Taiyi Dao Fruit

When the state machinery truly started, its efficiency and ability surpassed any faction.

In less than seven days, on the fifth day, the relevant intelligence had been handed over to Gongsun Qingyue, who then passed it to Jiang Li.

Then, the time reached the beginning of July.

On this day, it was the once-a-week lecture day for the Outer Disciples. The rotating Outer Elder would explain matters of cultivation and the merging of Dao Fruits in Kaiyang Hall. Many disciples who had not yet found a mentor would come to listen and take the opportunity to ask questions.

Jiang Li had been a regular listener initially. During the first two years, he had never missed a lecture, but as his comprehension deepened, the elementary methods taught by the Outer Elders were no longer suitable for him, and he gradually stopped attending.

Now as Jiang Li revisited an old dream, there was an indescribable feeling of nostalgia because this time, he was not among the audience below, but sitting on the stage.

At the end of the spacious hall stood a lectern made of white jade, with a diameter of nine feet nine inches and a height of three feet three inches, embodying the ultimate in numerical significance, with a cushion and a bronze qing—it was the standard lectern setup of the Mystic Sect.

Jiang Li, clad in the green robe of an Outer Disciple, casually approached the lectern, sat on the cushion, and though young, possessed a demeanor not inferior to the Outer Elders.

When the early-arriving Outer Disciples saw someone ascend to the lectern, some wanted to verbally rebuke him, but upon seeing Jiang Li's face, they hesitated, unsure whether to stop him or ignore him.

In the previous days, Jiang Li had consecutively defeated several Inner Sect Disciples, and word of his prowess had spread among the Outer Disciples. Many guessed that Jiang Li had long been promoted to Eighth Rank but had not yet reported to the Sect to change his status.

Moreover, it was rumored among the Outer Disciples that Jiang Li and the True Inheritor Gongsun Qingyue had a not-so-shallow relationship; the two of them might even be involved.

With such strength and connections, it was possible he had been approved by the Outer Elders to give the lecture. Rashly rebuking him would be an unpleasant effort for nothing; it was better to watch and see how things unfolded.

It could be said that anyone who could become a disciple of the Dinghu Sect wasn't foolish. They may not have great wisdom, but they were certainly clever, understanding of human relationships and worldly wisdom, which prevented any embarrassing confrontations.

Other disciples, upon seeing Jiang Li, subtly changed their expressions and quietly left Kaiyang Hall.

Moments later, they returned, bringing many more disciples with them.

Among these people, some were interested in Jiang Li, who was currently in the limelight.

Others were followers of various other True Disciples, coming to gather intelligence.

Of course, among them were also people from the Jiang family.

When the lecture started, the vast Kaiyang Hall became crowded, filled with blue and red robes; both Outer and Inner Sect Disciples were present. The over two hundred cushions were not enough; many stood squeezed together.

"Dang—"

As if Jiang Li, lost in higher thoughts, opened his eyes and took up a small hammer beside him to strike the bronze qing, producing a crisp sound that reverberated throughout the hall.

The whispering disciples immediately ceased their chatter and turned their attention to the lectern above.

By that point, the Elder who was supposed to give the lecture had not arrived; it was apparent that today's lectern belonged to Jiang Li.

What would Jiang Li talk about?

Whether out of curiosity, puzzlement, or caution, different thoughts hid in everyone's hearts.

From his elevated position on the lectern, Jiang Li surveyed the surroundings and clearly saw the various fluctuations of qi.

"Qi" connected to their divine mental states, the turmoil within their hearts caused subtle, barely perceptible fluctuations in their qi, letting Jiang Li see the complex thoughts of the multitude.

"Fellow senior and junior brothers," Jiang Li surveyed them all and then spoke in a clear voice, "Today, Jiang Li is here not to discuss cultivation, but to talk about a matter that is of immense relevance to you, me, and the Sect."

"In years past, the Jiang Family had migrated overseas, and its various branches scattered in all directions, among which a portion of people joined our Sect. To prevent the entanglements of family grudges, they changed their names and surnames and entered the Sect under various identities, thus living on."

Jiang Li did not mention the Sect's concerns or the Jiang family's intentions but masked the contradictions in a relatively appropriate manner.

Because this was not essential.

What mattered was the choices they would make next.

"Under the protection of the Sect, the Jiang Clan was not without troubles but was nonetheless far from the clan's grudges, enjoying peace; however, the branches they belonged to were in poor circumstances. The significantly weakened Jiang family had become easy prey in the eyes of others."

With that, Jiang Li opened his storage bag and took out several scrolls.

Among the listening disciples, some had already begun to sense something ominous and grew anxious.

"Jizhou Zhen Ding County, the twenty-third branch, was attacked by powerful foes three years ago, with over half of the family either dead or injured. Now, they have moved from Jun City to settle in a small town within the county."

Jiang Li opened the scroll and read clearly, "Jizhou Changshan County, the sixteenth branch, was trapped in a scheme and incurred a massive debt. They had to sell their family shop to repay the debt and changed their surname to Xu, moving to another state."

"Jizhou Julu County, the nineteenth branch, the family split into two, one stayed in Julu, while the other moved to Qinghe."

The Jiang family shared prosperity and splendor with the regime, which while enviable also stirred jealousy. When such a family fell from grace, what followed was immeasurable malice.

As the plight of branch after branch was announced, some initially did not grasp the intention, but as they realized the upset emotions around them, they came to an understanding.

It turned out he was a person from the Jiang family, and it was his family being mentioned.

After listing the difficult circumstances of more than ten families, each one in a dire situation—life might have been still bearable compared to others, but compared to the past, it was drastically different.

The loyalty of the branch families to the main house was naturally due to a great sense of identification with the clan, and such people could not simply disregard their family. Upon hearing about their own family's hardships, even if they tried to suppress their emotions, some signs still showed.

"Stop reading!"

Suddenly, a loud shout came from the crowd, and someone forced their way through—it was Li Chongyue, who had been severely injured by Jiang Li earlier.

Li Chongyue's face was ashen, clearly still hurt, but he pushed to the front and shouted, "Jiang Li, this is a matter of the Jiang family itself, what does it have to do with others? By babbling about it publicly, aren't you just increasing the disgrace our family has suffered?"

He could not go on reading; if he did, more would reveal their weaknesses, and then when Jiang Li threatened the family once more, surely some would betray.

He had to stop him.

Li Chongyue's eyes blazed with anger, his body taut, resolute in his decision to thwart Jiang Li's scheme.

His own strength was not enough to stop Jiang Li, but if he were to dash his life against this podium, perhaps he could incite the shared outrage of the clansmen, strengthening some in their resolve.

"This is not a disgrace," Jiang Li slowly shook his head, saying, "What I have stated are facts, the reality that the main family abandoned our branches."

Whether it was Yang Chong or Gongsun Qingyue, they both thought Jiang Li was using the plight of the branches as a threat, but Jiang Li had never intended to rely on threats to make the Jiang family disciples pick sides.

What he aimed to do was crush the branches' expectations of the main family, then destroy their loyalty.

He called this method the collapse therapy, specially designed to cure blindly loyal "lapdogs."

"Divine Capital Yun County, the Seventh Faction—" Jiang Li deliberately paused, "the entire family wiped out, fifty-three members dead at the hands of Devil Cultivators."

"Thud—"

In the crowd, someone suddenly knelt, utterly despondent.