Taiyi Dao Fruit-Chapter 1183 - 402: Great Rite Mutations (Part 2)
The Imperial College Sacrificial Officer was unaware, that at this moment, within the Golden Hall on the Clothing Platform, someone was observing his actions.
The Heavenly Mirror projected an illusory image, capturing the Sacrificial Officer's actions, while the Emperor, whom the ritual officer claimed had not yet arrived, was in fact inside the Golden Hall, watching the Sacrificial Officer together with the Princess.
"What is it? Do you suspect the Great Sacrificial Officer has rebellious intentions towards you?" the Princess asked Jiang Li as she watched the Sacrificial Officer walk away in the mirror.
"Whether or not he harbors rebellious intentions is of no concern to me; I care about whether there is someone behind him,"
Jiang Li said blandly as he looked at the image, "Just two days ago, I caught a trace of an enemy and suspect he might have an accomplice within the court, one of whom is the Great Sacrificial Officer."
Or rather, the only suspect.
Besides him, even if others are undercover, they are of no consequence to the overall situation.
"The Great Venerable?" the Princess immediately asked.
There are not many enemies in the world today who could concern Jiang Li. In fact, such enemies could only be the Great Venerable at the moment.
Other strong individuals, like Karma Tathagata, have shown no signs of entering the Divine Country, and it's even rumored that Buddha Light and Demonic Qi often appear together lately over Thousand Buddha Mountain in the Buddha Country, leading to speculation that the Fire House Buddha Hell Master is cultivating there.
Although Karma Tathagata was previously labeled a "Demon," he is essentially deeply rooted in the Buddhist foundation, an actual Self-awakened being. Even the rumors that he contained the Great Freedom Heavenly Lord Dao Fruit were proven false after his relationship with the Awakened was exposed.
However, he now truly contains the Bodhi Dao Fruit, as the Buddha's enemy, and has seized the Awakened's body, combining Buddha and Demon, which would undoubtedly require cultivation and fusion in the eyes of outsiders.
Moreover, there are still two Second Grade True Spirits in the Buddha Country, so Karma Tathagata would likely see them as his main adversaries.
Hence, it's said that the Great Venerable is the only formidable enemy Jiang Li currently has.
The Princess would certainly pay attention to any news about the Great Venerable, as she harbors intense hatred towards him, even though she's already entrapped the Great Venerable once.
"It's not the Great Venerable,"
Jiang Li denied, "It's another enemy whose identity is still unknown, the one who orchestrated the collaboration between the Drought Demon and the Heavenly Monarch."
"Truly?"
The Princess doubted for a moment, but Jiang Li made his case convincingly, leaving her with no grounds to question further.
She did not press on and simply offered her assistance if needed, then asked when Tianxuan and Gongsun Qingyue would arrive. 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚
"They should arrive in the afternoon," Jiang Li said with a slight movement of his thoughts.
"The afternoon, hmm..."
The Princess remarked flatly, "Then, let us find another leisure time to invite the Emperor to have a chat at Nanli Palace."
What would they discuss?
Of course, it would be state affairs.
Lately, the Princess has been handling the court's affairs on behalf of Jiang Li.
Jiang Li has been able to freely roam outside, thanks in no small part to the Princess's assistance.
After speaking, the Princess left the Golden Hall.
Jiang Li watched the doors of the Golden Hall close slowly, feeling somewhat resigned.
'Ah, men.'
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Time slowly moved to the next day, which was the day of the great festival.
On this day, the sun shone brightly with scorching heat, typical of summer weather, yet it perfectly aligned with the Fire Element of the Great Zhou and the current Emperor.
Jiang Li emerged from the Golden Hall on the Clothing Platform, donned in the solemn Twelve Chapter Robe, causing the officials below to salute in unison.
Tianxuan and Gongsun Qingyue were in palace attire, one wearing a veil, dignified and majestic, the other adorned with a phoenix crown, graceful and elegant, following alongside Jiang Li.
As for the Primordial Lord Rain Master, as an elder of the Dinghu Sect, she followed a bit further behind in a dark blue dress, appearing quite low-key.
Soon after, a streak of firelight came from the east, circling around before beams of light descended from the sky, revealing the figures of Heavenly Soldiers. These soldiers, who were supposed to return soon, were brought back directly by Yin Tulong using the Human Species Bag.
The Heavenly Soldiers formed ranks in the pre-arranged open space, and the firelight landed in front of the Clothing Platform, revealing the silhouette of a small Daoist.
"Greetings to Your Majesty,"
Yin Tulong saluted like an adult, saying, "The remnants of the Upper Pure Sect have been completely eradicated, and I lead the army to report to Your Majesty."
Jiang Li's gaze fell below, but he did not see the expected presence of Sun Monkey.
'Where has that monkey gone?'
Sun Monkey eludes divination, and Jiang Li couldn't pinpoint his location. Previously, Jiang Li thought Sun Monkey had gone to play with Yin Tulong again, but now it seems the monkey has roamed off somewhere unknown.
Perhaps he wasn't even aware of the grand ceremony Jiang Li was hosting.
Secretly grumbling in his heart, outwardly, Jiang Li descended the Clothing Platform and helped Yin Tulong up, saying, "You've worked hard, my beloved subject; come, join me in paying tribute to the spirits of our nation."
As the military tool handpicked by Jiang Li, Yin Tulong was slated to openly hold military authority in the future. Being brethren of the same sect, Jiang Li did not hesitate to show closeness, elevating his status greatly.
Moreover, although Brother Yin is now a third-grade strong person, his bearing and dignity...
Let's just say it's somewhat lacking and still requires Jiang Li's support.
Following Yin Tulong's report, a dark radiance surged, and the Mo Sect Master, Mo Xuankong, arrived to pay respects to the Emperor, reporting that the Three States' epidemic was nearly resolved, offering the officials peace of mind, who unanimously congratulated the Emperor.
Emperor Jiang did not mind Mo Xuankong's simple hemp attire, equally helping him up, greatly praising the Mo Sect.
Although he did not declare Mo School to be an official branch of study, his attitude made it clear.
Afterwards, Jiang Li was to proceed with the officials to Huanqiu Platform.
A eunuch waiting nearby the Clothing Platform held up a canopy and hurriedly walked with an imperial yellow umbrella towards Jiang Li, following closely, while the officials followed on both sides, waiting for Jiang Li to pass before trailing behind.
Yet, just as Jiang Li was about to enter Huanqiu Platform, the sky changed dramatically.
The once bright and sunny sky was suddenly covered with clusters of dark clouds, a whirlwind of Calamity Clouds swirling into a vortex as if leading to the deepest part of the sky, infinitely profound.
The officials on the ground simultaneously changed their expressions. Such an occurrence on the day of the great festival was certainly not a good omen.
Moreover, observing the swirling vortex with evident ripples, akin to space rifts, signaled the presence of a strong force at work, indicating that the festival would not proceed smoothly.
"The weather changed rather quickly,"
Jiang Li looked at the sky, yet he laughed without worry, shook his head, and said, "However, I don't quite like this weather; let's change it back."
As his words fell, the heavenly phenomenon was forcibly reversed, the vortex returned as if time rewound, and even the Calamity Clouds retreated and dissipated. In an instant, the changed heavenly phenomenon reverted to its original state.
However, the opposing side, acting at this moment, relied on certain confidence, as an Invisible Power descended from the sky's dome when reversing the heavenly phenomenon to clash with the power altering it.
"Boom!"
The sky thundered as if it exploded, the intense air wave akin to a roaring tidal surge, about to sweep across the vast sky, yet—
The more the air wave spread, the weaker it became, within mere breaths, subsiding, revealing a clear sky without a cloud, exposing the bright sun.
It felt as though an invisible boundary confined the sky, ensuring that no matter what happened, it would revert to its original state.
This naturally was a Divine Skill!
The Emperor's Divine Skill!
Even resisting force with force couldn't prevent the change in heavenly phenomena; within the core area of the Great Zhou, near the Divine Capital, Jiang Li's word seemed to define the law of heaven and earth, unchallengeable.
The Divine Skill even anchored the sky's space, forbidding external forces from entering this realm or reaching it.
"Continue,"
Having twisted the heavenly phenomenon with a single command, Jiang Li remained calm, merely instructing that the ceremony continue as he proceeded towards Huanqiu Platform, his steps steady, each step perfectly measured, void of any haste.
"Dong—"
Though no anomaly was visible on the sky's dome, a loud ringing like a grand bell echoed as if someone beyond the sky dome was striking it, intending to break this confinement.
