Taiyi Dao Fruit

The last Dao Fruit is in the hands of the Awakened.

The Awakened resisted the Causality Line and only handed over part of it, not allowing the Zhuang Zhou Dao Fruit to be truly complete.

At that time, Jiang Li was about to advance to fifth-rank, so even if the Dao Fruit was complete, it couldn't be accommodated, and Jiang Li didn't want it either, so it was temporarily put aside.

But the past was the past, now is now. Jiang Li is now fourth-rank, capable of enduring the completion of the Dao Fruit, and also has some unspeakable dealings with the Awakened. Given the current situation, it is time to retrieve the Dao Fruit.

The Awakened did not refuse but said, "Has Tan Yue thought it through? The unrefined Zhuang Zhou Dao Fruit is third grade. Originally, the Mazer planned to hand it over when Tan Yue was third grade so that the already third-grade Tan Yue could bear the changes brought by the Dao Fruit. But now, Tan Yue is still fourth-rank, and as the fifth-rank Dao Fruit begins to upgrade, it might suppress the fourth-rank Dao Fruit, leading to unforeseen consequences."

Even the Awakened couldn't estimate what consequences such actions would bring.

The Zhuang Zhou Dao Fruit is different from the Emperor Yan's Tao Fruit. While both split into multiple Dao Fruits, the Emperor Yan's Tao Fruit only dropped a grade, and when refined after advancing to third grade, it smoothly ascended to second grade.

The Zhuang Zhou Dao Fruit, on the other hand, was fifth-rank before completion, third grade after completion, with the fourth-rank Qingyuan Miao Dao True Monarch Dao Fruit in between.

It's like building a high-rise, already at the sixth floor. Next, if advancing the Emperor Yan's Tao Fruit, you'll build two more floors with the same materials. But if refining the Zhuang Zhou Dao Fruit, it would be like suddenly making major changes on the fifth floor, potentially destabilizing the sixth floor.

If Jiang Li were third grade, he might be able to stabilize it directly, but now that he's not third grade, he might not be able to handle the consequences.

"Moreover, Dao Fruit is cause and effect. According to the Mazer's understanding, the heavier the cause and effect, the more restrictive. Sometimes, appropriately letting go might lead further," the Awakened advised, "This is why predecessors split their Dao Fruits. After splitting, not only does the cause and effect weaken, but also the potential hidden dangers are reduced."

Jiang Li knew upon hearing this that the hidden danger referred to the true spirit of the original owner possibly existing in Dao Fruits above third grade.

Splitting the Dao Fruit is essentially breaking down the true spirit, and as time passes, the weakened true spirit becomes more susceptible to erosion by the Five Turbid Evil World, eventually vanishing prematurely.

There must have been clever cultivators throughout the generations, reaching the current supreme realm and devising solutions.

"I have to try to know," Jiang Li sighed helplessly, "If it's impossible, I can only give up and find another way. Of course, if the layman can spare some time, the problem will naturally be solved."

Saying this, Jiang Li looked eagerly at the Awakened.

"Tan Yue may be disappointed, even if the Mazer can break free from Karma Tathagata, there is still Daoist Lord, and even the Great Venerable."

The Awakened showed a hint of helplessness, then gently raised his hand as faint Dao Qi gathered, gradually manifesting peculiar anomalies.

Butterflies fluttered at times, Da Kun splashed water at others, sometimes Da Kun transformed into Tianpeng, soaring straight up ninety thousand miles.

Unlike other Dao Fruits which manifest the original owner's phantom or symbolize the original owner, the Zhuang Zhou Dao Fruit is varied and represents freedom.

The Awakened looked at the Dao Fruit in his palm, with a touch of reminiscing, saying, "Back then, Daoist Lord induced confusion in the Mazer's Mental State during a philosophical debate, sparking another thought which was carried by this Zhuang Zhou Dao Fruit. The Mazer later triumphed because he suppressed this Dao Fruit, but alas······"

He shook his head, leaving his words unfinished.

Jiang Li felt stirred upon hearing this.

The Zhuang Zhou Dao Fruit truly embodies freedom. Other Dao Fruits require host vessels, but this one became the vessel itself.

With Jiang Li's understanding of the Zhuang Zhou Dao Fruit's Divine Skills, upon hearing the Awakened's words, he immediately knew how Daoist Lord utilized the Zhuang Zhou Dao Fruit.

The Daoist Lord likely used the Zhuang Zhou Dao Fruit to materialize illusion, creating another Awakened, then letting Karma Tathagata's thoughts take residence.

It was because of this that Jiang Li realized the Zhuang Zhou Dao Fruit and the Moluo Sword Manual created by Karma Tathagata had great compatibility, even sharing the same origin.

The reason wasn't that the Awakened excelled in mental transformations and materializing illusionary skills, but that Karma Tathagata at that time embodied the Zhuang Zhou Dao Fruit. It was the root cause of the creation of the Moluo Sword Manual.

The Awakened managed to hide with Karma Tathagata for a hundred years exactly because he seized Karma Tathagata's essence.

Only from the outcome, even though Karma Tathagata lost the essence, he was not annihilated, merely in a weakened state forced to retreat for a hundred years.

This supreme realm of these beings certainly defies common perception; even without the foundational essence, they can survive and now reemerge in the world.

"The Mazer said to return it to Tan Yue in three years because the anticipated day of Karma Tathagata's emergence was in three years. Although three years haven't passed, Karma Tathagata has emerged, so continued retention may benefit Karma Tathagata, but isn't greatly necessary anymore."

The Awakened shook his head slightly, recollecting from his memory, stretched his right hand forward, and the anomalies of butterfly, Da Kun, Tianpeng coalesced into a light sphere, seemingly traversing time and space, crossing reality boundaries, flying towards Jiang Li.

'Transferring through cause and effect?'

Jiang Li noticed that the Awakened's method had echoes of how Karma Collection retrieved other Dao Fruits.

Karma Collection also captures Dao Fruits through cause and effect and directly retrieves them.

At this moment, the Awakened uses a similar method to send the Zhuang Zhou Dao Fruit. Jiang Li immediately focused his mind, and the only book he could see in this illusory world flipped, causal lines flying out from it, entangling the light sphere.

Butterfly, Da Kun, Tianpeng, long rivers, Daoists······ all these peculiar anomalies were drawn into the Karma Collection by the causal lines.

"Not bad, Tan Yue,"

The Awakened smiled softly at the sight, "The Mazer now believes Tan Yue can handle the Zhuang Zhou Dao Fruit well."

As the words fell, the scene before them changed again, the Bodhi Tree and the Awakened's figure receding rapidly like heading to the heavens.

"Tan Yue, if things cannot work out, then give up. The Mazer does not necessarily need the assistance of Emperor Yan's Tao Fruit."

The voice faded away into ephemera, eventually becoming imperceptible. In an instant, Jiang Li and Weitu, Guangli had returned to the previous city wall.

Or perhaps, they never left.

'This is the supreme power······ no wonder Yuan Xi was plotted against by the Great Venerable, and made a good thing with me at the time,' Jiang Li mused.

Even as third grade, the supreme one's level is vastly beyond that of other third grades, similar to how Jiang Li faces other fourth-rank individuals.

Tianxuan could hang third grade Dao Fruit, Yi Dao proficiency ranking top five in the current world, yet still was plotted against by the Great Venerable, and she was only aware afterwards.

Jiang Li thought of this, feeling slightly relieved.

Because Manjusri, although strong, had not reached that realm.

Since he is not supreme, Jiang Li still has a chance.

He turned his gaze towards the Tathagata Dharma Form of the Great Sun which had not dispersed, eyes dark with complex emotions.

At the same time, expansive thoughts enveloped inside and outside Da Xing City, encompassing a thousand miles around.

"Let's go, Manjusri Bodhisattva wants to see us," Jiang Li said.

Gathering the incense fire telepathy of Tan Wuwei, Manjusri's Great Sun Tathagata Dharma Form had also received assistance from the Maitreya Bodhisattva Dharma-Aspect. As the Future Buddha, the significance of the Maitreya Dharma-Aspect is profound, and the benefits of this dharma-aspect might exceed the incense offered by Guanyin earlier.

In this situation, Manjusri naturally aims to aggressively progress, collect incense in Yong Province thoroughly, and then seize Liangzhou.

This ambition is already fiercely ignited.

'Time is running out for me.'

Jiang Li murmured deeply within his heart, flying through the air with Weitu and Guangli, landing in the Governor Mansion.

The Dharma Form occupying most of the city also gradually reduced in size, finally melding into Manjusri himself. This formidable adversary of Jiang Li stepped out with Tan Wuwei and Guanyin, already free of injuries.