Taiyi Dao Fruit

A beam of white light streaked across the sky, and in the blink of an eye, it drew near and descended to the ground. Suddenly, a young man in yellow garb appeared.

Standing eight feet tall, with eyebrows like swords extending into his temples, he truly presented an imposing figure, fitting of the phrase "with the splendor of a dragon and the grace of a phoenix." In his hand rested a long sword in a copper scabbard, emitting a Sword Qi that seemed ready to burst forth. Even sheathed, the sword exuded an air of sharpness.

Dinghu Sect Disciples were distinguished by the color of their robes: blue for the lower ranks, red for the intermediate, and yellow for the upper.

Even True Disciples wore red robes; the only person among the disciples who wore yellow was one.

This person was none other than the leader of the contemporary disciples of the Dinghu Sect—the Sect Leader's Disciple, Yun Jiuye.

As soon as Yun Jiuye appeared, it was as if an invisible magic power had stolen everyone's gaze. He strode forward, first paying his respects to the two elders, addressing them as "Uncle-Masters," then turned to Ling Wujue with a nod and a smile, and finally, his gaze fell onto Jiang Li.

"Sixth Junior Brother," Yun Jiuye said with a smile.

"Senior Brother," Jiang Li returned the smile, as if basked in the warmth of spring.

Yun Jiuye, as the Senior Brother, was no doubt extraordinary, yet Jiang Li, standing opposite him, matched him presence for presence, not overshadowed in the least.

His awakening of Divine Farmer's appearance already endowed him with a noteworthy temperament. Should he fully display the appearance of the Divine Farmer, he would exude a sense of greatness. Furthermore, openly and covertly contesting against Jiang Zhuyun, having defeated the Third Young Master of the main house despite the difference in their Realms, he obtained an additional layer of refined aura.

While Yun Jiuye was undoubtedly remarkable, Jiang Li was not at all inferior; the sole disparity between them lay in their respective Realms of spiritual cultivation.

"Sixth Junior Brother, for today's promotion to True Disciple, this brother doesn't have much in the way of gifts to offer, but I hope you won't mind accepting this small token," Yun Jiuye said.

Yun Jiuye took out an irregular black crystal from his sleeve and handed it over to Jiang Li.

A wisp of Yin Qi, chilling enough to seep into the bones, emanated upon touch, causing Jiang Li's palm to turn a bluish-black color, only to be refined away in the blink of an eye by his Innate Qi.

Jiang Li slightly raised his eyebrows. "A Dao Artifact?"

[Sixth Grade Dao Fruit: Ghost Immortal]

[Category: Ghost]

[Fitting Conditions: Sixth Grade Ghost Attribute Dao Fruit]

[Promotion Ceremony: Soul cleansing with Heavenly Thunder, metamorphosis from Yin to Yang within]

[Ability: Transcending Yin within, exempt from reincarnation, immune to the trials of Yin spirits seeking sanctity]

This black crystal was indeed a Dao Artifact, and a rather rare Ghost Attribute Dao Artifact at that.

Yun Jiuye pointed at the Dao Artifact and spoke, "The Ghost Cultivator known as Yin Mountain Ghost King attacked the Zhen Ding Jiang Family three years ago. This brother traveled three thousand li to personally avenge this fiend as a small contribution to Sixth Junior Brother's quest for revenge."

[Jizhou Zhen Ding County, the twenty-third branch of the family, was attacked by a powerful enemy three years ago, resulting in over half the family dead or injured. They have since moved out of Jun City and settled in a small town within the county.]

Information automatically surfaced in Jiang Li's mind.

This powerful enemy must have been the Yin Mountain Ghost King.

Within three days, Yun Jiuye covered three thousand li to slay the Sixth-Grade Ghost Cultivator Yin Mountain Ghost King, then hurried back to the Sect without rest to participate in Jiang Li's disciple initiation ceremony.

What strength! What skill!

To slay the Yin Mountain Ghost King was to display strength; to present the Ghost Immortal Dao Artifact was to unsettle the foundation of Jiang Li's support.

What was Jiang Li's basis for gathering the support of the Jiang's branch family?

The hope of restoring the family, and the promise of avenging everyone.

If the promise of revenge was fulfilled by someone else, Jiang Li's role would be significantly reduced. Moreover, the one who avenged them would owe a debt of gratitude, making it difficult for them to oppose him in the future. Some might even hope for Yun Jiuye to avenge their own families.

This act of Yun Jiuye, though seeming to aid Jiang Li, was in reality sowing discord in the hearts of Jiang Li's followers.

Yet Jiang Li could not criticize him for his actions. He could not retaliate, for to do so would be to respond to kindness with resentment.

Jiang Li couldn't blame Yun Jiuye, he even had to thank him.

Such a tactic, hidden needle in cotton, was more than just one level above Ling Wujue.

Just as the people from the Jiang's branch family had arrived, those who were from the Zhen Ding Jiang Family became excited upon hearing this news, yet they felt trapped between gratitude and indecision, unsure whether to thank Yun Jiuye or not.

"It's a pity, brother wasn't able to find the murderer who slaughtered our Jiang Family in Yun County, otherwise, I would have avenged the disciple's family as well," Yun Jiuye said with evident regret.

[Divine Capital Yun County, Seventh Faction, whole family exterminated, fifty-three lives, all perished at the hands of devil cultivators.]

This was the family from which Jiang Luo originated.

If Yun Jiuye had slain that devil cultivator, Jiang Li's planned pawn would have flown away.

"Great kindness does not require a word of thanks, the brotherly grace I will remember in my heart, I shall not refuse any task you may ask of me in the future," Jiang Li promptly paid a formal tribute to Yun Jiuye.

"This..." Yun Jiuye hurriedly helped Jiang Li up, "Such a trifle is not worth mentioning. For a brother to do so, it truly makes me uneasy."

Jiang Li said resoundingly, "The affairs of my clansmen are my affairs, the vengeance of my clansmen is my vengeance. For elder brother to avenge my clansmen is to avenge me; this grace and virtue I shall remember in my heart, and I dare not forget."

The implication was that he, Jiang Li, was taking on this gratitude on behalf of his clansmen, and he would fulfill any future requests.

Yun Jiuye was formidable, but Jiang Li was not inferior; though caught off guard, he still managed to block the onslaught.

"Disciple."

"Elder brother."

The master and disciple looked at each other, and there was a genuine feeling of deep emotion on their faces, which made those who saw it feel a chill in their hearts.

'All foxes, aren't they,' Elder Kaixiang thought to himself with a secret swipe of cold sweat.

Despite being a Fourth-Grade Expert, he felt overwhelmed by this scene; these two young foxes truly knew how to play mind games.

'In the future, upon meeting such deep schemers, best not to talk much; just go straight for the kill with one strike, no chit-chatting,' Elder Kaixiang resolved internally.

At this moment, Jiang Li's eyes revealed a profound mystery, as if he could see through people's hearts.

He looked at Yun Jiuye, with concern in his voice, "Elder brother, your Qi mechanism seems odd; could it be from an injury sustained in killing the Yin Mountain Ghost King? I happen to excel in techniques of Qi regulation. Please allow me to assist, to heal elder brother and stabilize your Qi."

"Just a minor matter..." Yun Jiuye wanted to decline politely.

Jiang Li interjected urgently, with a sincere face, "Please be assured, elder brother, my Divine Farmer's appearance has awakened further, now involving the transformation of various alien energies. Although the Yin Mountain Ghost King was Sixth Rank, his remaining alien energy is something I do not fear."

Speaking thus, Jiang Li's acupoints all shone with bright light, body like crystal, red patterns manifesting, even his hair strands glittering.

Indeed, a majestic Divine Image.

Jiang's clan members were all entranced by the sight, even Elder Tianpeng showed a look of surprise.

The fluctuating morale just now due to Yun Jiuye's actions had once again stabilized.

'This junior brother Jiang, such impressive tactics,' Yun Jiuye mused internally.

His attack had been unexpected and hit the right nerve; he had thought Jiang Li could only swallow the loss in silence, but it was defused by Jiang Li's deft handling.

Not only were the people's hearts reassured, but it also gave Jiang Li an immediate chance to reciprocate.

The injury was sustained from slaying the Yin Mountain Ghost King, and it was only right for Jiang Li to heal him, and the favor could not be easily nullified; yet, since there was a chance to repay, at face value it counted as partial repayment.

If someone were to bring up the matter later, they would emphasize the genuine affection between master and disciple, and the fact that Yun Jiuye rushed three thousand li to slay the enemy for his disciple would recede into the background.

Impressive!

Thinking this, Yun Jiuye also felt the desire to see Jiang Li's abilities, saying, "Then I'll trouble junior brother."