Taiyi Dao Fruit

The term "Supreme" is a title given to top-tier powerhouses, but when it comes to realms, there's not much difference.

This realm encompasses a complete understanding and control of oneself—not just the physical body, True Qi, and Divine Soul, but also a deep insight into the Dao Fruit, even if one doesn't practice Yi Dao, allowing one to sense their own fortune and misfortune in the hidden realms.

Only at such a realm can one perceive the changes in the operation of Divine Skills, transform the fake into the real, and create corresponding Magic Doors.

Ultimately, a Supreme being may possibly stand shoulder to shoulder with the original owner of the Dao Fruit and completely make it their own.

However, as for Jiang Li's original third grade Dao Fruit owner, he is probably extremely strong, requiring much time and heart power to fully master its Dao Fruit Divine Powers. Moreover, there are other Dao Fruits, such as those of Zhuang Zhou and Yang Jian, that Jiang Li also needs to research.

Additionally, although Luu Dongbin's Dao Fruit grade is low, fully gathering his Dao Fruit could also benefit Jiang Li.

Of course, all these are matters for the future, but for now...

"Master, Primordial Lord, please step back,"

As Jiang Li's voice fell, the power of the boundless heavens and earth materialized, with twin suns and the red giant starlight shining together, embodying both majesty and murderous intent.

On the other side, the Daoist Lord slowly raised his right palm, as pure qi took form on his left and right, one old, one youthful. No longer in his former guise of old, middle-aged, or youthful, he revealed his mature appearance at the peak of life.

Mighty qi surged like water and wind, with Taiji manifesting among them.

The force from both sides clashed, shaking the earth for hundreds of miles, disturbing the earth veins, even affecting the distant Mountain of Mind and Heart, causing the remaining monks to hastily retreat.

Weituo Bodhisattva, Guangli Bodhisattva, and Sunlight Bodhisattva joined their qi, forming a light curtain to block the aftershocks, but nearly crumbled, saved by Sun Wukong's intervention, whose monkey palm pushed with great strength and shattered the aftershocks.

Yet, even so, the erupting Qi Force rocked the surrounding mountains, causing tremors and quakes.

"Such a formidable power..." Weituo Bodhisattva, usually calm, gasped and steadied his mind, saying, "Only the Supreme."

He had personally witnessed the battle between the Awakened and Karma Tathagata a century ago, creating this world-shaking feeling. Just watching from afar almost caused his Divine Thought to surge back, nearly shattering his Divine Soul.

Perception is formless and intangible, almost non-existent, yet when it witnesses such a battle, the five senses are forcibly dragged, distorted, and ultimately backlash on the consciousness.

Now, Weituo Bodhisattva's strength far surpasses a century ago, but the lethal danger from merely witnessing is as it was back then.

"The battle between the Chief and Karma Tathagata back then was the same. Jiang Sikong has certainly become the Supreme of this era," Weituo Bodhisattva stated.

"This increases the chances of the Chief's ascension by at least 30%," Guangli Bodhisattva also remarked, "although the Supreme is still restricted by [Daoism Rules the World], this shouldn't significantly impact their strength."

They were unaware that Jiang Li had broken free of [Daoism Rules the World]'s suppression, but witnessing Jiang Li confront the Daoist Lord, they breathed a sigh of relief.

As for Sunlight Bodhisattva, he too showed joy, but his eyes remained emotionless, like an unfeeling Buddha statue.

All of this was observed by a certain monkey, seen with his eyes and heard with his ears. Though Sun Wukong looked forward, his Fire Eyes Golden Eyes secretly focused on the three, with his Six Ears simultaneously eavesdropping.

"If you three want to watch, keep your mouths shut, lest your spirits suffer, requiring me to save you. If you wish to avoid a life-and-death encounter, be honest and back off," Sun Wukong said without turning his head.

Upon hearing his words, the three immediately closed their mouths and simultaneously cultivated to suppress their spirits, focusing intently on the battle.

None had any intention of retreating.

To witness such a Supreme battle, they would rather die than retreat.

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The aura between Jiang Li and the Daoist Lord grew more magnificent, nearly encompassing the heavens and earth, prompting both the Great Venerable and the Heavenly Monarch to stop their standoff and withdraw slightly, lest they get involved.

Although with their strength, they need not fear life-and-death dangers, getting involved would likely draw them into a chaotic fight.

As they withdrew, the Great Venerable's eyes scanned the two, including them in his gaze, and said, "Daoist Li has lost a Three Pure Ones' Primordial Spirit, yet he can still contend with the Emperor Dao Fruit. His profound foundation is truly astonishing."

The Daoist Lord's Dao Fruit hasn't enhanced his divine power; what he displayed was entirely his cultivated power, with a foundation unmatched by even the Great Venerable and Heavenly Monarch.

The Great Venerable's Candle Dragon Body, nearly a thousand miles long, gave him a formidable physical body and commensurate power, a significant advantage over the Daoist Lord. The Heavenly Monarch performed Heaven Stealing actions, absorbing human thoughts, something not achieved through mere cultivation.

In terms of raw power, they indeed rival the Daoist Lord, but their foundational stability pales in comparison.

"I'm starting to believe this one personally witnessed that battle eight hundred years ago," the Heavenly Monarch said lightly.

These two finished their standoff and even began conversing.

Of course, despite their talk, they remained vigilant, prepared for imminent battle.

Daoist Lord and Jiang Li's clash didn't require a result—any flaw in their stand-off might provoke action from these two, either launching a sudden attack on them or seizing the chance to confront the Awakened.

As the two conversed, the Qi Mechanism between Jiang Li and Daoist Lord reached its peak.

The Daoist Lord, who usually adopted a defensive stance, made the first move this time. The middle-aged figure of the main body turned his raised right palm, and a massive handprint came crashing down like a mountain avalanche.

Responding to the Qi mechanisms' pull, Jiang Li simultaneously pushed his palm, Innate Qi forming an equally gigantic handprint, pushing forward through the void.

"Boom!"

Like the collision of mountains, the earth split open from the point of impact, creating a long fissure spanning miles and causing continuous vibrations.

Both Jiang Li and the Daoist Lord narrowed their eyes, realizing the profound power of the other.

Although neither had given their all, this probe alone demonstrated the other's formidable strength. The Daoist Lord had previously used two Primordial Spirits to form Taiji to withstand Chi You's Flag. Despite needing a banner-like tool, it was enough to show his power.

Now, having reached the realm of the Supreme, Jiang Li's probing allowed him to estimate the Daoist Lord's power roughly.

The Daoist Lord also gauged the strength of Jiang Li after his divine skills were unsealed.

In his eyes, the Emperor Dao Fruit, despite some instability due to the Nine Provinces being unsettled, significantly augmented Jiang Li's strength. Missing one Primordial Spirit, the Daoist Lord realized his own strength couldn't compare.

Thinking of this, the youthful visage of the Three Pure Ones Primordial Spirit waved a large sleeve, raising a gentle breeze that moved a mountain miles away.

Mountain Whipping Stone Shifting!

The mountain uprooted, charging toward Jiang Li with a crushing momentum, though not swiftly, yet covered miles in an instant.

Jiang Li did not evade. His mind summoned the Red Star in the sky, and the All Heaven Divine Sha shot down, shattering mountains and ridges, scattering rocks and dust.

"Heavenly Distance."

Jiang Li uttered the Heavenly Decree, shortening the space distance to within inches, instantly arriving before the Daoist Lord. His body was of pure white color, unleashing the Taisu Fist violently once more; space crumbled, and unmatched strength smashed through.

"Returning Wind and Returning Fire."

Facing this supremely pure and powerful fist, the Daoist Lord's main body remained motionless, both palms embracing and suddenly pushing forward, reversing all strength, redirecting it toward Jiang Li.

Returning Wind and Returning Fire, one of the Thirty-Six Taoist Heavenly Gang Skills before the End of Dharma, could return the wind and shrink the flames to pre-flame size, exceedingly mysterious and a superior miracle technique.

The Fake to Real Taixu Bodyless failed to exert its effect, strength reversed, driven back, colliding with Jiang Li's fist.

At the same time, two Primordial Spirits simultaneously attacked, one waving sleeves, as if urging a storm surge, pure Essence Qi surged forth.

The other Primordial Spirit transformed into Yin Yang Five Elements, seven sword lights of Yin Yang Five Elements shattered through the void, aiming toward Jiang Li's body.

Each of the seven sword lights was purely formed with no structure, evidently targeting the Taixu Bodyless. If it went within the body, the seven swords would unite, penetrating and killing from within, an intricate attack.

One pure, one intricate, plus the main body's counter offensive, the Daoist Lord's response was undeniably fierce. Jiang Li mastered the "Qi Tomb," touching the origin of Qi Dao, but the Daoist Lord's Daoist expertise was profound, pioneering the Nine Heavens Demon Clearing True Technique, in Qi Dao's attainments not inferior to Jiang Li.

The three-pronged attack was both sharp and divided Jiang Li's mind, making response difficult.

Remember that facing such a figure as the Daoist Lord, any distraction could reveal a flaw.

However, Jiang Li didn't need to be distracted.

"Counterbalance it accordingly, Taiji Heavenly Wheel."

Jiang Li simply uttered a command, Taiji Heavenly Wheel rose, autonomously evolving the Qi, using Yang to counter Yin, Yin to counter Yang, gold to cut wood, water to extinguish fire... Yin Yang Five Elements were countered sequentially, more with Divine Evil bursting forth, eradicating the Essence Qi surge.

Meanwhile, Jiang Li himself summoned the Taixu Qi, punching forcefully with no intent to withdraw.

"Boom!"

The immensely pure force and the returning strength of Returning Wind and Returning Fire collided, strength bursting into space, striking into the void.

The Daoist Lord swiftly turned his palm, transforming Yin Yang into Taiji to counter Taixu, instantly causing the broken space to damage further, splitting like a shattered mirror, further causing ground disintegration.

The Daoist Lord's figure trembled, retreating rapidly, slightly disordered in breath, clearly suffering repercussion from the brief but intense confrontation.

Jiang Li's fist edge showed slight deformation, a crack appeared on his arm, yet his breath remained completely stable.

"Exchange injury for injury, Jiang Li possesses the divine power of 'Longevity and Eternal Prosperity,' even wounded, his strength remains unaffected," the Great Venerable observed the battle, speaking in a deep voice.

"In this aspect, the Daoist Lord has no advantage," the Heavenly Monarch added.

Exchanging injury for injury, yet never impacting strength unless Jiang Li perishes. Simultaneously, Jiang Li has "Nourishing Life Master" to heal, "Green Emperor Longevity" compared to "Longevity and Eternal Prosperity," also offers vitality restoration.

With the combination, Jiang Li is not only forever at the peak but nearly immortal.

In terms of Daoist path and realm, Jiang Li cannot compare to the Daoist Lord, but he certainly possesses his own advantages.