Taiyi Dao Fruit

Just as the Daoist Lord said before, in a hundred years, the Awakened one did not idle away his time; he truly made progress. And the Daoist Lord had indeed reached the third grade's limit, with little progress over a hundred years, the only breakthrough being the creation of the Nine Heavens Demon Clearing True Technique.

Unfortunately, the Nine Heavens Demon Clearing True Technique cannot be put to great use here.

As the two were at a stalemate, Li Qinglian's figure suddenly trembled, and a Sword Intent, via an invisible connection, using him as the pivot, thrust into this spiritual realm.

A platinum-gold star rose, bursting into the battlefield of the two Supremes with unparalleled sharpness.

This is the Taibai Golden Star!

The source of the sudden Sword Intent needed no further explanation. It belonged to the current Sect Master of the Daode Sect, the Daoist Lord Disciple — Taibai True Monarch Li Xuan.

Taibai Jingtian, forcefully breaking through the Buddha Light covered territories, carving a long and deep scar above the Buddha's Pure Land, heading towards the past Seven Buddhas as stars.

The entry of a third party overturned the stalemate, and more astonishingly, Taibai True Monarch's Sword Intent could even penetrate the Awakened one's Pure Land. Even when the Awakened was contending against the Daoist Lord, such a formidable sword momentum highlighted Taibai True Monarch's dominance.

His intervention brought about a dramatic shift in the situation.

However —

"That's not allowed."

Jiang Li's figure flickered, suddenly rising into the sky, aligning with the Sword Light at the same level. With a reverse grasp, the Great Circle Sword was already in hand.

In this spiritual realm, what the mind envisions becomes reality. As long as one can comprehend its inner essence, not to mention the Great Circle Sword, even the Military God's Five Weapons could manifest. Moreover, the Great Circle Sword was formed from Qi, and Jiang Li could fully simulate it with Innate Yiqi. As long as he wished, his Qi was the Great Circle Sword.

Sword Light traversed, with the Great Circle Sword evolving into the Innate Eight Sceneries, then transforming into black and white. Jiang Li drew his sword and struck, the Sword Light akin to the previous Taibai Jingtian, plunging into the Buddha's Pure Land.

Neither the Awakened one's nor the Daoist Lord's power could restrain Jiang Li's sword. If one observed closely, they would find this sword to be seamless and formless, like water entering the sea, integrating with its surroundings. Whether it was Yin Yang Tai Chi or grand Buddha Light, none hindered the Sword Light at all.

Between the two massive presences like formations, two Sword Lights soared, like comets, akin to star rings, cutting across the void, colliding directly and unerringly.

"Clang!"

The collision of Sword Lights produced the clanging of sword instruments, as Jiang Li and Taibai True Monarch clashed for the first time.

When the two swords crossed, both Jiang Li and the Taibai True Monarch sensed an exceedingly strong threat.

It is said by all that the sword of Taibai True Monarch is the world's number one Sharp Sword, cutting through everything. Yet, upon contact today, Jiang Li found this claim somewhat erroneous. Taibai True Monarch's sword is not famed for its sharpness but for transformation as its pivot.

Taibai Jingtian resides in the world's transformation.

The Taibai Golden Star symbolizes "changing the heavens," the meaning of revolution. Taibai True Monarch's sword follows this intention, wielding Geng Metal as the blade, transforming all things.

It is this Sword Intent that allowed him to penetrate the battlefield, breaching the Buddha's Pure Land.

However, Jiang Li's sword was no less formidable.

In this spiritual realm, cultivation foundation and Daoist practice could be fully utilized, accomplishing one's self in realms not yet attainable in reality. Jiang Li's sword incorporates the accomplishments of the Three Tombs and the Taiji Eight Sceneries, tolerating all, transforming all.

During the duel of the two swords, Taibai True Monarch notably sensed, from that sword, the powers of the Daoist Lord, the Awakened, and even caught a glimpse of his own shadow.

Combining the forces of the three, including the sword momentum of Taibai True Monarch, how could it be contended?

At the moment of the clanging, the Taibai star of Jingtian suddenly dimmed; the always dominant Taibai True Monarch fell to the disadvantage.

Sword Intent, sword momentum, Sword Qi fiercely collided, in the twinkling of an eye—

"Dang!"

Taibai Sword Light retreated!

The stance of Taibai Jingtian shattered, the star instantaneously plummeted.

Simultaneously, at the juncture of the duel, the forces of the Awakened and the Daoist Lord surged like tides, colliding fiercely, shaking the entire realm.

"Boom!"

The world then collapsed, with the Seven Buddhas and Taiji retreating simultaneously, drawn into the darkness that followed the collapse. The scene of the spiritual world shattered like a broken mirror, fragments falling, revealing the scene of the Daoist Temple again.

At this moment, the bright moon hung high, moonlight spilling into the courtyard, leaving traces akin to frost, the sound of the wind wailing, breaking the tranquil atmosphere.

Jiang Li's figure trembled, momentarily disoriented, as though the surrounding scene twisted with him, the world and he becoming one, transferring the mental impact little by little.

He merely swayed slightly before returning to normal. His eyes roved, seeing the Awakened one still seated in the Stone Pavilion, the old Daoist with drooping hands, and...

The silhouette standing behind Li Qinglian.

Clad in a white Dao Robe, yet like a swordsman with a longsword at his waist, the youth looked sharply over.

"What is this sword called?" he asked coolly, his eyes seemingly still holding the afterimage of that prior sword.

"Nameless, if I must say, this is not my sword, but my Dao."

Jiang Li met the other's gaze, equally cool. In terms of bearing, Jiang had never been less than others his whole life.

"Heaven and earth are a single finger, all things a single horse. This one is my Dao."

"The finger has five divisions, but in essence, all are fingers. The horse also has various types, but in essence, all are horses. By finger, I represent heaven and earth; thus, heaven and earth are but a single finger. By horse, I represent all things; thus, all things are but a single horse."

"Daoist Lord" Li Boyang, upon hearing, his eyes flickered, already understanding Jiang Li's Dao, "To find the commonality of heaven and earth, the commonality of all things, and to transform them into one. This Dao is high-reaching, fellow Daoist's heart is as lofty as the heavens."

Previously he addressed Jiang Li as "young friend," now after hearing Jiang Li's words, he acknowledged the qualification to be a fellow Daoist.

Jiang Li's Dao indeed merits such qualification.

All five fingers are fingers, yet if extended to heaven and earth, heaven and earth are but a single finger.

White horses, black horses are all horses. Horses have different breeds, all things also have various categories, by this reckoning, all things can be summed as one horse.

Jiang Li's Dao is to discard those various distinctions, seek the commonality of heaven and earth, grasp the essence of the universe. Thus, one finger can represent heaven and earth; all things to him are merely one horse.

It was through this that he unified the Three Tombs, using Yin Yang Yoke as the commonality, as the finger, the horse. Now Jiang Li aimed to seek the commonality of all things, to master it.

Heaven and earth unite with me, Innate Qi and All Heaven Divine Sha can also become one; Taiji unified leads to great achievement, one can reverse the innate, returning to Taisu.

In the earlier clash, Jiang Li observed the collision between the Daoist Lord and the Awakened, discerning their commonality, then employing a part of their power to intercept Taibai True Monarch, incorporating the momentum of Taibai True Monarch's sword into his Sword Light.

With the amalgamation of the three forces and Jiang Li's mastery, how could Taibai True Monarch not be defeated?

"Interesting."

Taibai True Monarch's face remained unmoved, his eyes reflecting Jiang Li's figure like a mirror, "Since my mastery in the Sword Dao, I have never experienced a setback with the first sword strike. This sword, I will remember."

"I have long remembered True Monarch, after all, the collusion with Yellow Heaven caused me no small trouble," Jiang Li returned the gaze, speaking calmly.

This was also one of the reasons Jiang Li declined the Daoist Lord.

Having already killed the Daoist Lord's grand-disciple, killing his disciple next would mean that regardless of not being enemies, they could never be friends.

Instead of aiding someone destined to never stand together, better to owe the Awakened one a favor.

"You want to kill me?" Taibai True Monarch seemingly saw through Jiang Li's killing intent, asked directly.

"To oppose me is to be killable."

Jiang Li's response was unequivocal.

After speaking, he turned to the Daoist Lord, bowed, and said: "Senior, I take my leave."

"Taoist, this time, it is the Mazer who has the advantage." The Awakened one also looked at the Daoist Lord.

"But victory or defeat is still unknown." The Daoist Lord replied indifferently.

"Farewell."

"Farewell."