Taiyi Dao Fruit

Outside Kaiyang Hall, Gongsun Qingyue and Ling Wujue simultaneously locked onto the distant disciple dormitory. One propelled through the air with a sword that traversed like a stunning red comet while the other manifested a blade-shaped Gang Qi, piercing the air like a sharp dagger in a murderous sweep.

Gongsun Qingyue still had to consider the situation inside the hall, while Ling Wujue rushed forth like thunder, leaving behind only a sharp screech in the air.

He had a history of scheming, having attempted to ambush Jiang Li before. Now, with Ling Wujue present and such an incident occurring again, he must unearth the culprit or else it would pretty much be his downfall.

However, by the time he entered the disciple dormitory, someone was already there, and the ambusher lay on the ground like a limp snake.

"Master."

Ling Wujue promptly halted and greeted the person with respect, "Master, are you well?"

The man, clad in a yellow shirt, appeared to be in his early thirties with long, lustrous black hair parted down the middle, resting on his broad shoulders. His imposing features were currently marred by dissatisfaction.

"I am far from well."

Elder Kaiyang, Ling Wujue's master, responded discontentedly, "With Elder Yaoguang living in seclusion in Si Fan Valley, I, Kaiyang Hall, am responsible for the outer areas of the sect. Now a Devil Cultivator has infiltrated our Outer Disciples. Tell me, how can I be alright?"

With that, he kicked the person at his feet, allowing Ling Wujue to see the snake scales on the side of his face and neck, along with the green robe of an Outer Disciple.

Undoubtedly, this was an Outer Disciple harboring a Demonic Attribute Dao Fruit, specifically the Snake Dao Fruit.

This made Ling Wujue recall someone connected to Jiang Li—Zhou Mingyun, who also harbored a Demonic Attribute Snake Dao Fruit.

"Master, this person—"

"Stop!" Elder Kaiyang raised a hand to halt him. "If you're suggesting this person might be connected to Zhou Mingyun and directing me to question Jiang Li, then save your breath, lest I, as your master, reprimand you."

Ling Wujue abruptly fell silent, like a duck grasped by the neck.

It seemed he really wanted to mention that.

Elder Kaiyang's expression darkened immediately.

At that moment, Gongsun Qingyue also arrived.

Seeing Elder Kaiyang, she too was quite surprised before performing a ceremonial bow and saying, "Jiang Li intentionally exposed a flaw to bait Jiang Zhuyun, and now that Jiang Zhuyun has been repelled, more than half of the Jiang family has sided with Jiang Li."

"Hmm," Elder Kaiyang nodded, "I was planning to secretly intervene and block Jiang Zhuyun's assault for him. However, Jiang Li's mental state is not weak. He managed to withstand the Sound Technique and even trick Jiang Zhuyun in turn, forcing him into retreat."

Elder Kaiyang had a clear view of the events that unfolded within the hall, evidently keeping a hidden watch as Jiang Li and Jiang Zhuyun clashed.

Yet, he had moved a step ahead of Gongsun Qingyue and Ling Wujue to capture the lurking Devil Cultivator, demonstrating Elder Kaiyang's strength was beyond what these juniors could fathom.

"Elder Gongsun, continue to monitor Jiang Li and ensure his safety. Although the Divine Domain envelops the entire Dinghu, the Divine Domain only reacts after an event occurs, not capable of preventing it at the first moment, a task that will require your diligence."

"As for you, come with me. You will spend the next while in closed cultivation."

While saying this, Elder Kaiyang stretched out his hand to grab the Devil Cultivator from the ground.

At that very moment, a hissing sound erupted from the man's body. His physical form dissolved in an instant, leaving behind only a pool of pus and a long, black-red tentacle covered with scales and suckers.

"An octopus?" Gongsun Qingyue eyed the tentacle, "Was he not harboring the Snake Dao Fruit?"

"This is not the tentacle of an octopus," Elder Kaiyang revealed a cold smile, "This is the tentacle of a Heluo Fish. I thought it was just a fool who harbored a Demonic Attribute Dao Fruit, but it turned out to be a big fish indeed. Such audacity. And Tianxuan, that woman, she was responsible for stargazing and divination, warning the sect. Yet, she didn't even notice that a big fish had infiltrated the Outer Disciples."

"I can't wait to mock that woman."

After speaking, Elder Kaiyang grabbed the tentacle and, without paying any attention to Ling Wujue, vanished in the blink of an eye.

With their powers of observation, neither could track even a trace of him.

"The 'Classic of Mountains and Seas·Northern Mountains' states: 'From Mount Qiao Ming flows the Qiao Water west into the river. It is filled with Heluo Fish, each with one head and ten bodies, their voices like barking dogs, consuming them could cause carbuncles.'"

Gongsun Qingyue spoke in a low voice, "The Heluo Fish, having one head and ten bodies, possesses a Dao Fruit capable of splitting into ten bodies. Although the clones are far weaker than the original, they are rarely detectable due to their secretive and sneaky nature."

"The only known person harboring the Dao Fruit of a Heluo Fish in this era," Ling Wujue responded, "is one of the Nineteen Demons of the Devil God Sect, the Heluo God."

In their back and forth, both picked up on the complex implications behind this.

Were the members of the Devil God Sect stirring up trouble and targeting Jiang Li in secret, and did this imply collusion between the Devil God Sect and Jiang Zhuyun?

...

...

On the surface of Dinghu Lake, a small boat drifted with the wind.

Jiang Zhuyun sat cross-legged in the boat, practicing his breathing for a long time, when suddenly he opened his mouth and spewed out a Water Arrow. It soared through the air without dispersing for several yards before it fell into the water, creating a vast splash of mist and gradually diminishing.

"Innate Qi! He has actually cultivated the ability to Return to the Origin with Innate Qi!"

After the Water Arrow was released, Jiang Zhuyun's injuries finally came under control, but due to his blood essence and True Qi being refined, he still appeared pale.

However, what concerned Jiang Zhuyun the most was not his injury, but the Innate Qi capable of Returning to the Origin.

This Qi could be considered the true foundation of the 'Qi Tomb'; once perfected, it could refine the Ten Thousand Qi, transform their nature, and restore their origin. At that time, no Qi in the world could control this Qi. Only by cultivating this Qi could one truly enter the gateway to the source of Qi Dao.

Compared to that, Jiang Zhuyun's Innate Qi had lost its original essence, and in terms of orthodoxy, it was far inferior.

Let alone him; even looking at the current state of the Jiang family, none could compare to Jiang Li. The last one to embody the Divine Farmer's appearance with the embodiment of Emperor Yan through the 'Qi Tomb' was also the Family Head of the Jiang family, but he only achieved the Divine Farmer's appearance after reaching the fourth rank.

Most importantly, the Family Head, Jiang Zhuyun's father, was already dead.

Thinking of this, Jiang Zhuyun's eyes grew even darker, like a cloud of black storm clouds tumbling in his eyes, ready to pour down torrential rain at any moment.

"If I were you, at this time I wouldn't be thinking about what will happen to Jiang Li. Instead, I'd be thinking about what will happen to myself."

A cold voice suddenly rang out, and a devilish wind seemed to brush by his ear, bringing with it a chilling coolness.

Jiang Zhuyun suddenly became alert, his True Qi dispersing outward, forming layers of halos while he quietly took out an Elixir, ready to take it at any moment.

"What do you mean?" he asked in a tense voice.

"What do I mean?"

The lake water stirred slightly, and a shadow passed beneath the surface, the voice carrying a playful tone, chuckling, "The humble one just helped the Third Young Master a moment ago. What do you think I mean?"