Taiyi Dao Fruit

The Great Sun Buddha Light shattered, and Manjusri fell like a bird with broken wings, his chest stained with blood while still mid-air.

The golden blood that splattered seemed scarce, but once it left the body, it transformed into a fountain of blood, cascading down like a waterfall.

This was no longer a simple bleeding; essence energy overflowed along with it, turning the blood into a blood fountain. Manjusri's Tathagata Undestructible True Body had truly suffered significant damage.

Meanwhile, the hundred-zhang-tall Fatian Xiangdi form descended imposingly, wielding the Chi You's Flag towards the sky, the black and white hues draping down like a sky curtain.

"Prajnaparamita..."

Manjusri's defeat seemed apparent, yet he hadn't given up. His Buddha Sword broke through the air, its Buddha Qi possessing a spiritual nature, and the Wisdom Sword transformed into a Three-legged Golden Crow, crashing toward the black and white sky curtain.

The Dao Fruit within the sword was activated, supported by Innate Buddha Qi, as the True Sun Fire burned fiercely. The Golden Crow flapped its wings like a living creature, slicing into the sky curtain, causing it to stagnate momentarily.

But soon after, a giant hand reached out with the force of grasping the stars and the moon, seizing the Three-legged Golden Crow. The True Sun Fire burned fiercely in its palm, but it could not free the Golden Crow.

After all, this was no true third-grade Golden Crow, merely a Dao Artifact.

Jiang Li held the Golden Crow, still able to wield the Chi You's Flag. The One-foot Hammer ensured he need not worry about depleting his power, even after an intense battle, Jiang Li quickly restored to his peak form.

The Heavenly Eye focused light, Divine Light cutting through space, directly fixing upon Manjusri, immobilizing him.

Defeat was about to descend upon this ambitious figure who sought to rival the supreme and ascend to the second grade.

Facing the impending defeat, Manjusri's expression changed, his eyes burned with a fiery glow, suppressing humiliation, he shouted, "No-Life Buddha Friend, save me!"

Before his voice faded, two beams of golden light simultaneously appeared between heaven and earth, converging toward the center, enveloping Jiang Li. The dazzling golden light flickered, forming a massive Golden Cymbal, entrapping Jiang Li who was harnessing Fatian Xiangdi.

The Divine Light of the Heavenly Eye lost its source, and Manjusri fell from the sky. A tranquil space manifested below, ethereal praises echoing within.

"Don't even think about it!"

At this moment, mirror light shone forth, and a copper mirror appeared mid-air aimed at Manjusri, while simultaneously a Sword Light attacked from the other side.

Daoist Guangyuan and Mo Xuankong attacked from both sides, the Sword Light tearing through space, the Yin Extinguishing Mirror Light seizing vitality, imparting an aura of death.

A massive surge of Death Qi erupted from Manjusri's body; the fire of vitality, already greatly diminished due to essence energy loss, rapidly grew dim.

But simultaneously, an ethereal figure appeared from the True Void, White Lotus scattering across the void.

"Lifeless Mother, True Void Home."

Tan Wuwei's form was like a dream or illusion, swiftly shifting to Manjusri's back, a Dragon Flower Treasure Tree appearing abruptly, protecting Manjusri's vitality, while her handprints transformed, folding the space of the True Void Home, blocking the Sword Light.

"Unconquerable."

Purified Buddha Light emerged on Tan Wuwei's body, her figure becoming strikingly surreal in an instant, as though projected from a distant shore.

The words "Unconquerable" in Buddhist legend have various applications. The most famous is the Unconquerable Vajra, but the deepest relates undoubtedly to Maitreya Bodhisattva.

In fact, Maitreya is the surname. Maitreya Bodhisattva's name is "Ayida," which translates to "Unconquerable." Simply put, Maitreya, full name Maitreya Ayida, could also plainly be called "Maitreya the Unconquerable."

And Maitreya's "Unconquerable" pertains to a Mental State. In legend, Maitreya cultivated the Pure Consciousness View, negating the reality of the world outside the Saha Pure Land, believing the world to be a manifestation of the Buddha mind. This state evolved into a Divine Skill, which is—

Under the Dragon Flower Treasure Tree, Tan Wuwei and Manjusri's forms suddenly became illusory; even the entire True Void Home rippled like a dream or illusion. Then, in front of everyone's eyes, they disappeared into thin air.

In the instant True Void Home vanished, the Yin Yang Two Extremes Sword slashed at the spot where Tan Wuwei and Manjusri had been, only to meet empty air.

"Pursue!" Daoist Guangyuan said, about to transform into golden light.

While the monk may flee, the temple remains. Even if Tan Wuwei's men had retreated several hundred miles and were now farther off, seeking them wasn't difficult for a third grade. As long as the temple is found, the bald thief won't be far off.

"First, assist Fellow Daoist Jiang in escaping."

Daoist Guang Cheng shook his head, slowly extending his hand. The Yin Yang Two Extremes Sword returned, Sword Light intertwined, and his arm began to bleed.

Repeated refining of the Slaying Immortal Sword had already aggravated Daoist Guang Cheng's injuries, and wielding the sword again undoubtedly deepened his wounds.

However, before the Slaying Immortal Sword could be unleashed again, the golden cymbal in the sky rapidly expanded like a sun, reaching its limit in an instant, emitting sounds of unbearable strain.

"Boom!"

Black and white Qi soared to the sky, countless Primordial Qi Divine Slaughter surged like evil dragons, tearing through the golden cymbal, roaring at the heavens.

"No problem."

In the center of the black and white Taiji, Jiang Li, who had returned to his original form, said calmly, "Manjusri won't escape today."

······

······

An illusory true void appeared on the Yellow Earth Plain, from which Buddha Light shot out, nearly skimming the ground as it sped, flying a thousand miles in an instant.

Seeing it about to leave this region, the Buddha Light flashed, piercing the mountain ahead, directly reaching its interior, then expanding into enough space for a person.

Tan Wuwei dispersed the pure white Buddha Light, helping Manjusri sit down cross-legged, said in a low voice, "Buddha Friend, you are temporarily safe. I have divine abilities to conceal us, not afraid of Jiang Li's divination."

"Thank you, No-Life Buddha Friend."

Manjusri, struggling slightly, sat cross-legged, light and shadow flickering on his body, with the Great Sun Tathagata Dharma Image and his physical body overlapping, yet subtly trying to separate, barely stabilized by Manjusri.

But at the heart, the wound was deep, emitting visible black Qi, causing Manjusri to show signs of pain.

"This wretched Jiang Li, actually mastered both 'Qi Tomb' and 'Form Tomb', and integrated All Heaven Divine Sha, creating a strange and sinister skill. This skill combines the life of Innate Qi and the destruction of All Heaven Divine Sha, carried by the form of 'Form Tomb', also incorporating pure and impure transformation······"

Manjusri showed intense dread as he spoke, "The cycle of life and death lies within this, unless today's cultivators surpass him in power, it is extremely difficult to harm him with Qi. He has mastered the essence of Qi Dao, even having extraordinary achievements above the Divine Essence of the physical body."

Manjusri had completely merged Innate Qi into Buddha Qi, transforming it into Innate Buddha Qi, avoiding restraint, but he did not expect Jiang Li had already stepped out of the confines of 'Qi Tomb.' Although he hadn't surpassed the Ancestor Yan Emperor in Qi Dao creation, he exceeded Manjusri's understanding.

Even transformed into Innate Buddha Qi, as long as it was Qi, it could still be restrained by Jiang Li.

After completing the Zhuang Zhou Dao Fruit, he had mastered the origin of Qi Dao.

"So tricky?!"

Tan Wuwei frowned, "When I gave him the Grandmaster Dao Fruit, I never thought that young man could reach today's stage. A wrong move by Yellow Heaven indeed."

"Yes, if he becomes third grade, there will likely be one more Supreme among the powerful."

Manjusri gritted his teeth, said in a deep voice, "But fortunately, he hasn't reached third grade. This time he won against me through intrigues, but next time, that may not be the case. I didn't lose everything this time, next time I won't lose again."

The incense poison could harm Manjusri once, but not a second time. As long as he purged the Five Vile Qi, restoring the Tathagata Undestructible True Body, he could quickly recover by absorbing incense.

Next time, Manjusri would absolutely not give Jiang Li any chance.

"Indeed,"

Tan Wuwei nodded, moving slightly, "Fortunately······"

A gentle step took Tan Wuwei to Manjusri's side, a white lotus in his palm, seemingly slow yet quick, pressing towards Manjusri's Heavenly Spirit without any mortal aura.

This move was utterly unexpected, arriving abruptly, with future divine skills confusing perception.

However, Manjusri shifted at the critical moment, just missing the strike.

"No-Life Buddha Friend, what are you doing?"

His face turned sullen as he looked at this Buddha Friend who had helped him escape the encirclement, speaking in a deep voice.

"Nothing, just making the Buddha Friend one of our own."

Tan Wuwei, with an unchanged expression, lowered his hand, said, "You really are overly suspicious, Buddha Friend, remaining so vigilant even in this situation. It's just a pity······"

Pity what?

A white, jade-like hand silently pressed against Manjusri's back heart.

"Pity, Buddha Friend is not suspicious enough."

In white robes outshining snow, an expression of compassion, Guanyin, as if always behind Manjusri, pressed a palm on this fellow cultivator's back heart, pouring surging Buddha Qi into his body.

At the same time, True Void Home enveloped, and Buddhist chanting spread throughout.