"Jiang Tanyue, the Great Venerable’s intention is for you to accept the power of the heavens, to align with the heavenly phenomenon, as if intending for you to bear the Dao Fruit of Heaven in the future. However, this action carries risks; one misstep, and you might become the vessel through which Heaven manifests in the mortal world."

As Jiang Li stepped out of the Ghost Gate, a voice drifted to him, as if from the void, causing him to feel a sense of astonishment.

’The second-grade realm is indeed much higher than the third grade.’

Jiang Li glanced around his surroundings, echoing such an evaluation in his heart.

Above, the bright moon still hung high, yet at this moment, Jiang Li was no longer at the Buddha Country’s Mountain of Mind and Heart, but at the Divine Capital Imperial Palace.

After meeting with Karma Tathagata and resolving the doubts in his heart, Jiang Li had returned to the Divine Capital through the Ghost Gate to handle relevant matters, having just arrived. The distance between the Divine Capital and the Buddha Country is such that even a supreme being cannot traverse it with divine thought; previously, the Awakened could only appear within Yong Province with their heart’s thought.

Yet now, Karma Tathagata could contact Jiang Li, who had already arrived at the Divine Capital, through the void.

This was even while Karma Tathagata needed to entangle with the True Spirit of Bo Xun. At present, Karma Tathagata had yet to fully grasp the Devaputra Dao Fruit.

This newly empowered supreme being, Jiang Li, felt a sense of urgency rising within him.

As for the Great Venerable’s purpose, it wasn’t quite unexpected.

Previously, the Heavenly Monarch had already revealed the intention, and now it was simply confirmed further.

’The Great Venerable’s aim is to restore the Fuxi Dao Fruit, and the best way to achieve this purpose is to have someone communicate with the Fuxi Dao Fruit, and perhaps even bear it in the future. Hence, he wants me to carry the Emperor Dao Fruit, as a member of the Feng Clan.’

’Next, it’s about continually drawing in the power of the heavens; I have already served once as a Heavenly Incarnation, and my synchronization with the power of the heavens is quite high. If I can gradually draw in the power of the heavens, maybe I can further divide the Fuxi Dao Fruit, for instance, to the level of the second grade like the Heavenly Emperor Fuxi Dao Fruit.’

Jiang Li quietly reviewed in his mind.

Throughout the ages, all emperors have borne the Emperor Dao Fruit, but they did not possess the bloodline of the Feng family, whereas Jiang Li does. This might be the Great Venerable’s obsession or perhaps a necessity, thus targeting Jiang Li alone.

As for the Great Venerable himself, he is not of either of the two clans, unable to inherit the Emperor Dao Fruit, and most crucially, the Great Venerable is no longer on the human cultivation path.

No matter how the Candle Dragon’s Dao Fruit is factored, it is unrelated to the human species, whereas the Fuxi Dao Fruit certainly has requirements of the human species.

From this perspective, what the Great Venerable does indeed is in Jiang Li’s best interest, as long as there are no risks······

The Emperor Dao Fruit already has the risk of assimilating the mind with Heaven, let alone the complete Fuxi Dao Fruit. When the True Spirit of the foremost of the Three Emperors descends upon Jiang Li, his ability to resist is negligible, not to mention winning.

The result of overly drawing in the power of Heaven is that one becomes a vessel.

If Jiang Li can perfectly endure the power of the heavens, allowing the Fuxi Dao Fruit to descend step by step, that would naturally be good, but if Fuxi truly descends, then that would be even better.

Compared to a convenient younger brother, having Fuxi descend as an ancestor would be much better.

As for brotherly affection······ even the Princess is not enough to stop the Great Venerable’s steps; what virtue or ability does Jiang Li have?

In the eyes of the Great Venerable, who has experienced countless years, Jiang Li’s importance might surpass that of the Princess, but that’s because Jiang Li is the necessary person for achieving the goal, not because he is the sworn brother of the Great Venerable.

This brotherly alliance was from the start a means for the Great Venerable to achieve his goal, how can it be forsaken due to superficial brotherly feelings?

Of course, if it was unrelated to his goals, the Great Venerable wouldn’t hesitate to share brotherly affection with Jiang Li, just like before when they got along.

"The Dao is emotionless yet has affection, the Dao is affectionate yet emotionless. In a sense, the Great Venerable quite fits with the Daode Sect; his mental state has experienced constant metamorphosis over the long years, reaching a level where emotions or lack thereof are self-determined."

Thinking of this, Jiang Li rarely showed a wry smile.

These supreme beings are monsters, one after another, and he, this fledgling supreme, seems rather out of place compared to them.

The Great Venerable may not surpass the Daoist Lord in Daoist practices, nor surpass the Awakened in mental state, nor surpass the Emperor in power, nor surpass the Heavenly Monarch in transformation, but he is the second in all aspects. Moreover, in magic and Yi Dao, the Great Venerable can claim to be the first.

The greatest troublemaker in the world has managed not to get crushed for years, surely a testament to his immense capabilities.

Considering the Great Venerable’s mischievous nature, Jiang Li doesn’t believe the other supreme beings haven’t made moves against him. Yet the results have shown that while the Great Venerable may not hold the number one strength, the other supreme beings cannot do anything about him.

’Luckily, from the current perspective, the Great Venerable isn’t truly against me. As for the future······ we shall see who excels.’

Besides, Jiang Li currently has some advantage, as he did not accommodate the Emperor Dao Fruit, but rather bore the Green Emperor Dao Fruit, unbeknownst to the Great Venerable.

Jiang Li collected his thoughts and softly said, "Nanli Palace."

The space shifted, the surrounding scenery transformed, and Jiang Li arrived directly at Nanli Palace.

A majestic aura emanated outward, directly alarming the female attendants within Nanli Palace, whose impressive Qi mechanisms rose but were stopped in the next moment.

"Withdraw."

The order from the Princess came from the Vermilion Bird Hall, and all exposed Qi mechanisms were retracted.

Seeing this, Jiang Li said nothing more, directly entering the Vermilion Bird Hall.