Taiyi Dao Fruit-Chapter 1091 - 319: Emperor’s Treasure Decree

On a mountain slope in Jingzhou, Tianxuan and Gongsun Qingyue descended slowly.

Tianxuan flicked her hand lightly, and the jade scroll that Gongsun Qingyue had handed to her flew out, transforming into a phantom wearing an emperor's robe.

"Rebellious disciple."

Tianxuan sneered, "Impressive skills. You've not only gotten entangled with my grandmaster but also with Ji Lingguang, your sister-in-law. You truly are something."

"Master, I've already explained that the Innate Qi on the Princess's side comes from the jade scroll. Didn't you see it yourself?" Jiang Li explained helplessly.

Indeed, the Innate Qi from the Princess came from the jade scroll, and there was no other explanation. Jiang Li had done it right in front of Tianxuan.

So, should anyone slander the relationship between Emperor Jiang and the Princess in the future, Jiang Li wouldn't have to worry about trouble at home.

Nipping potential troubles in the bud, that's the caution of Jiang Li.

Moreover, he could use this incident to fish for opportunities.

"Being able to accept your plan, even if it's false, doesn't mean you're innocent," Tianxuan snorted coldly.

While speaking, she wanted Gongsun Qingyue to join her in denouncing, but with a side glance, she saw Gongsun Qingyue secretly smiling.

The reason was none other than seeing Tianxuan suffer.

Old demon, you have your day too.

Gongsun Qingyue was probably immensely amused within her heart right now.

Indeed, the wheel of fortune turns, thirty years east of the river, thirty years west, never mock a young girl in poverty. See, karma has come.

Her acceptance level was even above Tianxuan, as having one Tianxuan meant having a Rain Master was no issue. Having more wouldn't affect her status. Master wouldn't be allowed inside anyway, let alone the grandmaster.

After all, they're outsiders not allowed in, just let the junior apprentice hone his skills.

Tianxuan saw this and knew well what Gongsun Qingyue was thinking. She said irritably, "Evil disciple, what can I say about you."

For a while, she no longer wanted to continue arguing with Jiang Li verbally, "I'll settle this with you after the battle is over."

As for Jiang Li, he looked at Gongsun Qingyue and received a triumphant glance.

A wave has temporarily subsided.

Then, Gongsun Qingyue stepped forward and raised a tattered cloth bag in ritual, only to see the bag opening and streams of light falling onto the plain before the slope.

After half an hour, a complete army of a hundred thousand Heavenly Soldiers formed a formation ahead, and finally, a dazzling flame light fell from the Human Species Bag onto the slope.

A figure wasn't tall, small in stature, but his Qi surged fiercely, even overpowering the divine power emitted by the hundred thousand Heavenly Soldiers.

Clad in lotus pattern battle armor, standing on a pair of Wind and Fire Wheels, holding a Red Tassel Spear, wrapped in a Chaos Sky Ribbon, with a Qiankun Ring on his upper body, this was now the General of Cavalry of Great Zhou—Yin Tulong.

Yin Tulong possessed the Dao Fruit Divine Power to command the Heavenly Soldiers, and as he appeared, he united with the divine power of the hundred thousand Heavenly Soldiers, and in an instant, the divine light filled the sky, with a magnificent aura visible even hundreds of miles away.

As the divine light manifested, seemingly drawn towards it, another majestic divine light appeared in the sky on the other side, across a thousand miles, yet opposing.

"They are the soldiers under the Heavenly Monarch."

The master-disciple trio on the slope were all well-versed in the Qi Observation Technique, and Yin Tulong, coming from Yuxu Temple, was also somewhat knowledgeable, thus he naturally could see that the other side also contained soldiers accommodating the Heavenly Weapon Dao Fruit.

The Heavenly Monarch's forces had also entered Jingzhou.

"Wait, his army formation is scattered rather than united, with a gap appearing in the middle, what is he planning?" Yin Tulong rose a bit and frowned, looking at the distant divine light.

"It's to point us in the right direction."

Jiang Li wasn't surprised by this action and said, "That direction leads straight to Zhenze."

And Zhenze is exactly where Jiang Li detected anomalies before, and also where Zhang Zhixuan sealed the Dao Fruit.

Jiang Li certainly wouldn't forget this place, and if he hadn't been occupied, he might have sneaked into Zhenze himself to try obtaining the Thunder Ancestor Dao Fruit.

Now, the Heavenly Monarch was guiding Jiang Li and others toward Zhenze.

Zhenze was not far from Yangzhou, one could say it's right on the edge, perhaps due to its distinctiveness, not yet enveloped by the divine power of "Tri-legged Nine Provinces." Jiang Li could now clearly sense the changes in heavenly phenomena in that place, even...

In Jiang Li's eyes, divination symbols swirled, heart aligned with heaven and earth, though his body was here, his gaze had already fallen onto Zhenze.

The heart of the Supreme reflects everything, his sharp eyes captured a faint demon energy emerging within Zhenze.

Now wasn't like the chaotic times during the Buddha Country battle, although due to soldier evil and various strong figures intervening, evil Qi permeated, but given Jiang Li's realm, these disturbances were insignificant.

"So, the Heavenly Monarch promised the Thunder Ancestor Dao Fruit to the Dragon Palace." Jiang Li noticed the demon energy and had thoughts about the Heavenly Monarch's plans.

"Is he trying to have us stand completely opposed to the Dragon Palace?" Tianxuan speculated.

This wasn't hard to guess.

The Heavenly Monarch and the Dragon Palace couldn't fully trust each other, so a balance point was needed to assure both sides of the deal's fruition.

Zhenze is that balance point.

The Heavenly Monarch wants to give the Dragon Palace hope of obtaining the Thunder Ancestor Dao Fruit, and the Dragon Palace must offer proof of its resolve to oppose Jiang Li to the end to get the Thunder Ancestor Dao Fruit.

"Isn't he afraid we'll get the Thunder Ancestor Dao Fruit instead?" Gongsun Qingyue spoke with a hint of sarcasm.

Does the Heavenly Monarch actually believe that a supreme person like Jiang Li would be under his control, easily manipulated?

If any mishap occurs, the Thunder Ancestor Dao Fruit could indeed benefit the enemy.

"The Heavenly Monarch is probably just as doubtful as I am," Jiang Li slightly shook his head, saying: "Suspicious that the Dragon Palace has connections with the Great Venerable."

The Heavenly Monarch isn't a simple-minded person. On the contrary, his cunning is unmatched in these times. He has orchestrated the current chaos, plotted against the Emperor, and even secured a chance of promotion from the Great Sun Tathagata. Such a person, having brewed countless schemes, is naturally sensitive to conspiracies.

Even though Dragon Palace's Xuanwu is a great talent in Yi Dao, able to evade the Heavenly Monarch's divination, the Heavenly Monarch has still spotted some clues, likely suspecting a link between the Dragon Palace and the Great Venerable.

"Yet he still used the Dragon Palace," Tianxuan said solemnly, "Just as the Great Venerable knows of countless spies within the Devil God Sect, yet still casually uses people. Similarly, the Heavenly Monarch does not reject involving the Dragon Palace, turning its strength to his advantage."

And so it is.

Regardless of whether the Dragon Palace has ties to the Great Venerable, it will be used if possible; once it's dragged onto the battlefield, it won't be easy to withdraw.

One might even say that if a connection truly exists, it may even draw the Great Venerable into the fray.

And all this is vividly displayed before Jiang Li's eyes.

The Heavenly Monarch knows Jiang Li can see through these connections, yet he laid it all bare, without hiding anything.

Will Jiang Li come, or will he stand by?

Tianxuan, Gongsun Qingyue, and Yin Tulong all simultaneously looked at Jiang Li's apparition.

"Let's go," Jiang Li said with a light laugh, "Since we've been invited, how can we not attend?"

The Heavenly Monarch, Jiang Li, and the Great Venerable—in terms of strategy, this is a game with open cards, or rather a chess game. With the carriages and horses arranged, the outcome will depend on each party's cunning and ability.

Tianxuan smiled faintly upon hearing this, showing no sign of fear.

"Even though we must go, we must also capture Jingzhou."

She said calmly, "March along the way, capture each city we pass; I would like to see if the inviter's host will send people to refuse us."

With one order, a hundred thousand Heavenly Soldiers advanced, the divine light surging mightily, proceeding towards Zhenze.

······

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As the army marched, it immediately triggered the agitation of forces on the other side, even though they were separated by a thousand miles, causing Jingzhou to be filled with the atmosphere of warfare, growing stronger by the moment.

On the peak of a mountain at the edge of Yangzhou, Lingxuzi stood high and observed the Qi. With a flick of his horsetail whisk, he said: "The time has come."

He turned and walked, surrounded by fluttering flags, with Upper Pure Sect Daoists standing solemnly, and in front, an altar with a round top and square base, with a divine shrine displaying the name "Gouchen Supreme Palace Heavenly Emperor."

Lingxuzi ascended the altar, holding a horsetail whisk in one hand and a peach wood sword in the other, stepping on the stars and reciting incantations.

"Ziwei, Chenye, Gouchen Heavenly Palace. Among the Nine Light Treasure Garden, above the Five Qi Xuan Du. Assist the Origin Emperor, managing the three talents. Oversee the balance of military arms, greatly advancing virtue······"

The Upper Pure Daoists below the altar also moved immediately, forming an array around the altar to aid Lingxuzi in performing the ritual.

The aura of warfare was immediately drawn, and a vast force descended upon the altar, making the divine statue glow, its eyes shining as if it had come to life.

Simultaneously, from all directions, invisible thought powers streaked through the sky, landing on the divine statue like swallows returning to their nests, invoking the divine light.

"······The highest image is majestic, True Yuan vast. Great compassion and vow, Great Saint and mercy. Gouchen Supreme Palace, Heavenly Emperor."

Lingxuzi's voice grew more vigorous, delivering the message to heaven and earth with voice as an incantation.

Talismans were originally a medium for communicating with ghosts and gods in heaven and earth, only changing due to the advent of the Five Turbid Evil World to connect within. Now, Lingxuzi and the Upper Pure Daoists reverted the talismans to their original use, using warfare and incense fire thought power to communicate with ghosts and gods, directly reaching the hidden existence—the Gouchen Supreme Palace Heavenly Emperor.