Taiyi Dao Fruit-Chapter 1232 - 23: Blocked While Sneaking Through the Dark Path to Chencang
A silhouette diverged from Jiang Li's body, drifting along with the Qingmu Ancient Tree.
He first went to the Great Ming Hall of the Imperial City to meet with the Daoist Lord.
Seeing Jiang Li holding the Qingmu Ancient Tree, the Daoist Lord revealed a faint hint of difference and said, "Ah, the Fusang Tree. Fellow Daoist, are you planning to ascend to the East King's Dao Fruit?"
Intertwined like two trees supporting each other, the Qingmu Ancient Tree had its true name revealed at this moment, being the legendary Fusang Tree where the Golden Crow resides.
The East King is also known as "Emperor Fusang," possessing an aspect of the Sun God. Both his titles and divinity bear a significant resonance with the Fusang Tree. His Dao Fruit uses the Fusang Tree as a Dao Artifact, which seems quite natural.
Compared to the Qingmu Ancient Tree being the Fusang Tree, the Daoist Lord recognized the name of this tree at first glance, drawing even more attention to it.
However, Jiang Li had long suspected his identity, and after collaborating with the Daoist Lord, he vaguely revealed some secrets, establishing a mutual understanding between them.
This time, the Daoist Lord voluntarily disclosed a little secret, while Jiang Li didn't probe further, merely chuckled and said, "Ascending to the East King's Dao Fruit is indeed a superior choice. The Fusang Tree has always been in Kunxu Immortal Palace's collection, not yielding much benefit, but instead nurturing Yin Qi, it's imaginable how weak the East King's True Spirit is."
Whether it's the geographical location or the environment, Kunxu Immortal Palace is not a suitable place for the Fusang Tree, not to mention that Kunxu Immortal Palace has been nurturing Yin Qi there with the method of generating Yin from Yang.
The Immortal Queen could hardly refine her West Splendor Miao Qi to the pinnacle without the help of the Fusang Tree.
The True Spirit of the East King has not completely perished until now, relying entirely on the foundation left from the past, after all, once being the Yangyi God.
Yet, even the East King being so weak remains a second-grade True Spirit; Jiang Li showed no concern about suppressing the East King's True Spirit, even feeling a casual ease as if retrieving something from a pocket, indeed making one curious about what level his current strength has reached.
The Daoist Lord knew very well the might of a second-grade True Spirit.
His thoughts flashed through his mind, and the Daoist Lord didn't inquire directly, instead showing an expression of realization, then said, "It seems Fellow Daoist has another plan in mind. Speaking so openly, this East King's Dao Fruit should not be your primary choice, right?"
Apparently, the Daoist Lord has formed a fixed impression of Jiang Li.
Jiang Li couldn't help but feel the deterioration of social norms; these people now are too guarded and too underestimating Emperor Jiang's character.
Thus, Jiang Li decided to skip the topic altogether, disdaining to discuss character with the Daoist Lord.
"You're joking, Daoist Lord; am I the type overly scheming?"
Jiang Li chuckled and said, "Soon, the Divine Country may again be restless. I hope the Daoist Lord can aid me and prevent our spiritual mechanism recovery from being disrupted by those with ill intentions."
"I thought Fellow Daoist came for something. It turns out you want me to play the enforcer?" The Daoist Lord laughed, "Spiritual mechanism recovery has been my lifelong wish, and I will certainly provide my strong support. However, Fellow Daoist, let me say upfront: to ensure the Pure and Impure transformation isn't interrupted, it's best not to let the Taiji Diagram leave the Earth Veins."
The transformation of purity and impurity is led by Jiang Li.
He is the monarch of the Nine Provinces, embodying the Dao Fruit Divine Power, a realm of unity with the world, one with the Nine Provinces. Currently, the Nine Provinces are equivalent to Jiang Li's body, the Earth Veins akin to Jiang Li's meridians, while various impurities are absorbed by the Earth Veins, and through the interaction and transformation of Yin Yang.
From one perspective, it's akin to the Nine Provinces operating the Nine Heavens Demon Clearing True Technique.
Each Cave Heaven Blessed Land serves as a spiritual elixir, aiding cultivation.
This is the true nature of the transformation of purity and impurity, seemingly profound, yet in reality, the path and thought are quite simple, able to be explained in one sentence.
As for the Taiji Diagram, it is an auxiliary tool, the greatest guarantee for the transformation of purity and impurity.
With it present, even second-grade strikes can't sabotage the transformation of purity and impurity.
On the contrary, if the Daoist Lord takes the Taiji Diagram, not only will the transformation speed decline, but it will also reveal weaknesses for the enemy, who could interrupt the transformation by damaging the Earth Veins sufficiently.
The Daoist Lord's words serve as a reminder to Jiang Li that he will not utilize the Taiji Diagram unless absolutely necessary.
Jiang Li assured, "The transformation of purity and impurity pertains to my Dao Fruit's evolution; I will not allow it to be sabotaged. Daoist Lord, rest assured, even if the ascension fails, I will not let the spiritual mechanism recovery fall short."
If not for the Taiji Diagram as a safeguard, Jiang Li might not even reach Dao Fruit Perfection before being halted by a bunch of old Sixth Brothers.
In direct confrontation, these old Sixth Brothers might not win, but in sabotage, each is extremely proficient.
Thus, under no circumstance will Jiang Li permit the Daoist Lord to use the Taiji Diagram against adversaries, regardless of the Daoist Lord's willingness.
With this, both parties reached a consensus, allowing Jiang Li to leave the Great Ming Hall at ease.
The Daoist Lord watched Jiang Li's departing figure, lightly waving the horsetail whisk, eyes deepening, "To fundamentally change the Five Turbid Evil World requires two methods: either resurrect the Three Pure Ones or bring forth new Three Pure Ones. Fellow Daoist Jiang, can you become the new Three Pure Ones?"
"The Three Pure Ones, have they truly fallen?"
"Even after all these years, I still can't fathom the truth of that time..."
...
...
After leaving the Great Ming Hall, a white light flashed at Jiang Li's Divine Palace in the center of his brows, instantly enveloping him and vanishing into the void.
The surrounding scenery changed, and when it stabilized again, it had become a dark, gloomy ghostly realm, and Jiang Li had transformed into his spiritual form.
After Earth Uncle was defeated by Jiang Li, the Yin Law Department was also destroyed, leaving only a few ghosts and a judge to serve Jiang Li. But now they have been sent by Jiang Li to work for Ksitigarbha, and the Yin World where the Yin Law Department once resided is sealed off.
Until today when Jiang Li arrived, the Yin World seemed to awaken from a slumber, with the wind whistling, sweeping up thousands of souls, emitting a haunting wail.
The entire Yin World seemed to embrace Jiang Li, and the Yin Qi merged with him, transforming into the scene of the Netherworld within him.
The Netherworld that Earth Uncle had initially cultivated ultimately benefited Jiang Li, allowing him to master this Yin World. Jiang Li has achieved the balancing of the Three Realms of the Jade Emperor's Dao Fruit.
Yet he did not stay in the Yin World, but instead closed his eyes slightly, the white light at the center of his brows flashing again, shifting the space.
An illusion of another world appeared in the sky of the Yin World, the two small worlds reflecting each other like inside and outside. Unlike the emptiness of this world, the other world's sky revealed a huge Six Paths Roulette, with a Great Bodhisattva seated beneath, continuously chanting Buddhist chants, expelling the resentment of the Yin spirits.
There lies the other Yin World where Ksitigarbha resides.
Jiang Li's figure slowly rose, the Heavenly Mirror appeared, connecting the spaces, allowing communication between the two Yin Worlds, Jiang Li's figure flickering—
"So that's how it is." 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢
The image reflected in the sky was suddenly replaced by a vast azure, clearly within the Yin World, yet it seemed as if under the blue sky.
In the vast sky, space rotated, forming the image of the Great Heavenly Venerate, severing the communication between the two Yin Worlds.
"This is the first time I've seen someone so daring, openly promoting the ascension ceremony of both the Jade Emperor's Dao Fruit and the Emperor Yan's Dao Fruit at the same time, while secretly completing the East King's ascension ceremony."
The Great Heavenly Venerate descended from the sky, and his body, although only as tall as an ordinary person, seemed to coexist with the heavens, suppressing the eerie ghostly energy of this Yin World entirely.
His form was not of flesh and blood but transformed into a space-like body, perfectly adapting to the land of the Yin World.
Under the control of the Great Heavenly Venerate, the Heavenly Monarch's body seemed to have reached a new realm. The previous Heavenly Monarch might not have easily achieved this.
As soon as the Great Heavenly Venerate appeared, he took the initiative and immediately revealed Jiang Li's plan, "I sensed that this Yin World was sealed by you; I thought you intended to ascend the Jade Emperor. Unexpectedly, before the ascension ceremony of the Jade Emperor's Dao Fruit is completed, the East King's ascension ceremony is only one step away. Myself, the Daoist Lord, and the Great Venerable have all been defeated by you, and anchoring the cause and effect game is not difficult for you."
Even though the Daoist Lord and the Great Venerable have now ascended to the second grade, with the Great Heavenly Venerate having the Green Duckweed Sword and Heaven as a backer, his strength should surpass Jiang Li. But the previous cause is set, thus fitting the East King's ascension ceremony is not difficult.
Back then, Tianxuan securely anchored the cause and effect of once defeating the Immortal Queen, blocking her from the last step of the ascension ceremony. Even teamed up with Jiang Li to swindle the Fusang Tree from the Immortal Queen.
Now Jiang Li is about to repeat the trick, anchoring the cause and effect of having defeated the Great Heavenly Venerate, Daoist Lord, and Great Venerable to meet the ascension conditions.
This leaves only the Karma Tathagata, Shakyamuni Tathagata, and Great Sun Tathagata.
Among them, Shakyamuni Tathagata and Great Sun Tathagata are true spirits, and they could even be expelled from the male records if taken seriously.
Even if not expelled from the male records, these two had previously fled before Karma Tathagata, not wanting to fight to the death, but indeed, they are somewhat unable to match Karma Tathagata. After all, these two Tathagatas are far from their prime, still targeted by Karma Tathagata's Dao Fruit, their strength indeed under Karma Tathagata.
This means, as long as Jiang Li deals with Karma Tathagata, he can fulfill this ascension condition.
What's left, adjusting all things means organizing Heaven and Earth's Yang Qi, uniting with Heavenly Yang to adjust all beings, which is not difficult for Jiang Li, as he has long mastered this.
He was inherently one with Fire Destiny, and nowadays, Great Zhou is also the Fire Virtue World. Coupled with refining the Golden Crow Dao Fruit into the Sun Dharma Form, this condition fits Jiang Li perfectly.
Mastering the Immortal Records divinity requires many immortal gods to serve, which Jiang Li also fulfills. He is the current Emperor, a member of Yuxu Temple, and has no shortage of cultivators of the immortal and divine paths under his command.
As long as he becomes the "Head of Yang," the East King's ascension ceremony is considered complete.
"The last time in the Three Pure Ones Heaven, Karma Tathagata finally repelled the two Tathagatas, you must have reached some agreement with Karma Tathagata, and now count as allies. Now, as long as you go to the Buddha Country and negotiate with Karma Tathagata, you'll consider the ascension ceremony completed."
