Taiyi Dao Fruit-Chapter 1205 - 9: Lord Lao Zi of the Great Monad, Candle Nine Yin_2

And now, it encompasses the entire world.

Extending from overseas to the Daode Sect, covering the Nine Provinces, and even the great swamps to the west of Kunxu Mountain, the deserts, Buddha Country, the entire world has fallen into eternal night at this moment.

"It is not the Candle Dragon, but Candle Yin," the Daoist Lord said solemnly, "visible as day, closed as night, blown as winter, inhaled as summer, controlling the Netherworld, with eyes like the sun and moon, Candle Yin."

"Is he taking the path of differentiation for the Second Grade Dao Fruit?" Taibai True Monarch pointed out the key.

The Daoist Lord nodded, confirming Taibai True Monarch's guess.

The Candle Dragon and Candle Yin are merely different appellations, yet the Daoist Lord separates them, clearly indicating a certain meaning.

That is—though Candle Yin Dao Fruit is inherently of Second Grade, the Great Venerable differentiated it into a Third Grade Candle Dragon Dao Fruit for acceptance. Now, the Great Venerable has completed the Candle Yin Dao Fruit, ascending to Second Grade because of it.

This path is not without precedent, such as the Jiang family, which differentiated the Second Grade Emperor Yan's Tao Fruit into two Third Grades, thus reducing the difficulty of Dao Fruit acceptance and paving the way for Second Grade ascension.

Even after learning that within the Second Grade Dao Fruit exists the original True Spirit, Taibai True Monarch further speculated this method could also differentiate the True Spirit, reducing the difficulty of defeating and consuming the True Spirit.

Clearly, among the ancestors of the Jiang family, there were indeed high sages capable of conceiving this method. Though this method is somewhat unrefined, it is entirely aimed at ancestor elimination.

Only, it is rather awkward that, even though differentiated into Third Grade Dao Fruit, not a single member within the Jiang family could satisfy the ascension ceremony for Emperor Yan's Tao Fruit. Whether the method of differentiating Second Grade Dao Fruit can truly succeed remains a question mark.

As a result, this Feng clan member, the Great Venerable, quietly walked this path through.

Similar to the Daoist Lord, it was only after the Great Venerable's successful ascension that someone guessed the Candle Yin Dao Fruit was actually Second Grade, not Third Grade. The Great Venerable's preliminary work was truly done secretly.

However, judging by the Daoist Lord's appearance, it seems he had long known that Candle Yin Dao Fruit was Second Grade.

Taibai True Monarch gazed at his master, feeling that the mist enveloping him was so profound, even he, the eldest disciple, had not seen through it. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

The night lasted only for the time of a cup of tea before transforming back into light, yet unlike the previous daylight overhead, another Great Sun appeared in the East Pole. Even beneath the sunlight, the eastern extreme faintly showed a figure reaching the sky.

A dragon shadow.

That is the Great Venerable!

The Daoist Lord gazed at that dragon shadow and said, "The Great Venerable ascended to Second Grade, he might return to Divine Country once more. Nevertheless, if Fellow Daoist Jiang's journey proceeds smoothly, he should be able to gain strength against the Great Venerable."

If all else fails, the Daoist Lord can step in to help, earning a favor, and driving the transformation of purity and filth.

'End of Dharma...'

A sigh involuntarily escaped the Daoist Lord's heart.

······

······

What transpired in the Mortal World was promptly known to Jiang Li in the Heaven.

After the day-night transition, he confirmed the Great Venerable successfully ascended to Second Grade. Immediately, he stirred the Qi mechanism, further condensing the Three Treasures Jade Ruyi, strengthening connection, and drawing the Pangu Banner.

The Pangu Banner, already vaguely attracted, finally shifted out of Pure Light, flying towards Jiang Li.

And the figure initially under the banner gradually cleared with the banner's departure, but at the moment of complete clarity, it vanished like a bubble, allowing Jiang Li only a glimpse of an indifferent and lofty visage.

This visage of the Daoist Sect's Three Pure Ones, Jiang Li didn't know how to describe, pondered repeatedly, and could only use 'ancient' to describe.

Ancient to the initial opening of heaven and earth, ancient to before the purification of all things, just by observing this visage, Jiang Li sensed a deeper understanding of Tai Shi Dao.

Using "visage" to describe such a being is somewhat inadequate; rather, it should be seen as the Dao's embodiment.

The original masters of these First Grade Dao Fruits have transcended ordinary comprehension that even Jiang Li, a being of such stature, cannot truly understand them.

The higher one goes, the greater the disparity between Dao Fruits. So it is between Third Grade and Second Grade, and even more so between Second Grade and First Grade.

Knowing the power of Second Grade, Jiang Li wished to quickly acquire the Pangu Banner.

The Pangu Banner drifted slowly, seeming slow yet swift, finally touched by Jiang Li's fingers.

At this instant, Jiang Li sensed discord.

'Mind thought!'

Someone's mind moved.

A divine light suddenly appeared from the starry sky, revealing layers of divine shadows manifesting as though gods descended, and their divine Qi mechanism directly intertwined with the final Clear Light Pillar's sword.

After Jiang Li obtained the Pangu Banner, the Great Heavenly Venerate unexpectedly appeared, surrounded by divine shadows including the Water Palace Star Official, Fairy of Sensing the World, the Thunder Department's Twenty-four True Gods, and the Four Marshals of Lingxiao Palace······

All were disciples of Lingbao Tianzun, defeated in the Sealing God Battle, entered the Investiture of the Gods, becoming True Gods of Heavenly Court.

Now, the Dao Fruits left by these beings were supported by the Investiture of the Gods, catalyzed by the Great Heavenly Venerate, to communicate with the Green Duckweed Sword.

In an instant, the Green Duckweed Sword was invoked by the Great Heavenly Venerate, extending his palm to grasp the sword gradually flying out, simultaneously countering Sun Wukong, who brandished the Jingu Bang.

"Back off."

The Great Heavenly Venerate's deep roar echoed, displaying limitless phenomena, presenting many layers of heaven, and the Jingu Bang struck it, only to rebound back.

The unmatched divine light of Dao Qi reverberated, even sending Sun Wukong flying backward.

Subsequently, heaven manifested, layer upon layer, and within moments unfolded many Cave Heavens, enveloping the Great Heavenly Venerate and the Green Duckweed Sword.

'This Sixth Brother!'

Jiang Li understood that the Great Heavenly Venerate, indeed this Sixth Brother, had been nearby for a while, watching Jiang Li collect the Pangu Banner, yet he remained unmoved.

As Jiang Li could invoke the change of the Three Pure Ones, it was apparent that among those present, Jiang Li was likely to obtain the Three Pure Dao Artifacts.

Thus, the Great Heavenly Venerate observed Jiang Li acquiring the Pangu Banner, and after ensuring the acquisition method and that the Three Pure Ones left no contingency, he appeared to seize the final Dao Artifact.

Only at the last moment, the mind wavered, making Jiang Li aware of a trace. But it was somewhat late to realize it now.

Many layers of heaven expanded space, seemingly intent on materializing the true Thirty-three Heavens.

Jiang Li felt the expanding space, immediately grasping the Pangu Banner tightly, preventing the Great Heavenly Venerate, this Sixth Brother, from deploying further tactics.

As he grasped the Pangu Banner, Primordial Qi naturally surged into his body, sudden impulse struck.

He seemed······

'Want to cleave something?'

Jiang Li instantly discerned the significance of this impulse, while his body had begun to act.

The banner, presenting chaos color throughout, cleaved downward, piercing through the heavens, separating Yin Yang, its velocity was an overwhelming torrent, unstoppable.

The heaven manifested by the Great Heavenly Venerate, which even Sun Wukong found difficult to break, was effortlessly shattered by this simplistic cleave.

Layers of sky dome collapsed and dissolved, while Jiang Li's Primordial Qi surged out like tidal waves.

"Boom boom boom boom boom boom!"

The Thirty-three Layers of Heaven barely persisted even for an instant; the Pangu Banner's force hadn't waned, continuing downward, seemingly nothing in this world could prevent its descent.

The Great Heavenly Venerate's figure reappeared, indifference in his eyes replaced by shock.

In his perception, before him, this isn't merely a great banner, but a mighty force of creation, shattering Qiankun Yin Yang to forge new heavens under this strike.

In the moment of crisis, the Great Heavenly Venerate swung his arm, intercepting this mighty force with a pitch-black sheathed Ancient Sword, the Pangu Banner clashing with the Green Duckweed Sword.

"——"

Silent and soundless, everything around turned to chaos, yet was split apart by the great force, a small singularity appeared between the two, then exploded!