Taiyi Dao Fruit-Chapter 1233 - 24: From Private Tool to Public Utility

While visibly repairing the plank road, secretly crossing the Chen warehouse.

Just one step away, Jiang Li was about to complete the Promotion Ceremony for the East King Lord Dao Fruit.

Meanwhile, on the other side, the Pure and Impure Transformation was also accelerating, the more Essence Qi transformed, the stronger the Spiritual Mechanism Tide became, gradually compressing the space of the Five Vile Qi.

The Great Heavenly Venerate was unsure how close Jiang Li was to reaching Dao Fruit Perfection for the third grade, but even if not yet perfect, it wasn't far off.

In this scenario, he certainly couldn't sit by and watch Jiang Li complete the Promotion Ceremony. 𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂

If it were the Warlord Dao Fruit instead, it wouldn't be as troublesome, but with the East King Lord Dao Fruit, since its attributes don't match, it wasn't the first choice. The Great Heavenly Venerate couldn't sit still. Though the East King Lord Dao Fruit wasn't as orthodox on the Sun God side as Emperor Yan's Dao Fruit, it, unlike Emperor Yan's Dao Fruit, wouldn't be restrained by the Xuanyuan Sword, making it an excellent choice.

The Great Heavenly Venerate wouldn't dare to gamble on this.

Thus, he acted, recognizing Jiang Li's plan and intercepted the route to Buddha Country at critical moments.

Faced with the Great Heavenly Venerate's interception, Jiang Li didn't show anger, his expression tranquil like a deep well. He indifferently looked at the road-blocking enemy, "For me, which Dao Fruit I promote to is not important; regardless of the Dao Fruit, I am second to none. Even if you block me once, it doesn't affect the outcome. Instead, it exposes that you've been keeping an eye on the Yin World all along."

Only by focusing on the Yin World can one immediately anticipate that Jiang Li would use the Yin World as a passage to Buddha Country, since traversing space in the Mortal World might be noticed by Heaven, and if the distance is far enough, it could even be intercepted by the Great Heavenly Venerate in the Void.

The Mortal World is under Heaven, naturally under Heaven's watch.

In the past, the Heavenly Monarch could deceive Heaven; today's Heaven might not necessarily be deceived in this aspect.

If the way goes through the Yin World, it would reduce the risk of being discovered.

Unfortunately, it was still discovered by the Great Heavenly Venerate.

But the Great Heavenly Venerate also paid a price for this; if he wanted to keep an eye on the underworld all the time, there would be ears and eyes involved. It means the Great Heavenly Venerate already has subordinates within the court.

After being intercepted by the Great Heavenly Venerate and having his plan exposed, Jiang Li also grasped the key point, immediately counter-attacked, and probed the Great Heavenly Venerate's reaction.

Yet the Great Heavenly Venerate remained unfazed, calmly saying, "I am also Great Zhou's Grand Ancestor, naturally not lacking flocks of followers; it wouldn't hurt for Emperor Jiang to guess who my informants are. Are they people from the Ji Family or the discontented Imperial College Sacrificial Officer Mo Yiling?"

Regarding the situation within the court, even if the Great Heavenly Venerate wasn't thoroughly knowledgeable, it certainly wasn't a mere superficial understanding.

He not only pointed to the Ji Family but also knew the Imperial College Sacrificial Officer's views didn't align with Jiang Li's situation. Everyone mentioned by name was, indeed, substantive.

The Ji Family and the Imperial College Sacrificial Officer might bear a grudge against Jiang Li and secretly align with the Great Heavenly Venerate, yet the Great Heavenly Venerate openly mentioned these suspicious figures.

Make the false seem true; the true seem false, this technique used by Jiang Li could naturally be used by the Great Heavenly Venerate as well.

Perhaps members of the Ji Family truly sided with the Great Heavenly Venerate, or maybe the Imperial College Sacrificial Officer chose Great Zhou's Grand Ancestor, and of course, it might all be false.

In the brief verbal clash, neither seemed to fall behind. Be it the intercepted Jiang Li, or the Great Heavenly Venerate, aware of having spies in the court, neither of them showed their emotions. For them, hiding joy or anger is basic skill.

At least, under the current circumstances, it is not enough to make them show emotions.

However, the Great Heavenly Venerate didn't seem to believe that his words could not shake Jiang Li's mind.

Thus, the Great Heavenly Venerate continued, "The Promotion Ceremony for the East King Lord Dao Fruit was interrupted by me; the Jade Emperor Dao Fruit's Promotion Ceremony requires balancing the Three Realms. Having come here, I can disrupt both your Promotion Ceremonies. Additionally, though I cannot easily target Heaven to destroy your imprints there or hinder the Promotion Ceremony for Emperor Yan's Dao Fruit, I can let others interfere and halt Pure and Impure Transformation."

"Neither the Great Venerable nor you're considered friendly," Jiang Li replied lightly.

Completely halting the Pure and Impure Transformation is an impossibility, at least not until the Tai Chi Diagram leaves the Earth Veins. But if merely stalling, that may yet be attainable.

However, those capable of doing so wouldn't necessarily stand on the same side as the Great Heavenly Venerate.

"He likely won't befriend you either, right?" the Great Heavenly Venerate chuckled, "Moreover, even if the Great Venerable is unwilling to ally with me, his subordinates might bear even greater resentment towards you?"

His subordinates······

"Immortal Queen." Jiang Li first thought of this person.

"But not only that, there's also your Jiang Family's traitor—Shen Hou."

The Great Heavenly Venerate leisurely added, "Emperor Jiang is indeed skilled in utilizing people, employing the Shen Gongbao Dao Fruit to hinder Qi Shu. Whether against the Jiang family's Manjusri or subsequent Heavenly Monarch, their downfall likely involved Shen Hou's cause and effect. While the Shen Gongbao Dao Fruit may not necessarily sway the grand plan, when Qi Shu declines, this Dao Fruit can definitely push over the edge."

"This kind of weapon, if you can use, so can I."

The Great Heavenly Venerate hadn't yet realized Shen Hou's undercover role, yet the function of Shen Hou he had already deduced.

Shen Hou's ability to switch allegiances was not due to Emperor Jiang's inability to control him, but Emperor Jiang's willingness to let him be.

Discerning Jiang Li's intentions can be both challenging and simple as long as one understands Shen Gongbao's achievements.

Now, the Great Heavenly Venerate intended to leverage Shen Hou and the Immortal Queen to draw the Great Venerable into the fray, at least to stall the Promotion Ceremony for Emperor Yan's Dao Fruit.

The tool-like Shen Hou had been exceedingly useful to Jiang Li, but having someone who understands its value now appearing meant that Shen Hou could not be exclusively held anymore.

Once the Great Venerable acts, and even if only partially stalling the Pure and Impure Transformation, it would be enough to influence the Promotion Ceremony for Emperor Yan's Dao Fruit.

Thus, three ceremonies are prevented.

Jiang Li estimated correctly earlier; the adversary indeed calculated the remaining suitable Dao Fruits for Jiang Li and targeted accordingly.

Even Jiang Li's "General" strategy bore the potential for overturning.

So long as... the opponent seizes the initiative.

"However, up to this point, you've only managed to block the Promotion Ceremony for the East King Lord," Jiang Li spoke indifferently, his sleeve slightly moving, with his hair flying.

Despite all the talk, for now, the Great Heavenly Venerate merely hindered Jiang Li's route to Buddha Country.

The Yin World's imprint hadn't been destroyed by the Great Heavenly Venerate, the Great Venerable hadn't acted, everything remained at the verbal sparring stage.

The most crucial is—

'You only managed to stop me because I wanted you to stop me.'

Unruffled in mind, only this thought flickered by.

If truly eager to compel Karma Tathagata to concede to "Head of Yang," how easy would that be?

Jiang Li makes a long-distance call immediately taking that last step.

The initiative is still with Jiang Li.

"If you aim to thwart me, I aim to deal with you as well—thus, it's just perfectly fitting."