Taiyi Dao Fruit

In the great hall, three individuals—a master with his two disciples—were seated and standing; Gongsun Qingyue stood behind Jiang Li, massaging his temples, while Tianxuan sat next to him, her hand resting on the armrest of his chair.

The fair and slender jade-like hand should have been holding Jiang Li's right hand, transmitting True Qi, but now, Tianxuan was only pretending to do so. Jiang Li's right hand had already slipped inside her palace outfit, feeling the cream-like smoothness beneath.

'You lecherous brat, your audacity knows no bounds.'

Even with Tianxuan's temperament, she couldn't help but curse Jiang Li inwardly at this moment.

Yet she couldn't expose him or make any significant movements lest she disrupt the illusion.

Previously, in order to trap Gongsun Qingyue, Tianxuan had deceived her disciple on a daily basis, claiming that Jiang Li was still unaware of her identity, thinking that it was Gongsun Yuanxi with whom he had a physical relationship. Gongsun Qingyue believed it to be true at the time, but later, due to Jiang's maliciousness, she came to know the truth.

However, Tianxuan didn't know that Gongsun Qingyue was already in on the secret; therefore, she had to keep a steady composure and absolutely not reveal that she was engaging in such thrilling deeds with Jiang Li.

Otherwise, it would've been a huge embarrassment.

Tianxuan suppressed the shame in her heart without showing any change in expression.

Although this exciting ordeal was a great test for her, she had the guile to maintain her calm.

However, at that moment, Jiang Li's palm moved upward.

The fabric made from Heavenly Silkworm Silk was slowly cut open by Sword Qi; though silent, Tianxuan felt as if she could hear the sound of fabric tearing.

His fingers slid lightly, caressing her knees; the warmth seemed to penetrate the skin and permeate into her bones.

Below the palace outfit, the outline of a hand was now clearly visible—it would've been noticed if not for the covering illusion.

At this thought, Tianxuan glanced at Gongsun Qingyue, seeing her still focused on massaging Jiang Li, and she breathed a sigh of relief.

But in reality...

It was only because Gongsun Qingyue was an affectionate disciple personally taught by Tianxuan, otherwise, she might have been unable to hold back a chuckle at this moment.

You finally got yours.

'With this hold over you, you'll obediently keep your place from now on,' Gongsun Qingyue thought with a silent chuckle.

'Sister wouldn't indeed harbor some special fondness due to the Dao Fruit, would she?'

With the Sword Intent of both "Heaven's Escape" and "Heart Demon," Jiang Li sensed the sequential thoughts of his two masters before and behind him, especially after perceiving the smugness in Gongsun Qingyue's heart—he couldn't help but inwardly conjecture.

The matter of the Three Holy Mothers' Dao Fruit aside, the Yaoji Dao Fruit rumors indeed involved romantic affairs. Uncertainty surrounding truth aside, these ancient deities were not bound by strict rules like later immortals; relatively speaking, they were bold, epitomizing the audacious spirit of ancient times.

Perhaps because of this, Gongsun Qingyue developed certain tastes.

Of course, the likelihood of a complicated relationship within the sect wasn't ruled out. But Jiang Li believed that, with such a paragon of virtue like him around, although things might be a bit chaotic, it was just a little chaos—nothing more.

It must be the influence of the Dao Fruit.

In any case, on the surface, the scene was as placid as still waters—yet beneath, undercurrents surged; each of the master and disciples harbored their own thoughts.

Due to Jiang Li's actions, the hem of Tianxuan's gown had been lifted, revealing boots embroidered with gold, yet she remained composed and even began speaking, "I have already checked the marks at Treasure Extreme Cave Heaven. The person who fought with the Heavenly Incarnation had two identities—one a Heavenly Monarch, the other most certainly Taibai True Monarch from the Daode Sect."

In response to this, Jiang Li, adept with Tianxuan's Qi Cultivation Technique, seriously said, "Disciple had been blessed by the power of the heavens, connecting with the last remnants of the Heavenly Incarnation's strength, and glimpsed fragments of that battle. Indeed, Taibai True Monarch was one who acted, and these two individuals must have sustained serious injuries."

As he spoke, his expression was grave, seemingly in earnest.

Tianxuan, seeing this, felt like slapping him in the face.

She naturally let go of the chair armrest, seizing the unruly hand, and at the same time, she spoke, "He must have other arrangements, other forces at play."

"Even until the end of the battle, Elder Kaiyang never appeared."

Gongsun Qingyue, standing behind Jiang Li, added, "I also consulted the Wordless Heavenly Scripture, but couldn't find Elder Kaiyang's whereabouts; the Heavenly Monarch must have concealed his fate with his own hands."

By now, they could nearly confirm that Elder Kaiyang had fallen into the hands of the Heavenly Monarch and was very likely under his control.

The fact that the Heavenly Monarch had yet to play the Elder Kaiyang card indicated that he had another purpose for him and also suggested that the Heavenly Monarch still had strength in reserve. Apart from the Taiping Sect, the Heavenly Monarch had other forces.

For the Taiping Sect, this was a do-or-die battle; yet for the Heavenly Monarch, it hadn't reached such a level.

He hadn't played all his cards yet.

"Over two hundred years ago, Ji Jiji's Primordial Spirit Emerged, using a Ginsengfruit as his body for rebirth. Later, once his new body had sufficiently cultivated, he went back and killed his original form."

Jiang Li suddenly spoke of the Heavenly Monarch's past, "A hundred years ago, when the Buddhist Law spread east from Buddha Country, 'Daoist Lord' Li Boyang traveled west and encountered Ji Jiji in Yong Province, where for unknown reasons, they fought. In the end, the Daoist Lord was wounded, while Ji Jiji's Physical Body was destroyed, forcing him to be reborn yet again, thus becoming the current 'Heavenly Monarch' Gongsun Qi."

"The question now is, what guise did he adopt to walk the mortal realm between two hundred and one hundred years ago?"

Hidden in seclusion all this time?

Impossible.

It wasn't that the Heavenly Monarch couldn't stand the solitude of cultivation, but rather that he wouldn't spend all his time secluded in meditation. Before he had given up Ji Jiji's Physical Body, he had spent many years practicing in the Iron Pillar Temple; continuous arduous cultivation probably wouldn't have been very effective anymore.