Taiyi Dao Fruit-Chapter 1087 - 315: Xuanwu

"Come out."

The vertical eye in mid-air suddenly twitched, its gaze as substantial as reality, falling on a mountaintop not far away.

Ripples appeared on the mountaintop, seemingly impacted by the gaze, causing crisscross patterns of array formations to surface. These patterns were simple and ancient, yet exuded the profound simplicity of the Dao.

The form formed by these array patterns was somewhat peculiar, resembling a turtle shell.

In the next instant, the array formation shifted, genuinely revealing a turtle shell-like shape. Then it transformed again, the patterns disappearing, revealing a middle-aged man of ordinary appearance, around fifty years of age, standing on the mountaintop.

He wore a dark long robe, with an aura flowing like water, clearly also well-versed in water element techniques and possessing deep Daoist cultivation.

However, unlike Elder Da Kun before him, this person's aura was more profound and restrained, like a deep abyss in the ocean, unfathomable to behold.

"Xuanwu." Lingxuzi whispered, reminding Tan Wuwei.

Xuanwu, one of the two current leaders of the Dragon Palace, ruled alongside Elder Da Kun. However, in practice, it was Xuanwu who truly governed the affairs of the Dragon Palace, with Elder Da Kun actually being under Xuanwu's authority.

Legend has it that when the Devil God Sect was first founded, the Dragon Palace foresaw its potential. Xuanwu personally challenged the Great Venerable but was defeated by the suddenly emerging Great Venerable. Yet, he was the only devil cultivator who managed to escape unscathed after challenging the Great Venerable.

As for the other demons, ghosts, and monsters that dared to question the Great Venerable, they have all become bones under the Great Venerable's feet.

In that battle, the Great Venerable demonstrated unparalleled prowess in Yi Dao, but Xuanwu managed to extricate himself from several predicaments under the Great Venerable's precise calculations, proving his own profound skills.

Xuanwu's shell conceals hidden mysteries, its patterns connecting heaven and earth, itself being of the water element, mastering water veins to observe feng shui. With this Dao Fruit Divine Power and his own Yi Dao, Xuanwu carved a path of survival when defeat seemed inevitable, thus preventing the Dragon Palace from being absorbed by the Devil God Sect.

If there were another tier below the Supreme, Xuanwu would undoubtedly be within that tier.

In fact, Tan Wuwei had already seen Xuanwu's appearance through divine skills, but the surprise on her face had not yet faded when Lingxuzi reminded her.

If not for the divine skills, it would have been impossible for her and Lingxuzi to realize the presence of an eavesdropper until Xuanwu appeared.

"Heavenly Monarch."

Xuanwu nodded from afar and said in a low voice, "To assist your side, Elder Da Kun suffered a sword wound. I believe we have shown considerable sincerity."

"However, it's still not enough to exchange for the Thunder Ancestor Dao Fruit," the Heavenly Monarch said calmly.

Thunder Ancestor Dao Fruit...

Wasn't it sealed in Zhenze by Zhang Zhixuan back then?

Listening to this, Lingxuzi and Tan Wuwei immediately thought of the source of the Thunder Ancestor Dao Fruit.

Back then, to express his lack of intention to ascend, Zhang Zhixuan had sealed the second-grade Thunder Ancestor Dao Fruit in Zhenze, ensuring that a group of third-grade sixth brothers wouldn't ruin things. As a result, instead of the sixth brothers causing trouble, it was a newly ascended fourth-rank cultivator who stirred up trouble.

Zhang Zhixuan died, the Taiping Sect fell, and naturally, the Thunder Ancestor Dao Fruit remained sealed in Zhenze.

Now, listening to the Heavenly Monarch, it seemed the Thunder Ancestor Dao Fruit was in his possession... or rather, he knew its exact location and the sealing technique.

Exactly, Zhang Zhixuan might have been the leader of the Taiping Sect, but behind him stood the Heavenly Monarch. After Zhang Zhixuan's death, it was only natural for the Thunder Ancestor Dao Fruit to fall under the Heavenly Monarch's control.

The Heavenly Monarch's response clearly did not satisfy Xuanwu. Or rather, except for directly handing over the Thunder Ancestor Dao Fruit to Xuanwu, nothing else could satisfy him.

Alas, reality is not so kind.

"If the Heavenly Monarch intends to say that the Thunder Ancestor Dao Fruit will be handed over after repelling the court, then I'm afraid I can't oblige." Xuanwu said in a deep voice.

Regardless of whether we win, even if we do, whether it would be given then would depend on the Heavenly Monarch's decision.

If the Heavenly Monarch did not want to give it, then the Dragon Palace truly had no means.

"I won't deceive you with empty words."

The silhouette within the vertical eye chuckled lightly and said, "I can tell you now that the Thunder Ancestor Dao Fruit is still in Zhenze. The Dragon Palace can search for its sealed location. As long as your side's two representatives are present, the sealing technique can be delivered into your hands immediately."

It's just that, at that time, retreating would not be so easy.

Once fully committed to the battlefield, the Dragon Palace would have only one choice: to ensure the Heavenly Monarch's victory.

Though the Dragon Palace had significant conflicts with Jiang Li before, it wasn't to the point of mutual destruction. If they decisively withdrew from the Divine Country, Jiang Li wouldn't easily pursue revenge overseas.

But if they fully engaged, then they'd become an obstacle to Jiang Li's path.

For any third-grade cultivator, especially those Supremes, eliminating obstacles is the most common knowledge.

However, upon hearing this, Xuanwu did not reveal much surprise. Perhaps he was already prepared. The Heavenly Monarch's words gave him confidence, making it clear it wasn't mere deception.

"Alright."

Xuanwu looked deeply at the vertical eye in mid-air and said, "I hope that when the time comes, the Heavenly Monarch will not disappoint me."

With that, mist surged forth, and the de facto ruler of the Dragon Palace faded into the mist, dissipating with the mist.

After he left, the vertical eye turned to the two on the mountain, "What do you think?"

"The Heavenly Monarch implied whether the Dragon Palace was being instructed by the Great Venerable?" Tan Wuwei immediately grasped the Heavenly Monarch's implication.

The two from the Dragon Palace are also devil cultivators. Although it might seem a bit forced for Xuanwu, Elder Da Kun is definitely a genuine devil cultivator. Any devil cultivator is inevitably entangled with the Great Venerable.

The Heavenly Monarch had always been wary of the Great Venerable's interference.

"Whether it is or not doesn't affect the fact that we need the Dragon Palace's efforts, but it's still necessary to probe a bit."

The Heavenly Monarch spoke, his gaze falling on Tan Wuwei, "This matter is entrusted to you."

"Lingxuzi."

The vertical eye then looked at the Sect Leader of the Upper Pure Sect, "How are the preparations for the Magic Ceremony?"

Lingxuzi replied, "They are complete, just waiting for the next outbreak of conflict."

Hearing this, the silhouette within the vertical eye nodded slightly and said, "Very good."

As the words fell, the yellow cloud gradually dissipated, and the vertical eye in mid-air slowly faded, blending into the void.

On the mountain peak, Tan Wuwei and Lingxuzi bowed towards the spot where the vertical eye disappeared. Tan Wuwei was about to speak when Lingxuzi said, "Mr. Wuwei, I have other urgent matters and cannot stay long. Please."

After saying this, he immediately transformed into Escape Light and left, with no intention of saying anything more.

Because once more is said, Tan Wuwei might have the chance to foresee multiple futures, inadvertently leaking information.

'Therefore, he chose to leave immediately, ending any possibility of future leaks.'

Tan Wuwei squinted slightly, 'The Heavenly Monarch's ascension has nothing to do with war, the Magic Ceremony is for someone else. Delegating this matter to Lingxuzi yet not informing me suggests that the Heavenly Monarch doesn't trust me completely.'

'Or perhaps, the Heavenly Monarch trusts no one.'

Those who wish to act on behalf of the heavens and possess the capacity to control people's hearts, in his eyes, probably no one in this world can be entrusted with complete trust.

The Heavenly Monarch is a person who trusts only himself.

"What a pity."

Behind Tan Wuwei manifested the True Void Home, enveloping his body as he too left the mountain peak, leaving behind an enigmatic sigh drifting in the wind.

It's uncertain whether this sigh of "what a pity" was directed at a person or a matter.