Taiyi Dao Fruit

Outside the Divine Capital, atop Dragon Abyss Lake.

The vast Dragon Abyss Lake was half frozen as if sealed in ice, while the other half drained into the depths below as the lake bed collapsed.

Gazing downward, one could see a giant fissure opened in the riverbed, with the water surging violently into the crevice. Yet oddly, the other half of the water remained solid like a cliff's edge, never stirring.

The cause of all this was an immense handprint.

That handprint was branded on the surface of the lake, freezing the space around the water and thus creating such a spectacle.

And the person who had made this handprint...

"Indeed, has entered the Treasure Extreme Cave Heaven."

Tianxuan stood on the frozen water, looking down toward the fissure, she saw forests and buildings flash past.

The Cave Heaven belonging to Iron Pillar Temple—the Treasure Extreme Cave Heaven—had once made a fleeting appearance during Jiang Li and Daode Sect's Yuan Zhen's life and death battle, then later receded deep into the earth's veins.

The ginseng fruit tree within had the ability to stabilize the earth's veins; hence, the Treasure Extreme Cave Heaven was sealed within the earth's veins of the Divine Capital. To forcibly enter would mean to excavate the earth's veins, causing a significant collapse of the stratum the Divine Capital was on. Knowing the existence of a Second Grade Dao Artifact within, no one dared to take it forcefully.

Until the Heavenly Monarch once again called forth the Treasure Extreme Cave Heaven.

After more than two hundred years, the former master of the Cave Heaven still had absolute control over this blessed land; he easily summoned the Treasure Extreme Cave Heaven, extracting the ginseng fruit tree within to confront a formidable foe.

After a brief engagement, the Heavenly Monarch led his adversary into the Treasure Extreme Cave Heaven and let it sink once more, touching the earth's veins. Their grand battle shook the earth's veins, forcing the powerhouses within Divine Capital to suppress them, to ensure the safety of Great Zhou Country.

At this thought, Tianxuan's eyes showed severity.

If not for needing to suppress the earth's veins, she would surely have taken action to surprise the Heavenly Monarch.

From this perspective, the Heavenly Monarch truly understood Tianxuan, his fellow sect member, quite well.

And now, the tremors of the earth's veins had stopped.

This seemingly heralded the end of the battle within.

Tianxuan was the first to arrive here, followed by a surge of tremendous Qi descending from the sky, as the Imperial College Sacrificial Officer Mo Yiling appeared. Shortly thereafter, a dim light shone, and a crack-like portal opened. From within stepped an old man with white hair and a grey beard.

Clothed in a black robe, the old man had a dignified posture, exuding a vigor not fitting his age. Though having emerged from that dark crevice, he bore not the slightest hint of eeriness.

"Tianxuan noted the old fellow's cultivation had advanced significantly after recovering from his injuries, suspicious."

This last arrival was naturally the Ji Family's ancient ancestor, Earth Uncle.

His given name long discarded to pursue the Earth Uncle Dao Fruit, he called himself as such outwardly, which with time became his current moniker.

Tianxuan remembered seeing the elder last time, appearing no different from a living corpse with black fur, horns on his head, and no semblance of humanity. This was partly due to his wounds yet to be healed, but also because the Earth Uncle Dao Fruit represents the nether divinity; its existence is a symbol of Yin Ming, naturally unlike the living.

Yet now, the elder seemed indistinguishable from a living person.

This indicated not only his complete recovery from injury but also his ability to control the effects of the Earth Uncle Dao Fruit, with his cultivation realm far surpassing his previous state.

This was highly suspicious, extremely so.

At Earth Uncle's level and age, with talent and creativity nearly exhausted, progress in strength depended on the slow grind of time. How could such a leap in advancement occur so suddenly?

"The two of you have arrived early."

Earth Uncle strode through the air toward them, laughing heartily, "I have hurried as best as I could, yet I still ended up a step behind."

Although he spoke as such, he looked far from regretful, instead exuding the confidence of youth, as if reliving his younger days.

It seemed Earth Uncle's behavior had changed along with his increased strength.

As he drew near, the darkness silently expanded, with ghostly souls meandering around the area, and the smell of sulfur emerged along with a fiery sensation. The change in the scene was as if the Nine Netherworld had appeared among the living.

And judging by Earth Uncle's posture, he seemed intent on enveloping both Tianxuan and the Imperial College Sacrificial Officer within it, facing them two against one.

The Imperial College Sacrificial Officer frowned, his hair and beard slightly rising, as another pair of eyes slowly opened below his own, all four pupils profound. The grand and boundless Qi Mechanism resisted the spread of the darkness, with ancient texts appearing that spoke of the vast history of mankind's Dao.

"The enemy threatening Great Zhou is right below us. Earth Uncle, could it be you wish to take action?" the Imperial College Sacrificial Officer said in a deep voice.

Tianxuan, meanwhile, was surprised by Earth Uncle's boldness.

The cultivation method known as "Form Tomb" meant only those who are reflective could succeed in its practice; the deeper one cultivated, the more meticulous thought and wisdom were needed. Anyone who made a name with "Form Tomb" must be far from simple-minded.

This had led to individuals from the Ji Family and Gongsun Family being deeply calculating; while claiming that every one of them was crafty might be overstating it, and a careful mind doesn't necessarily make one sly, to say they were outspoken was rare among the Ji Family, nearly non-existent.

Based on Tianxuan's understanding, Earth Uncle was the very picture of cunning and profound scheming, so for someone like him to act so openly either signaled deception or something peculiar going on.

Tianxuan's mind raced with countless thoughts, a typical "Form Tomb" practitioner, while she lightly smiled and said, "Elder, do you have the confidence that you alone can overcome both the palace and the Great Sacrificial Officer? But what if..."