Taiyi Dao Fruit-Chapter 1130 - 354: Approaching

The Three Tombs had long been integrated by Jiang Li, and from this, the Reverse Innate Five Supremes method was created, truly merging into one.

Though united, they can independently exist, and thus, in an intangible way, they align with the cultivation of "One Qi to Three Pure Ones." Within Jiang Li, nothing could be more fitting as the "three" than this.

"Fellow Daoist's decision is indeed swift."

The speed at which Jiang Li decided could be described as remarkably fast, allowing the Daoist Lord to appraise Jiang Li's Daoist conduct and foundation.

Deciding swiftly indicates that Jiang Li is fully aware of everything about himself, with not a hint of deviation. At the same time, Jiang Li's foundation likely has quite a degree of compatibility with "One Qi to Three Pure Ones."

And to have such compatibility with the Three Pure Ones, one's origins are certainly not insignificant.

In a short time, the Daoist Lord had roughly guessed the basis of Jiang Li.

Then, without hesitation, he recited the magic door, condensing a trace of divine thought into three streams of pure qi, delivering them to Jiang Li's hands.

"The principles of transformation are all within this. Should Fellow Daoist encounter confusion, you can comprehend it within. However, I advise Fellow Daoist to focus your current heart power on the Heavenly Monarch."

The Daoist Lord said this while gazing in the direction of Yangzhou, "Recently, I have been wandering in Yangzhou, witnessing how everyone in the Yangzhou region worships the heavens and prepares to perform rituals to abstain for heaven, even the battles outside Yangzhou have not affected them at all. It can be seen that the Heavenly Monarch has converted all the people of the Three States. As for that Jade Emperor Dao Fruit, although I do not know the specific promotion ceremony, I can confirm it is related to faith."

The Jade Emperor commands the Three Realms, receiving the worship of thousands and the worship by numerous gods. He may not require incense like those Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, but his incense is undoubtedly prosperous.

Imitating this phenomenon, it is certainly related to the promotion ceremony.

Furthermore, although the Heavenly Monarch suffered setbacks this time, it also caused additional injuries for the Daoist Lord. If he does not take this opportunity to advance, there may be long-term consequences.

"He is finally going to be promoted." Jiang Li smiled faintly.

Having waited so long, finally, the Heavenly Monarch advances.

Then next, it is merely a matter of preparing for the decisive battle.

Seeing Jiang Li's expression, the Daoist Lord knew Jiang Li had a plan all along, thus stating, "It seems that Fellow Daoist had been prepared. If so, then I wish Fellow Daoist swift success. As for the old Daoist...

He patted his sleeve, showing a speck of blood at the cuff, "This old body will not join in, lest I fall within."

Having said that, the Daoist Lord slowly stood up and walked towards the crouching Green Bull, mounting its back.

"As for this old Daoist's disciple, I ask Fellow Daoist to inform him to return by himself or perhaps help take care of him on my behalf, if you would be so kind."

The Green Bull swayed its tail, stepping forward, each step resonating with the earth veins' pulse, performing the mystical art of Submerged Abyss Shrinkage, covering ten yards in a step. Soon, it was just a tiny silhouette.

He simply left the hard-rescued disciple and walked away.

Moreover...

'Even with injuries, such strength is still substantial. The Daoist Lord's Dao mastery remains unfathomable. Perhaps he truly has experienced the End of Dharma.'

Thinking this, Jiang Li felt some regret for not inquiring about the Daoist Lord's experience regarding the End of Dharma.

When the End of Dharma descends, tall ones bear the brunt. This is not about willingness; their strength subjects them to the greatest tribulation. This results in a situation where the strong die earlier than the weak.

A typical example is Sun Wukong, who said that when the End of Dharma suddenly came, that was it for him.

In such situations, some strong individuals may not know more than the weak.

Of course, this assumption is based on whether the Daoist Lord lived that long and he showed no intention of discussing it much.

Therefore, he did not pursue the matter further.

The current pressing matter indeed relates to confronting the Heavenly Monarch.

'The "Mountain Tomb," Three Treasures Jade Ruyi, and One Qi to Three Pure Ones, this journey's harvest is truly substantial. Hmm... one might say it all relied on the comparison with others.'

Thinking of this, Jiang Li showed genuine gratitude towards the Heavenly Monarch.

Leaving aside the "Mountain Tomb," the subsequent harvests indeed benefited from Jiang Li's great reputation. Whether it was Daoist Guang Cheng's willingness to directly impart the magic door or the Daoist Lord offering great rewards, it was because Jiang Li was trustworthy.

As for why Jiang Li was trustworthy, it was all thanks to the Heavenly Monarch's comparison.

If it were the Heavenly Monarch, even pledging to join Yuxu Temple, Daoist Guang Cheng would surely not believe it. Even if the Taibai True Monarch were in his hands, the Daoist Lord would never be threatened.

To express his gratitude towards the Heavenly Monarch, Jiang Li decided to repay him with the utmost effort by sending him to his demise.

The Karma Collection turned to a specific page before Jiang Li, where the form of the Ochre Whip appeared on the page. One by one, faint causality lines extended from the page into Jiang Li's body.

During this period, Jiang Li had been using the Karma Collection to strengthen the Green Emperor Dao Fruit's [Primordial Human] divine skill. In a few days, at most ten days, the completion of its refinement would be achieved.

'In today's battle, the Heavenly Monarch may still have hidden cards, while I am closing to exerting full effort, but the present is the present, and the future is the future. The me ten days from now will be very different from who I am today.'

Whether it is the [Primordial Human] divine skill's completion or Jiang Li's improvement in acquired cultivation techniques, both shall give the Heavenly Monarch quite a surprise.

'Heavenly Monarch, I am waiting for you.'

He slowly opened his mouth and said, "I will be there before Taibai."

With the application of divine skills, space shifted, and Jiang Li vanished from his original spot.

······

······

By the banks of the Han River.

The Heavenly Monarch's subordinates had long since withdrawn, while the court's army had set up camp on the west bank.

Thanks to the intervention of the Primordial Lord Rain Master, the floodwaters of the rivers returned to their proper channels, and even the scarred land had recovered.

At the center of the encampment, a dharma platform was steadily placed. Flags were erected around the platform, creating an array formation that repelled the Five Vile Qi, establishing a stable environment.

Daoist Guang Cheng and Taibai True Monarch were both on the dharma platform at this moment, one standing and one sitting, one meditating in breathing control, the other bound by starlight chains. Chains penetrated into the Taibai True Monarch's body, binding his flesh and holding the Geng Metal Undying Sword Body in place, sealing the primordial spirit.

The Dao robe worn by Taibai True Monarch had already been stained with blood, and there was a gaping wound on his chest—it was no exaggeration to call him scarred. However, thanks to the repelling of the Five Vile Qi, his injuries showed no signs of worsening.

The World's Number One Sword stood silently, saying nothing, yet exuding a sharp aura of its own. 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

He was like a human-shaped sword, with extreme sharpness that couldn't be subdued, even with his flesh and power being bound and suppressed. The chains penetrating his body trembled constantly, producing a sound like blade friction.

By severing his Lifebound Sword, Wan Guchou, Taibai True Monarch's power greatly diminished, yet breaking and then establishing anew enabled his realm to ascend further.

Simply put, he became more extreme.

If Taibai True Monarch were to return to his full strength and fight a battle with Daoist Guang Cheng once more, the outcome might not be the same as before. Even without the help of Gouchen Dao Fruit, the current Taibai True Monarch had the capacity to contend with the Slaying Immortal Sword.

After all, the Slaying Immortal Sword of Daoist Guang Cheng had been refined by himself and was not the real Slaying Immortal Sword.

Daoist Guang Cheng, after a brief breathing control, suppressed his injuries, slowly opened his eyes, and looked at Taibai True Monarch, saying, "Seeing the current you, Fellow Daoist, my sword heart can't help but be stirred. It's a pity…"

A pity that Taibai True Monarch was no longer at his peak, and a pity that he had become a captive.

Falling into the hands of Emperor Jiang, it's uncertain whether this figure has a future or not.

Taibai True Monarch had once caused Jiang Li considerable trouble, and Jiang Li had never shown mercy to enemies. Although Daoist Guang Cheng regretted the potential loss of a strong sword dao practitioner, he wouldn't plead for Jiang Li on this account.

Emperor Jiang was generous to his allies, and as an elder brother, he couldn't allow himself to trouble him; relationships should be mutually preserved, not overly demanded.

In this regard, the angel investor Awakened did well and reaped significant rewards, something Daoist Guang Cheng felt should be a lesson.

"I, as a poor Daoist, have already been defeated by you, and thus the title of Number One in Sword Dao falls upon you—what's there to regret?"

In response to Daoist Guang Cheng's words, Taibai True Monarch finally reacted and said indifferently, "Next time, it will be I, the poor Daoist, as the weaker one, challenging you."

He called himself weaker, but looking at Taibai True Monarch's eyes, there wasn't the slightest sense of seeing himself as weak.

"If Fellow Daoist issues a challenge, I, the poor Daoist, will never refuse, provided there is a next time," Daoist Guang Cheng contemplated briefly and advised, "Fellow Daoist, when the Emperor returns, perhaps you should confess your fault. The Emperor also needs the intelligence of the Heavenly Monarch, and you might preserve your life this way."

Though once enemies, Daoist Guang Cheng still held a considerable admiration for Taibai True Monarch.

To be as extreme as Taibai True Monarch was not without merit for earning respect.

"No need," Taibai True Monarch closed his eyes, "I, as a poor Daoist, already know why he captured but did not kill. It's nothing but wanting to use me to threaten my master. In this matter, I, the poor Daoist, will never let him succeed."

The heavenly realm of the Heavenly Monarch shattered, and the aftermath of that great battle even reached the Han River. Taibai True Monarch already knew that the Daoist Lord had appeared, and thus he could roughly guess Jiang Li's intentions.

He firmly believed that Jiang Li couldn't do anything to the Daoist Lord, leaving only the path of threats open.

Speaking of Jiang Li, Jiang Li arrived immediately. After Taibai True Monarch's words fell, space shifted, and Jiang Li's figure appeared directly on the dharma platform.

Upon seeing this, Taibai True Monarch immediately fell silent.

The sense of resistance was visible to the naked eye, and it was likely to evolve into suicide.

Such an action, Taibai True Monarch was absolutely capable of committing. After all, not long ago, he had severed his own Lifebound Sword.

Jiang Li, with a glance, discerned Taibai True Monarch's intention, smiled slightly, and said, "Worthy nephew, fear not, I will not harm you."

Worthy nephew?

Taibai True Monarch suddenly opened his eyes, breaking his silence for a second, "What did you call me?"

"Worthy nephew," Jiang Li naturally responded, "I and the Daoist Lord are peers, and now we have mutual friendship. If I don't call you worthy nephew, what should I call you?"