Taiyi Dao Fruit

Jiang Li could not possibly protect his own people and dispel the plague qi with his Ochre Whip while fighting the enemy like playing a game of eagle catching chicks.

"If need be, kill all million soldiers."

Jiang Li's expression remained indifferent, showing no signs of wavering, "A fourth-rank may be killed, a million soldiers may also be killed, just kill anyone who blocks the way."

There was no trace of murderous intent in his calm voice, but as Jiang Li's words fell, a great wind suddenly arose, darkening the skies that had just started to clear.

It seemed that even the heavens and the earth changed because of his words.

'No, it is because of his determination that such a change has occurred.'

Ming Shaowei's fingers under his sleeves trembled slightly, feeling the heaviness of the world as an unprecedented murderous intent fell like a heavenly waterfall, with Jiang Li at the very end.

'This man has merged with the heavens and earth, melded with this Five Turbid Evil World, which is why he can incite the murderous intent of the heavens and earth with a single thought. Since the end of the Dharma, no one has achieved this, he... is truly terrifying. I must inform master about this.'

The shock in his heart caused his fingers to tremble slightly, but Ming Shaowei still composed himself and said, "If possible, please, Jiang Family Master, refrain from mass slaughter, as it does no good to your reputation."

"For the greater good of the world, there are things that, though undesirable, must be done."

Zhong Shenxiu, however, held a different opinion, and addressed Jiang Li, "Should Brother Jiang take such action, Shenxiu is willing to lend all his support to handle the aftermath, ensuring Brother Jiang is not burdened by it."

"As for matters concerning the Jingping Army, I too am willing to contribute my modest effort, and would ask the Commandery Princess to inform me, so I may accompany them. My elder sect brother and I need to quickly send a message to the Imperial College to inform our master of today's events, thus I will not disturb you both further. Please!"

Having said this, Zhong Shenxiu bowed again to the two men and left first with Ming Shaowei.

This disciple of the Imperial College Sacrificial Officer acted more decisively than Ming Shaowei, who was of fourth rank.

Gongsun Qingyue watched Zhong Shenxiu and his rapid departure and said, "I heard from master before that the next generation of the Imperial College would be led by Zhong Shenxiu. Seeing him today, I realize that old demon's discernment is as sharp as ever. It is just that Zhong Shenxiu's actions are perhaps too decisive, embodying some of the ancient Confucian rigor."

"The Fifth Grade Dao Fruit he encompasses is of the sage Zixia, who valued the convergence of human hearts towards the path and righteousness. With righteousness within one's actions, there can be no missteps. Now, righteousness belongs to Great Zhou, and also to us. Should our reputation suffer for this, Zhong Shenxiu will naturally not hesitate to help."

Jiang Li appeared to perceive the deeper implications.

Zixia, also known as "Bozi," was one of the seventy-two sages directly transmitted by Confucius, and also one of the ten great disciples of the Confucian Sect.

This individual might not have the fame of the reintegrated sage Yan Hui or the ancestral sage Zeng Can, but the school he founded became renowned in later generations.

—The Gongyang school, known for its thoughts on avenging grievances.

The founder of this school was a disciple of Zixia.

The school's philosophy centered on vengeance and righteousness. If a sovereign is unrighteous, his subjects may avenge against him, and grievances against a foreign nation can be avenged even after a hundred generations. Zixia may not have been so extreme, but his philosophical essence has similarities with those later evolved by the Gongyang School.

Since Zhong Shenxiu could embody the Dao Fruit of Zixia, it also demonstrated his alignment in thought and essence with the Dao Fruit.

Today, as Taiping Sect is unrighteous and Jiang Li is righteous, Zhong Shenxiu would naturally stand with Jiang Li.

"Additionally, elder sister, your guess was indeed correct. Zhong Shenxiu should be the next Imperial College Sacrificial Officer," Jiang Li continued, "From what I know, after Zhong Shenxiu came to Liangzhou, he helped the common people, sheltered orphans, and even showed tendencies to establish a school in Liangzhou. Barring any unforeseen circumstances, the Confucian Saint Dao Fruit of the Imperial College will be entrusted to him in the future."

"So it seems, the future of the Imperial College is indeed in Zhong Shenxiu's hands," Gongsun Qingyue realized suddenly.

The class entrenchment in Great Zhou is quite severe; government positions are difficult to come by, not easily accessible to those with connections, let alone those without.

In this scenario, climbing the social ladder through scholarship is as difficult as reaching the heavens, and it would be better to join a sect for cultivation instead.

Various prominent families also consciously restrict the spread of literacy, persisting in keeping people ignorant.

But now, Liangzhou hardly has any prominent families left; those that were, were mostly wiped out by Taiping Sect, leaving a vacuum. Once the chaos of the Taiping Sect is settled, Liangzhou will welcome a completely new scenario, one where Zhong Shenxiu can freely make his mark.

And in this respect, it's difficult for sects to compete.

And the Dao Fruit that has always been revered by the Imperial College, one of its conditions is to broadly disseminate Confucian teachings, educating without discrimination.

Thinking this, Gongsun Qingyue nodded repeatedly, and then...

"Not right, how do you know he harbored the Zixia Dao Fruit, how do you know the details of the Zixia Dao Fruit, and how do you know the fitting conditions for the Confucius Dao Fruit?" Gongsun Qingyue slightly frowned, bombarding him with questions.

There were some pieces of information that even she didn't know; how could Jiang Li know them?

She was a Princess of the court, the future Family Head of the Gongsun Family, and although Jiang Li was about to become the upcoming Jiang Family Master, considering the current state of the Jiang Family, it was not out of disdain that she thought Jiang Li shouldn't know so much.

Unless...

"My master told me," Jiang Li said, his gaze flickering.

Only the current Family Head of the Gongsun Family knew more than she, the future Family Head.

It was indeed her.

"During pillow talk after your intimate affairs?" Gongsun Qingyue sneered coldly.

Considering the amount of time Jiang Li and Tianxuan had to interact, it could only have been during those dreamlike encounters that they had the opportunity to discuss these matters. Earlier than that, and they would still be playing a guessing game with each other, how could they possibly talk about these things?

"Wait a moment!"

Gongsun Qingyue's eyes turned cold again, "You already knew her identity?"

Just before, the Old Demon had mentioned that Jiang Li still did not know her identity, having only found Gongsun Yuanxi and reminisced about the past, and still unaware that Gongsun Yuanxi was right by his side.

But now it seemed, where was there ignorance? It was evidently complete knowledge.

The only one who could have told Jiang Li these secrets would be Gongsun Yuanxi, with whom he had an affair, but when Jiang Li mentioned Gongsun Yuanxi, he referred to her as his "master," could it be that Jiang Li already knew Gongsun Yuanxi was Tianxuan?

"The old hussy played me again!" Gongsun Qingyue gritted her teeth.

Had Jiang Li not spoken today, she would still be unaware that she was kept in the dark.

'Good, it seems my senior sister has already directed her hatred towards Tianxuan.'

Seeing this, Jiang Li nodded secretly.

He was about to confront the Taiping Sect, a journey fraught with peril. Even though Jiang Li already possessed invincible fourth-rank strength, Gongsun Qingyue was still worried, although she didn't show it.

Now, however, the anger towards that Old Demon surged in her heart, diluting her concerns.

It was time to make Tianxuan suffer.

It could be anticipated that after this matter was resolved, a fierce battle between master and disciple would definitely ensue.

At that time, as a disciple, as a fellow disciple, as a fellow master, Jiang Li could take advantage of the chaos and benefit from it, possibly even achieving something he had long desired.

'Two birds with one stone, worthy of me.'

Jiang Li felt he had completely assimilated and even elevated the great wisdom of Zhuang Zhou Dao Fruit.

Such wisdom could be called revolutionary.

"Wait till I get back, she will get what's coming to her."

Gongsun Qingyue plotted against a certain cunning fairy for quite a long time, sharpening her knives eagerly, emulating Jiang Li's effective rebellion against her graceful master, then asked Jiang Li, "When do we make our move?"

"Three days from now."

Jiang Li looked up at the sky, "Originally, the Primordial Lord Rain Master and my master agreed to a battle on the second day of the second month, but since my master is unable to keep the appointment, I shall take his place."

The second day of the second month, when the dragon raises its head and yang energy begins to grow, rain increases.

That time was considered by Jiang Li as the most opportune moment favored by the Primordial Lord Rain Master.