Taiyi Dao Fruit-Chapter 1212 - 12: The Cause of All Effects_2

The Dao Fruits were something he had actually seen before, right on the Investiture of the Gods.

Even some Divine Attribute Dao Fruits from the families in Yangzhou, Qing State, and Xuzhou were collected by the Great Heavenly Venerate and entered into the Investiture of the Gods.

The Great Heavenly Venerate was evidently well-prepared, devouring much of what the Heavenly Monarch had left behind.

In fact, he would continue to target the remaining Divine Attribute Dao Fruits until all three hundred and sixty-five True God Dao Fruits were contained. Only then could the Investiture of the Gods be said to have reached its peak.

"Everything within the Cave Heaven Blessed Land of the Upper Pure Sect belongs to the Sect and need not be sent to the Divine Capital."

Jiang Li generously promised, bringing a look of delight to Elder Tianji's face.

As the elder in charge of managing finances and who absorbed the Dragon Tiger Xuantan True Monarch's Dao Fruit, he naturally valued all these treasures highly. Not only could they enhance the Dinghu Sect's foundation, but they could also assist Elder Tianji in completing his Dao Fruit.

After speaking about the Upper Pure Sect, Jiang Li then looked at Elder Yuheng and asked, "Uncle Yuheng, how are things within the Sect?"

After the Great Zhou's Grand Ancestor intervened to disrupt the grand ceremony, some troublemakers reappeared within the Ji Family, and even some negative tendencies emerged in the Dinghu Sect.

Jiang Li took these matters seriously. Who knew what schemes that old Sixth Brother, the Great Heavenly Venerate, might be plotting in secret?

The Ji Family matters were self-investigated by Ji Changfeng, while the Dinghu Sect's issues were primarily scrutinized by Elder Yuheng, who oversaw the Sect's laws.

Ultimately, those who should be killed were killed, and those who should be dealt with were dealt with, ensuring no future troubles.

"Everything has been properly handled. This is the list."

As Elder Yuheng spoke, he handed over a Jade Scroll.

"Thank you, Uncle."

Jiang Li accepted it, offered his thanks, and while reviewing the Jade Scroll, he ordered a maid to brew tea.

They then engaged in casual conversation over tea, having a little wine. Once the tea was finished, just as palace maids came in to announce the arrival of the consort, Zhu Hui'an and the two elders took their leave together.

After leaving Fenghua Hall, Zhu Hui'an went ahead, while the two elders lagged slightly behind, allowing them to see a carriage where a woman in plain white palace attire, accompanied by maids, entered from another hall entrance.

"Princess Consort Xi."

As Elder Tianji walked, he softly said, "A concubine taken by the Emperor in the eighth month, from the Ji Family. With the support of her family, she quickly gained a foothold in the palace. But there's no need to worry; she can't stand against the Empress, and the Emperor won't invest too much emotion in such a mascot."

After all, she was merely taken to appease the Ji Family.

As for the Empress, she was naturally the fellow disciple and sister who had walked with the Emperor all the way—Gongsun Qingyue.

"Just felt a bit familiar." Elder Yuheng followed along and said lightly.

"Familiar, indeed. It's said that Princess Consort Xi resembles Junior Sister Tianxuan in appearance. It's possible the Emperor took a concubine for this reason as well," Elder Tianji whispered.

There were many rumors within the Ji Family at the time of her installment as a concubine, and since then, Elder Tianxuan rarely visited the Divine Capital.

Since then, in the eyes of certain people, Emperor Jiang's reputation took another hit.

But upon reflection, he was already eighteen when he became an apprentice, and with Master Tianxuan being an unparalleled beauty, it's entirely understandable for a young man to develop admiration for her.

Elder Yuheng believed that there wasn't a man in the world who could remain uninterested in Senior Sister Tianxuan after spending so much time together, unless he was a eunuch.

Senior Sister Tianxuan's allure was unbeatable.

"Young and smitten, understandable." Elder Yuheng chuckled softly.

To be honest, he almost mistook this Princess Consort Xi for Tianxuan earlier, but fortunately, even at a glance, he noticed that although Princess Consort Xi was graceful and charming, she was far less than Senior Sister Tianxuan physically.

This single point was enough to distinguish the two.

Having said that, the two elders left the garden and exited the palace together with the waiting maids outside.

Meanwhile, as Princess Consort Xi entered Fenghua Hall, she saw a stream of light merging into Jiang Li's figure while an indescribable oppression emanated in the palace. An ancient banner stood beside Jiang Li.

Princess Consort Xi gently waved her sleeve, the hall doors closed automatically, and an invisible barrier rose, isolating the interior from the outside.

Gracefully, she removed the light veil from her face, revealing a dignified face identical to Tianxuan's, only with differing attire, bringing an aura distinct from Tianxuan's.

Furthermore, her figure was not as full as Tianxuan's.

"So this is the Pangu Banner you mentioned before?"

Princess Consort Xi showed no weakness typical of a consort before the Emperor, walking calmly and with ease, exuding grace and nobility.

Here, there was no need for pretense. After all, she was the master of this rebellious disciple, showing no hint of weakness towards him.

Indeed, this Princess Consort Xi was Tianxuan.

Entering the palace as a noble daughter of the Ji Family served to both appease the Ji Family and achieve her own goals, killing two birds with one stone.

Tianxuan, with strong resolve, had facilitated this occurrence, thus fulfilling Emperor Jiang's harem, preventing officials from appealing to His Majesty to enlarge the harem from time to time.

As she spoke, she had already approached Jiang Li, only to find herself halted by an unseen overwhelming force.

"Frightening."

Tianxuan couldn't help but frown, slowly withdrawing her steps.

"The Pangu Banner cannot yet be controlled by me. Even for me, it's a matter of avoiding being controlled by it, not the other way around."

Jiang Li spoke as he reached out and slowly grasped the Pangu Banner.

Chaotic energy flowed in his palm, manifesting the Shape of Tai Shi, only then barely managing to hold the Pangu Banner.

Under the light surrounding of Tai Shi Qi, the immense force on the Pangu Banner slowly receded, while a vast and intense intention surged into Jiang Li's mind.

[First Grade Dao Fruit: Yuanshi Tianzun]

[Category: Immortal]

[Fitting Conditions: The capability to bear Cause and Effect, ?????]

[Promotion Ceremony: ?????]

[Divine Skills: Origin of All Fruits, ????????]

[Origin of All Fruits: Beginning of One Element, Origin of All Fruits, Source of All Causes and Effects.]

A vast array of question marks, almost no specific information visible, even the sole Divine Skill displayed, [Origin of All Fruits], only listed ambiguous information without specific effects shown.

Yet invisibly, the words [Origin of All Fruits] conveyed an overwhelming weight of significance.

However, Fitting Conditions enlightened Jiang Li to his compatibility with the Pangu Banner.

The Karma Collection, by integrating Cause and Effect into one, had in some sense proven Jiang Li's ability to bear Cause and Effect, meeting part of the fitting conditions for Yuanshi Tianzun Dao Fruit.

Just based on this, the harshness of the First Grade Dao Fruit was evident.

An ordinary person, even obtaining a First Grade Dao Fruit, couldn't possibly advance, unable to even meet the fitting conditions.

As for the Promotion Ceremony, Jiang Li didn't need much thought to understand its difficulty.

The era of these First Grades was too distant, and the feats they accomplished were near impossible to replicate.

"This is what a First Grade Dao Artifact is like." Jiang Li slowly loosened his grip.

He couldn't hold the Pangu Banner for long, lest he begin having urges to split something apart. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞

Though he had acquired the Pangu Banner, using it required caution.

Jiang Li, almost always inexhaustible, had nearly been drained by the Pangu Banner earlier.

'The key is, I'm not the only one who has acquired a First Grade Dao Artifact now.' Jiang Li's gaze turned deep.

The Pangu Banner was terrifying, and even if other First Grade Dao Artifacts were not as fearsome, they wouldn't be far behind.

Now, the Great Heavenly Venerate held the Green Duckweed Sword, even Heaven was at hand, and the Taiji Diagram should have fallen into the Daoist Lord's possession. The Great Venerable had the Demon Refining Pot, and although he couldn't utilize it previously, that's not certain anymore.

After advancing to the Second Grade, one couldn't view the Great Venerable with the same lens.

However, the Wa Emperor Dao Fruit within the Demon Refining Pot might not be complete, as no single artifact can fully represent the Wa Emperor; a slight underestimation might be justified.

'And what about those two in the Buddhist realm, could they possibly obtain a First Grade Dao Artifact?'