the words he left behind allowed Zhang Zhixuan to see an opportunity.

Asking for the Immortal Queen's help was simple: first, the enemy had Tianxuan, and second, they had Primordial Lord Rain Master. As long as Primordial Lord Rain Master was willing to lower his head to the Immortal Queen, she would surely be willing to make a move.

Zhang Zhixuan pondered for a moment and then said in a low voice, "Primordial Lord, I am sorry for the imposition."

Primordial Lord Rain Master bowed his head and replied, "For the sake of our sect, this slight sacrifice is nothing."

Chanting County.

Blood Plague was rampant, cries of anguish filled the air, and the court's forces were rapidly retreating, leaving behind many corpses that had died violently from the disease.

Once that blood-colored pattern appeared on the physical body, it caused flesh to decay rapidly, turning a living person into a skeleton of blood in no time at all. For this reason, even if reinforcements arrived, it became difficult to press forward.

But the Taiping Sect was not faring any better.

When the effects of the talismans expired, the forceful acceleration of their effects resulted in a backlash, and a vast number of silhouettes fell among the blood-colored Plague Qi, as neat as cut grass.

And the corpses of both friend and foe further strengthened the Plague Qi, spreading the bloody taint.

"Zhang Zhixuan is like a cornered dog making desperate leaps."

Gongsun Qingyue, who had arrived nearby alongside Jiang Li, couldn't bear the sight and also showed an expression of severity, "To spread the plague on such a large scale is to harm both heaven and humanity; such an act is like drinking poison to quench thirst. The Taiping Sect, even if they can struggle for a while, will undoubtedly be doomed in the end."

"Do not underestimate the Heavenly Monarch; perhaps he has some tricks up his sleeve."

Jiang Li, however, had another consideration in mind.

He had always been extremely wary of this heaven-stealing lunatic. The other party also admitted to being a person without any taboo, even more unscrupulous than Jiang Li himself. Even though the Heavenly Monarch wasn't in a good situation now, Jiang Li still did not dare to let down his guard.

As they spoke, Jiang Li suddenly felt something, sensing a familiar aura with his Heavenly Eye on his brow.

His gaze shifted, and he released Xiao Tian.

"Without limits between heaven and earth, across thousands of miles—"

Xiao Tian looked up, its nostrils flaring, "Tracking."

After sniffing for a while, Xiao Tian with a face like it was presenting a treasure said, "Master, there is no mistake, it's Shen Hou."

Shen Hou went to the Taiping Sect?

Thinking of this, Jiang Li couldn't help but smile, "Now we're in a sure place."