Taiyi Dao Fruit

On the half-exposed peaks, indeed there appeared small bumps.

"Demon God, mind your conduct."

Gongsun Qingyue couldn't help but snort coldly, and said.

Normally being bullied by this old demon is one thing, but now even an outsider dares to tease, simply courting death. Gongsun Qingyue's gaze turned icy, as a stream of light flashed in her sleeve, having secretly used the Wordless Heavenly Scripture to divine this bewitching woman.

If this shameless woman truly has no shame, then just eradicate her.

If I, a fifth-rank, can't do it, then I'll have that old hussy shake her way here, let's see if you die or not.

"Sister, you misunderstood."

The Heavenly Charm Demon God covered her mouth with a light laugh, "My humble self is simply marveling at Minister's formidable strength. In this world today, there's never been a fourth-rank that made my humble self tremble. They all say Jiang Sikong is a supreme fourth-rank, strength already beyond grades, comparable to third grade. To see it today, truly the rumors were not false."

As she spoke, the woman fluttered her eyelashes, looking at Jiang Li with watery eyes.

Unfortunately, Jiang Li remained unmoved, merely responding humbly: "Just rumors, Demon God, you've overpraised."

Though he spoke humbly, his tone unchanged by the Heavenly Charm Demon God's words and actions, the address of "Demon God" still warmed Gongsun Qingyue's expression.

"Demon" is a derogatory term, hence the Desolate God Sect became the Devil God Sect, and fourth-ranks called "True Gods" were turned into Demon Gods. Jiang Li's manner of address naturally conveyed a subtle distance, showing his mental state of being unmoved by feminine charms.

Seeing Jiang Li completely unaffected by her charm, the Heavenly Charm felt inwardly that this young Minister was truly extraordinary, utterly ignoring her Bewitching Technique.

However, she somewhat agreed with Jiang Li's words.

Transcending grades is visible enough in the Lower Four Grades, but becomes rare in the Top Five Grades, especially a fourth-rank comparable to third grade without a Dao Fruit like Tianxuan, seemed like pure fantasy. Heavenly Charm agreed Jiang as supreme fourth-rank, but held reservations about matching third grade.

And this Jiang Sikong indeed had a lofty Mental State, not the slightest arrogance from the rumors, without any youthful impatience...

Just as these thoughts circled her mind, Jiang Li gave a soft sound of surprise, his gaze falling not far ahead.

There, a figure that seemed to have no presence emerged, looking at Jiang Li and said: "The rumors are not false."

This person was clad in a black robe, wearing a wide-brimmed straw hat, the brim pulled low to cover the face, appearing utterly unremarkable, yet no one dared to feel any disdain.

Only because he was a third-rank strong person.

He was—the Mo Sect Master, Mo Xuankong! The world's greatest assassin!

Yet this powerful being had been detected by Jiang Li.

'Truly humble indeed.'

The Heavenly Charm Demon God's just-established thought was immediately overturned, almost causing her to lose that ever-present smile.

Meanwhile, Jiang Li continued humbly, "You've overpraised, I just relied on divine skills to detect your presence."

At the same time, Jiang Li inwardly couldn't help but sigh deeply, it's as if they wouldn't even grant him an opportunity to pretend to be weak.

First labeled as cunning and then now any clever person seeing Jiang must undergo thorough brainstorming, wondering if there's a trap, even questioning whether this Jiang Li they see is indeed his true body.

Now adding a tag of formidable strength comparable to third grade, wanting to pretend to be weak is simply out of the question.

Even as powerful as the Supreme, they wouldn't underestimate any third grade. Or rather, at their realm, they possess such an elevated view that ignorance bred from narrow-sightedness rarely if ever arises.

Jiang Li, lamenting that he couldn't play the game of pretending to be weak, was quite thankful for the recent revelation.

The stronger their side, the higher chances of success in eliminating that traitor, Tan Wuwei.

This time the Buddha Country dispatched three thirds, in terms of third-rank numbers, no single faction today can compare, absolutely no single force can stop the Buddha Country. But if multiple factions united, then the weak party would be the Buddha Country.

Over a hundred years ago, the Buddha Country ventured east, primarily because of the Supreme Awakened. Otherwise, even with Manjusri just advanced not long and Guanyin yet to advance, they wouldn't have qualified to contend with Great Zhou.

But such a circumstance, the enemy definitely wouldn't remain ignorant.

Mo Sect Master was deep in thought, then said, "Our Mo Sect has some underground lines within the Buddha Country, according to reports from these lines, the Buddha Country had a new faith emerge a year ago, now spreading extensively."

Mo Sect Master's voice was low and steady, but lacked any distinctiveness, fitting his stealthy style, perfect for assassination.

What he said also grabbed the attention of Jiang Li and the others.

Almost all cultivators in the Buddha Country practice Summoning Technique, gathering faith, but low-tier cultivators can't erect statues to harvest incense, at most conducting acts of kindness for the lowest-efficiency faith collection.

Any faith that can propagate on a large scale comes from the strong, and the stronger the more faith, possibly receiving homage from Arhat and other fifth-rank cultivators.

Mo Sect Master's mention of a new large-scale faith unambiguously signifies the emergence of a new mighty one.

"Is it the Lifeless Mother?" Jiang Li asked.

"It's the Great Sun Tathagata," Mo Sect Master shook his head and said, "The preacher claims the Great Sun Tathagata has entered the world through reincarnation, born as Emperor Yan, unifying the lands. Now, the advent of the Tathagata marks a sign of reunification under one heaven."

The moment these words left his mouth, Jiang Li's face stiffened.

Even if he personally did not hold reverence for his ancestors, a basic respect still existed, and this rearranging of his ancestors' legacy clearly tapped on Jiang Sikong's underlying influence.

It was hard to deny that without some tacit urging from the Jiang family's main household or Manjusri, a significant Buddha Country figure, the faith in the Great Sun Tathagata wouldn't be so widespread.

"I remember, the third grade of Buddha Country are the Buddha and some Great Bodhisattvas, and the Dao Fruit known as Tathagata has connections with Emperor Yan's reincarnation, highly likely related to the Jiang family."

"Manjusri? Or does the Jiang family have another third-rank?"

Mo Sect Master replied, "The preacher of Great Sun Tathagata claims that Emperor Yan will return through reincarnation, restoring the Tathagata, just not sure if anyone has carried the Three-legged Golden Crow Dao Fruit."

Three-legged Golden Crow, if the Great Sun Tathagata was leaving a Dao Fruit behind...

Jiang Li's thoughts turned to the Golden Crow's corpse within the Divine Farmer's Cauldron.

If that Golden Crow did leave behind its Dao Fruit upon death, then whether true or false, attention must be paid to this Three-legged Golden Crow Dao Fruit and the faith in Great Sun Tathagata.

With this realization, Jiang Li accelerated the island's flight speed to quickly head towards the Jiang's Ancestral Land upon entering the Yong Province territory.

······

Amid the flight, a grand, golden wheel bore Monk Soldiers forward. Within the wheel sat a Bodhisattva's dharma body, gazing distantly toward the advancing direction of Yuxu Temple, confronting two Qi mechanisms on either side.

"Manjusri Bodhisattva?"

Shen Hou ascended, nodded to the golden wheel, and said, "This humble Taoist has received reports that Greater Bodhisattva Guangli, injured and with an arm lost during the battle in the Kunxu Mountain, has not been seen since, despite Manjusri's search."

Even now, hearing Shen Hou's report, Manjusri's expression barely changed, and he said, "Go. If Guangli Bodhisattva is unwilling, you are permitted to use divine skills."

Even resorting to divine skills, Guangli Bodhisattva must be compelled to act.