Taiyi Dao Fruit

At the same time, he was certain in his heart that this Daoist had already discovered his secret learning and noticed traces of the Nine Heavens Demon Clearing True Technique.

Before seeing the Daoist Lord, even before meeting him, Jiang Li was already prepared for this. He never underestimated these Supreme Beings.

Moreover, since Li Qinglian had met the Daoist Lord before, it couldn't be ruled out that he disclosed matters related to Lawless Freedom to the Daoist Lord. With those matters as evidence, even without noticing traces, one could make deductions.

Thus, when Jiang Li first met him, he claimed that only the Daoist Lord and himself could make the Primordial Spirit travel for long periods.

Now, this speculation was fully confirmed. The Daoist Lord said he saw that Jiang Li was versed in the art of Yin and Yang, which was giving Jiang Li face, but in reality, it was pointing out the traces of the Nine Heavens Demon Clearing True Technique.

But who is Jiang Li? He was recognized by the Daoist Lord as someone resembling the Great Venerable, so he showed no embarrassment in the face of the Daoist Lord's words and instead asked questions in return.

"We have no friendship, no benefits to entice with, are you going to persuade me with righteousness?" The old Daoist was quite transparent, "Or does the young friend prefer to believe in righteousness?"

Jiang Li: "······"

He really sees people accurately.

It's just to say that although the Daoist Lord is a worldly high being, he understands human nature very clearly, especially knowing how to deal with someone like Jiang Li. Most importantly, unlike some old fellows, he doesn't like to play word games or speak in riddles.

"Senior truly has keen insight."

Jiang Li thus sighed, then added a turn, "But unfortunately······"

"Unfortunately, you're too late."

Originally a place like a Cave Heaven Blessed Land was cut into two parts, one half remained as it was, and the other half transformed into a realm of pure and serene emptiness. Amid the almost imperceptible Buddhist chanting, a Stone Pavilion materialized from the void, and inside it sat a white-robed, white-haired layman who continued the conversation.

The sudden change made Li Qinglian's face tense, full of solemnity; he had already sensed the unusual nature of the newcomer.

But the Daoist Lord said calmly without any change in expression: "I thought you were still in seclusion."

"I still am in seclusion," the white-haired layman said unhurriedly, "but since the Daoist has mentioned the mazer by name multiple times, even if the mazer is in seclusion, he has no choice but to meet the Daoist in mind and thought."

"That which one keeps pondering is bound to have an echo······" The Daoist Lord's eyes moved slightly, "It seems that this century has not been wasted for the Awakened."

'By name? Truly, Zhen Ru?' Jiang Li mused in his heart, 'These Supremes really know how to give surprises.'

Thinking how he mostly referred to the other as the Buddhist Zhen Ru, Jiang Li had a moment of regret. Fortunately, he had a strong Qi Shu and carried the Karma Collection with him. If it were someone else, they might have been seen through by the Awakened to the last thread.

"In a century, the mazer was not wasted, but viewing the Daoist, it was."

The Awakened said calmly: "A century ago, the mazer sensed something beforehand and stirred the cause and effect, leaking Ji Shizhu's identity and whereabouts, causing the Daoist to be injured in a battle with him, yet he was ultimately blocked by the Daoist. A hundred years later, the Daoist has not yet been injured and is about to use someone else's hand."

As the words were spoken, the surrounding boundaries began to change.

The territory, divided in two halves, was grinding and clashing against each other; though the Awakened and the Daoist Lord hadn't taken action, the invisible confrontation had begun. The formless Dao and empty Buddha concepts resisted each other, with subtle changes both hidden and profound.

As a bystander, Jiang Li also understood why Ji Jiji ran into the Daoist Lord in Yong Province back then.

The feelings were that the Awakened was secretly guiding the cause and effect.

At that time, Ji Jiji should not have yet been as adept at the Intercepting Heaven Technique as now, was detected when causing trouble in the Buddha Country, then was pitted by the Awakened.

Unfortunately, a century ago, the Awakened was ultimately a step short, even though he had injured the Daoist Lord, the Daoist still blocked his cultivation path, and then he self-sealed for a century because of the Karma Tathagata.

A century later, the two Supremes met again, although not in their True Bodies, they still revealed a clear stance of opposition to each other. The Awakened's words were intended to move the Daoist Lord's mind state with this rhetoric.

However, at the Daoist Lord's Realm, he could not be shaken by a few words.

His mind state remained unmoved, maintaining half of the boundary, a picture of detachment, showing no urgency, only hearing him say: "The old Daoist indeed has no further progress to make, unlike the awakened who still has room to improve. Moreover, with the Heavenly Monarchs and Great Venerables stirring the winds and clouds, the old Daoist has no energy left to deal with the awakened."

I have long reached the limit, with no further path to advance, while you still have space to rise.

These words, seeming like a retreat, were an advance, not losing any ground.

However, the mental state of the Awakened was also not below the other, facing words that seemed like praise but were actually derogatory, his heart was like an ancient well without ripples.

"So, the Daoist plans to use Jiang Shizhu's hand? Unfortunately, the Daoist is a step too late."

The Awakened smiled and said: "The Daoist has no friendship with Jiang Shizhu, but the mazer does."

He made an early investment, even suggesting Jiang Li ascend the mountain. Although Jiang Li finally refused, there was indeed a bond between them.

In contrast, Jiang Li and the Daoist Lord... or with the Daode Sect, the contemporary great disciple Yuan Zhen of the Daode Sect died at Jiang Li's hands; although this has been put behind, the hostility remains and might still make them enemies in the future.

Moreover, although the Nine Heavens Demon Clearing True Technique is excellent, for the current Jiang Li, it is just icing on the cake. Having comprehended the key, not knowing the entire Cultivation Technique is no big deal.

In comparison, even though the friendship with the Awakened is not deep, Jiang Li would not become his enemy because of this.

Hearing the Awakened's words, Jiang Li said: "For enemies, I believe it's best to root them out completely. To eliminate Manjusri and others also relieves me of a grudge."

At this point, Jiang Li glanced at the layman in the Stone Pavilion.

He now suspected that when the Awakened first approached him, he had already thought of today.

The Jiang family members joined the Buddha Country, held high positions, and led the eastward spread of Buddhist Law. The Awakened's investment in Jiang Li, an enemy of the Jiang family, was convenient for cleansing the Buddha Country later and avoided the possibility of Jiang Li being wooed by the Daoist Lord.

If Jiang Li had accepted Sun Wukong's three Dao Fruits back then, it would have removed any worries for the Awakened.

Having followed Jiang Li's wishes, and with mutual friendship, if Jiang Li didn't give face, it would be a lack of integrity.

"It's a pity." The old Daoist sighed lightly.

"Yes, it is a pity." The Awakened smiled.

Their voices fell one after another, with intangible momentum turning tangible, an unspoken confrontation played out openly.

Daoism rules the world, ghouls and gods are no longer present.

Even though it wasn't directly manifested, this great momentum of the Dao alone made Jiang Li feel that the various spontaneously operating divine skills began to stall, even his thoughts and mental state. And he finally understood why the Heavenly Monarch was so determined to pursue the Cultivation Technique.

When the Dao Fruit Ability and Divine Skills began to slow and fail, Jiang Li finally understood why the Heavenly Monarch had been so intent on pursuing the Cultivation Technique.

It's fortunate that Jiang Li wasn't purely a Dao Fruit Warrior and did not rely entirely on Dao Fruit Divine Power, otherwise, facing the Daoist Lord, he might not even have the strength to escape.

Moreover······

While the Dao Fruit Divine Power was delayed, the passive Dao Fruit had not been affected, because the Karma Collection was still with him, supporting him.