Taiyi Dao Fruit

"Achoo—"

On the Yellow Earth Slope, the man sneezed, adjusted his mask, and muttered to himself, "I have a feeling that my cheap little brother has come up with some shady scheme again."

With a light click of his tongue, the man with the Asura Ghost Mask raised his voice and said, "What do you think of him? My sworn brother."

"Profound and unpredictable, hardly like a young man."

A bewitching figure appeared in the azure fog, the Heavenly Charm True God stretched out an arm as white as porcelain, and gently brushed it with the other hand, saying, "In his eyes, I feel like I'm not wearing clothes, my arms can't help but break out in goosebumps."

"When he was at Sixth Grade, he ascended to the Dao Fruit of Pure Yang True Man through a One Dream of Millet promotion ceremony. Only he knows how long he spent in that dream," Witch Zhen said, "It's normal for you to feel this way."

Upon hearing this, Heavenly Charm seemed to realize something.

Then she continued, "No matter how profound and unpredictable Jiang Li is, he will inevitably suffer under the family's leader. This time facing Manjusri, he must follow the leader's thoughts and unseal the Emperor."

The seductive woman's tone was solemn, carrying a sense of reverence, causing Witch Zhen to shake his head involuntarily.

"He still has the mind to joke, suggesting he thinks he hasn't been forced to an unavoidable point yet. My virtuous brother has many cards up his sleeve and perhaps believes he still has the hope to turn the tables."

Witch Zhen chuckled lightly, "I also want to see what he relies on. Manjusri has been plotting for a long time, and now by consolidating the Great Sun Tathagata Dharma Image, his strength has already approached ours. If Jiang Li doesn't ascend, he absolutely cannot defeat him."

This "ours" naturally refers to the Great Venerable, Heavenly Monarchs, and other supremes.

Manjusri's Great Sun Tathagata Dharma Image is centered on a Second Grade Dao Fruit, enhancing his strength by more than just a little. If his Realm improved enough, Manjusri might become the seventh supreme.

"To be able to approach the Supreme?" Heavenly Charm was undeniably surprised.

"How could one rule the world without becoming Supreme?" Witch Zhen said indifferently, "To become Second Grade, Manjusri needs vast amounts of Incense Fire Thought Power, his ambition is as grand as that."

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A pillar of light descended from the sky, landing directly in the Governor Mansion of Da Xing City.

Manjusri and Guanyin stepped out of the light pillar, met by Tan Wuwei comfortably sitting on a stone bench not far, fluidly brewing tea.

"Two Buddhist friends."

She looked at Manjusri and Guanyin, her gaze lingering a moment on Manjusri's shoulder, then falling on the naturally formed Buddha Light surrounding him, "Seems we were all deceived by Manjusri Buddha Friend."

In that glance, Tan Wuwei saw an altogether different atmosphere than before.

Even though Manjusri had injuries now, he still exuded the aura of universal illumination. Despite being in human form, Tan Wuwei saw a Buddha Image within him.

"Great Sun Tathagata Dharma Image."

Manjusri and Guanyin seated themselves at the stone table and plainly said, "With the Thought Power borrowed from Guanyin Buddha Friend, I have accomplished this Dharma Image, cultivating the Tathagata Undestructible True Body. Within the Third Grade, I fear no one."

"To substitute self-cultivation with a Dharma Image formed from faith and Incense Fire, ingenious mind, admirable," Tan Wuwei pushed the tea towards the two, saying, "But relying solely on present Incense Fire to ascend to Second Grade isn't enough."

"Precisely because it isn't enough, I won't be collectively attacked," Manjusri smiled smugly, confidently speaking, "My primary goal isn't Second Grade, but to stand shoulder to shoulder with the Chief. Once reaching the Realm of Ultimate Power, I'll return to Buddha Country to replace the Awakened. After that, the ascension to Second Grade will naturally follow."

Amassing the belief from an entire country unto oneself, incorporating all cultivators' Dharma Images from Buddha Country, complemented by one's cultivation, the Great Sun Tathagata Dharma Image would be substantially complete.

By then, it would be Manjusri's time to ascend Second Grade.

Even further, once Manjusri has taken the Great Zhou's Jiangshan, gathering Incense Fire from Nine Provinces' populace, the Great Sun Tathagata Dao Fruit could swiftly reach perfection, peeking into First Grade.

These few words revealed Manjusri's aspirations and his capabilities.

The Awakened's close ties with Karma Tathagata became his greatest flaw, further facilitated by Manjusri's machinations. Once his strength is sufficient, he could directly replace the Awakened as Buddha Country's Chief.

Jiang family's identity granted Manjusri a strong claim to seizing Great Zhou's Jiangshan, coupled with Buddhist methods to enlighten the masses. Should he overcome the Ji Family, Great Zhou's Jiangshan will fall into his hands.

"Seems Buddha Friend has been plotting for quite some time." Tan Wuwei revealed an unusual expression.

Manjusri laughed heartily at the words, "Back then, Jiang's family contemplated rebellion, thanks to having me as a strong ally. This moment was foreseen by me over a decade ago."

Fourteen years ago, Earth Uncle believed Jiang's family harbored rebellious intent, secretly assassinating the family's Third Grade overseer of the Ochre Whip, causing it to become unclaimed, based on Jiang family's connection with Buddha Country.

Even at that time, Manjusri had such ambition.

"Two Buddhist friends, I know offering Thought Power might be intrusive, but now we are on the same boat. My enhanced strength is beneficial for you both moving forward. At the critical juncture of the Chief's emergence, only by enhancing my strength can our cultivation path remain unobstructed."

Manjusri loudly declared, "I shall make a solemn oath on Heaven; if you two don't betray me, I'll never betray you two Buddhist friends."

With his words echoing, thunder roared, and Heaven responded to the oath of Jiang family's member, witnessing the vow.

Though the Oath of Heaven lacks the prestige it once held due to some others, the three who've experienced Heaven's Punishment still recognize Heaven's power.

More importantly, Manjusri's power already surpasses the two.

Tan Wuwei lowered his eyelids, concealing his eyes, presenting a contemplative posture, as if weighing the pros and cons.

Meanwhile, Guanyin brightened slightly, appearing to have been swayed by Manjusri.

She was deceived into offering Incense Fire Thought Power, already lost, making acceptance easier in such circumstances.

And Tan Wuwei······

The Lifeless Mother with Reverse Knowledge of the Future, Maitreya Bodhisattva pondered briefly, slowly opened her eyes, rose, and bowed, "Namo Great Sun Tathagata Vairocana Buddha."

A golden light shot from Tan Wuwei's brow towards Manjusri.

Instantly, behind Manjusri appeared the Great Sun Tathagata Dharma Image, absorbing this gold light, as Buddha Light again emerged, illuminating the Ten Directions.

The Incense of Maitreya Dao Fruit's bearer greatly enhanced the Great Sun Tathagata Dharma Image, transforming Buddha Light into a wheel, rising like the Great Sun, Buddhist chanting reverberating, transmitting through the Eight Directions.

"Namo Great Sun Tathagata Vairocana Buddha."

A Buddha name echoed widely, within and outside Da Xing City, regardless of which Bodhisattva one revered, everyone instinctively followed the chant.

——"Namo Great Sun Tathagata Vairocana Buddha."

The colossal Dharma Image gradually took form in the sky, its seat on the Eight-leaf Lotus Platform occupying most of the city, with the sun-like Buddha Wheel slowly descending behind the Dharma Image, forming a Ring of Light.

"Tan Wuwei also offered Incense Thought Power······"

Having just returned, Jiang Li witnessed this scene, knowing that Manjusri's Great Sun Tathagata Dharma Image had further improved.

But simultaneously, he noticed something.

"The foundation of the Great Sun Tathagata Dharma Image lies in Incense Fire faith."