Taiyi Dao Fruit-Chapter 1122 - 346: The Reversal of the Chess Piece

"From the very beginning, you never intended to collaborate with the Taibai True Monarch again. Your intended collaborator is the True Spirit within the Dao Fruit."

"With the Sincere Conversion Ceremony as a sacrificial rite, when the Gouchen True Spirit awakens, there will be no need for communication; he will become your ally, even if only temporarily. Even if you leave, having this ally can still block our forces at the Han River. To stop this temporary ally of yours, only I can do it, and this must be before he aids Taibai True Monarch's ascension."

"So, even though I knew you contacted a Daoist Lord and set a trap, I had to abandon the rescue, focusing instead on dealing with the Taibai True Monarch under the control of the Gouchen True Spirit. Of course, if I were willing to give up the army, allowing a few to retreat, or let my master and the others handle the Gouchen True Spirit, I could spare the effort for a rescue."

Jiang Li stepped out of the void, and looking at the colossal shadow, he slowly spoke.

This time, the Heavenly Monarch's plan was quite meticulous, yet once discovered, it became immediately comprehensible.

Even upon understanding it, breaking this plan proved difficult; it was a plan almost too simple.

The Daoist Lord, due to Taibai True Monarch, knowing the danger yet still needing to come. Jiang Li could not allow his woman to face life-threatening dangers against the Gouchen True Spirit, so even upon seeing through the Heavenly Monarch's intentions, he would give up rescue to avoid paying such a price.

The Heavenly Monarch not only calculated against the Daoist Lord's human nature but also against Jiang Li.

Jiang Li used to be like the Heavenly Monarch, fearless, with no concerns beyond himself, but now...

The Heavenly Monarch had already seen it; Jiang Li now has attachments beyond himself.

He no longer resembles the Heavenly Monarch, capable of abandoning everything without hesitation.

This was a plan targeting human nature; it couldn't even be called an overt conspiracy, for once revealed it was too simple. If one wished, they could easily lead the Heavenly Monarch to failure.

Yet eventually, due to human nature, the Heavenly Monarch succeeded.

However, now Jiang Li appeared here.

"Since you know, you should not have appeared here."

The enormous shadow looked down upon Jiang Li, uttering in a cold and superior tone.

Jiang Li should not be here; even if the Gouchen True Spirit was not awakened yet, it was on the verge, and if pressured by external force, it could immediately awaken. Jiang Li's presence here could only mean paying a heavy price.

With the Heavenly Monarch's understanding of Jiang Li, the present him with a softened heart should not act in such a manner.

"Indeed, I should not be here."

Jiang Li said slowly, "But I believe that evil cannot overcome righteousness, so here I am. I also trust my master and senior sister, a trust you, Heavenly Monarch, will never understand."

Heavenly Monarch: "..."

At this moment, hearing Jiang Li's words, the Heavenly Monarch seemed to face the Moon Worship Sect Leader confronting Li Xiaoyao. They were fighting well, when suddenly the opponent shouted, "You don't understand love," blasting forth with "Infinite Love."

Although Jiang Li did not speak of "love," the reality was that indeed the Heavenly Monarch knew nothing of love and affection, but the principle of Jiang Li's words was about the same.

The Heavenly Monarch didn't know how to react.

Shouting about "evil cannot overcome righteousness" or "trust" could overcome all difficulties?

Not even actors in plays act like this.

Even the Daoist Lord, upon hearing this phrase, felt it was overly unrealistic.

Although the Daoist Lord's moral integrity far surpassed both Jiang Li and the Heavenly Monarch, he also did not believe that evil could not conquer righteousness. Further, "evil cannot overcome righteousness" coming from Jiang Li sounded incompatible with his cunning and thoughtful image.

Jiang Li might have a character better than the capricious Heavenly Monarch, yet it's marginal; if you round it off, he, the Heavenly Monarch, and the Great Venerable could share a table.

In any case, the Heavenly Monarch did not believe Jiang Li's words.

"It seems you, Heavenly Monarch, do not believe me."

Jiang Li sighed lightly, "Heavenly Monarch should have a bit more faith in people's hearts; sometimes, it can unleash boundless potential."

While this statement wasn't quite as far-fetched, it was still nonsense.

With the style of Emperor Jiang's methods, would he place faith in people's hearts?

Ridiculous!

The Heavenly Monarch naturally did not believe it, but he began to realize that Jiang Li had another reliance.

Meanwhile, the scene above the Han River simultaneously emerged within the Heavenly Monarch's perception.

...

...

"Boom!"

The Sword Array was sliced open by a fierce Sword Light, and the overwhelming Qi of warfare immediately mended the gap, repeatedly transforming into a sword wheel.

The battle between Daoist Guang Cheng and Taibai True Monarch was nearing its conclusion. The sword momentum of Daoist Guang Cheng became increasingly fierce, using the Taiyin Divine Number and the North Pole Divine Number for calculation, rendering the Slaying Immortal Sword extremely formidable, capable of breaking all techniques with a single strike.

Nevertheless, the Taibai True Monarch continuously blocked the Slaying Immortal Sword with Wan Guchou.

Clearly, Daoist Guang Cheng had done his utmost calculations through Yi Dao, yet although the Slaying Immortal Sword lacked the near-light speed of the Yin Yang Two Extremes Sword, its danger was fully revealed through the profound Yi Dao.

Unfortunately, Yi Dao was ineffective against Taibai True Monarch.

His current Sword Light seemed able to sever the predestined course, with even Daoist Guang Cheng's expertise in Yi Dao unable to preemptively deduce the sword path of the Taibai True Monarch.

And Wan Guchou, under the blessing of the Gouchen Dao Fruit, could withstand the edge of the Slaying Immortal Sword, using sword against sword, intercepting Daoist Guang Cheng's sword style, while the momentum of killing and warfare on his body continued to rise.

Above his head, starlight appeared again, bent like a hook.

In the starry sky, Emperor Gouchen also had a star constellation symbol, known as the Gouchen Six Stars. At this moment, the appearance of the six stars also represented that the power of Gouchen's True Spirit was gradually penetrating Taibai True Monarch.

Although Taibai True Monarch had not yet ascended, because he carried the Gouchen Dao Fruit with his Lifebound Sword, in some aspects, he was already somewhat aligned with the Dao Fruit. Just as Manjusri carried the Great Sun Tathagata Fruit with his External Dharma Form, almost being seized by the Great Sun Tathagata, so too was Taibai True Monarch at this time.

He contended with Daoist Guang Cheng, the momentum of his sword fully displaying the path of warfare, yet his Qi Mechanism grew increasingly chaotic, his complexion gradually becoming frenzied.

But before Taibai True Monarch could be mastered by the True Spirit, Daoist Guang Cheng's sword momentum suddenly weakened.

Half of his body erupted with a mist of blood, within which countless tiny Sword Qis seemed to explode, tearing the vestment robe, revealing bloody wounds.

Wan Guchou immediately swung horizontally, pouring the energy of weapons and killing into the Sword Qi. Though it was sliced by the Slaying Immortal Sword, Daoist Guang Cheng's injuries were triggered, and instantly, flesh and blood vanished, revealing the blood-stained bones of his right arm.

Due to these injuries, Daoist Guang Cheng immediately showed a decline, the surrounding sword wheel was about to strangle him, yet suddenly halted.

The energy of weapons and killing grew increasingly wild, forming a Gang Wind, with the Gouchen Six Stars flickering unsteadily, as if obstructed.

"Cannot..."

Taibai True Monarch stopped his sword style, his always stern face now filled with ferocity, "No one can control this poor Daoist! No one can... control me!"

Long immersed in his inner demons, Taibai True Monarch now displayed an exceptionally strong will, his eyes were cold, his gaze like a sword, staring firmly at his Lifebound Sword.

That gaze was so cold, yet so determined.

The Gouchen Dao Fruit was carried by Wan Guchou, and through this medium, he communicated with Taibai True Monarch's heart and mind. If he wanted to cut off the influence of the Gouchen True Spirit, there was only one path to take—destroy the Lifebound Sword.

So the question arose, would Taibai True Monarch be willing to do this?

His inner demons had previously grown, further aggravated by his decline in strength, and these aggravated inner demons further clouded his sword heart, thus trapped in a vicious cycle.

If he destroyed the Lifebound Sword now, not to mention the potential threat to his life, his cultivation would certainly plummet.

Taibai True Monarch's answer was—

"No one can make Li Taibai a pawn! No one can control me!"

"Not even Master, let alone you, Heavenly Monarch!"

The word "pawn" was heavy, representing a determined resolve, Taibai True Monarch suddenly swung his sword, Wan Guchou cutting across his own chest.

The sword carrying the Gouchen Dao Fruit couldn't be resisted even by the Geng Metal Undying Sword Body, allowing the sword tip to easily pierce the body. But the essence blood that surged afterward made the sword tip incredibly sluggish.

Slashing oneself with the Lifebound Sword, the essence blood soaking, the spiritually awakened sword cried out, the sword body resonating, and then—

"Clang!"

Wan Guchou broke.

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"You see, the fact proves that evil cannot prevail over good."

In the Heavenly Realm, Jiang Li was fully aware of the distant sword fight situation, and after Wan Guchou broke, he clapped and said, "The potential of the human heart, hasn't it just erupted?"

Honest Jiang, Emperor Jiang, still did not lie today.

"Heavenly Monarch, how does it feel to be countered by a pawn?" Jiang Li asked.

At the most critical moment, the pawn that had already been taken into account counterattacked, causing the plan to fall short.

It must be said, this was truly absurd, quite ironic.

And more infuriating than irony was that the opponent had anticipated this counter beforehand and used it.

A huge phantom lowered its eyes, only the vertical eye in the brow shone with a cold gleam, numerous scenes flashing within.

"Pawn..." the Heavenly Monarch said heavily, "I underestimated Li Xuan, he intended to resist from the very beginning, unwilling to be seen as a pawn. Developing inner demons was unavoidable, but afterward, the proliferation of inner demons was his doing."

Or rather, knowing well the proliferation of inner demons, he did not resist, but allowed them to worsen.

The reason for this was to force himself to break his inner barrier by smashing the cauldrons and sinking the boats after falling into the depths.

Taibai True Monarch's Sword Dao was too extreme, causing his Sword Intent to falter whenever his mind clouded. The principle of being too rigid to bend was just that.

As a third grade, Taibai True Monarch couldn't have been unaware of this. However, he did not plan to change but chose to break his inner demon in the most extreme way.

An extreme Sword Dao developing an inner demon could only mean it wasn't extreme enough.

He probably held onto this extreme idea.

The Heavenly Monarch did not expect Taibai True Monarch to be so extreme, causing a counter at the last moment.

Now, it's time for him to pay the price.

"I am here, not to rescue the Daoist Lord but to deal with you," Jiang Li slowly said.