Taiyi Dao Fruit

Jiang Li and the Daoist Lord had already deduced the answer, while on the other side, the Heavenly Monarch and the Great Venerable also noticed the clue.

Especially the Heavenly Monarch, Tan Wuwei's divine skills can only foretell the short-term future in this gathering of powerful beings, but now the anomaly of the Awakened is almost in plain sight, and Tan Wuwei naturally couldn't miss it.

She could see the changes that would happen in just a few breaths.

The Awakened, he truly is performing a roguish collaboration with Ye Ru La!

Thinking back, the timing when the Awakened started suppressing Ye Ru La seemed a bit too coincidental.

Just when Jiang Li successfully blocked the Daoist Lord, the Awakened gained the upper hand, prompting the Great Venerable to act, bringing many others into the fray, which also exposed the Heavenly Monarch's position.

By now, most of the enemies meant to appear have surfaced, and the Promotion Ceremony is nearing its end.

The Dharma Form of the Tathagata becomes increasingly clear, with the solemn Buddha's energy filling heaven and earth, whereupon golden lotus suddenly appear then vanish swiftly, like a dream and bubble illusion, expressing the principle of non-arising and non-perishing.

At this stage, the anomalies can scarcely be concealed, and it's no wonder the Awakened and Ye Ru La finally ceased hiding.

'Not much time left.'

Jiang Li observed the changes in the Tathagata Dharma Form, already realizing there's little time remaining before the completion of the Promotion Ceremony, and the enemies will start their most fierce counterattack.

"Daoist Lord."

Jiang Li turned his head, speaking remotely: "The True Spirit of the Tathagata Fruit is about to awaken."

With the True Spirit awakening, the Awakened will face his final obstacle, victory means ascension, defeat means resurrection of the Tathagata.

Will the Daoist Lord continue to oppose the Awakened?

If not careful, this could cause the Awakened to lose within the Tathagata Fruit's True Spirit, enabling the Buddhist Great Power from before the End of Dharma to reincarnate.

"Fellow Daoist, you underestimate the Awakened." The Daoist Lord slightly shook his head, offering an unexpected answer.

"Previously, I too believed that although the Awakened possessed the Awakened Realm, capable of rivaling the Tathagata World Venerable, his overall odds were still low. Now, upon discovering Ye Ru La and the Awakened united, I instead regard the Awakened's chances as higher."

"Before becoming a Buddha and patriarch, the Tathagata World Venerable was also an Awakened. And an Awakener is simply that, having awakened, achieving perfection, in the Spiritual Realm, there's no difference in level. The fight between True Spirits depends on willpower and mental state, and their cultivation realm, even if possessed, cannot impact the Awakened struggle."

In other words, unable to affect the Awakened.

In the clash of minds, a battle scene can be reproduced, even the strength of their peak periods, but these are all mental illusions, akin to alternative Heart Demon methods.

If it were others, they might fear that towering power and realm, but for the Awakened, these are mere illusions.

He is an Awakener, in terms of mental achievement, possibly surpassing the Daoist Lord, engaging in a mental clash with the Awakened, will ultimately be a contest of willpower and mental state.

"In other words, does the Daoist Lord believe the Awakened's willpower and mental state can decisively surpass that of the Tathagata World Venerable?" Jiang Li revealed a surprised expression.

As the Buddha before the End of Dharma, the leader of Buddhism, the Tathagata was at the pinnacle among the Second Grade, although fallen now with only the True Spirit remaining, a wrecked ship should at least have three pounds of nails, not to mention a figure like the Tathagata.

Jiang Li does not think the Awakened has no chance of winning, but saying it's a guaranteed win is somewhat exaggerated.

"It's not certain victory, but the chances are indeed fairly high. The attempt to conceal a True Spirit in the Dao Fruit is a last resort, constantly experiencing the erosion of the Five Turbid Evil World, challenging to return to full strength. Otherwise, why not charge out of the Dao Fruit and seize a body outright? Requiring a Promotion Ceremony for voluntary fusion already indicates weakness."

The Daoist Lord looked at the Tathagata Dharma Form, with a look of understanding, as if seeing through the illusions, "Ye Ru La is the Awakened's mental manifestation, imitating Moluo to transform illusion into reality, becoming another existence, yet his essence remains illusory. To further progress, he must strike from the Awakened."

"If my guess is correct, Ye Ru La should unify with the Awakened, surpass the True Spirit within the Tathagata Fruit, and then compete for victory between the two."

Calculating in this way, Ye Ru La aiding the Awakened's ascension is actually aiding himself.

If he can then surpass the Awakened, he becomes the ascended Second Grade.

On the contrary, if he cannot win······

Failing means death, who cares if the floods rise high.

Previously not foreseeing Ye Ru La collaborating with the Awakened is one thing, upon seeing their alliance, the Daoist Lord can easily guess their agreement.

Indeed, the emergence of Ye Ru La owes its credit to the Daoist Lord.

A few words answered Jiang Li's doubts and focused his mind.

Because seeing the Daoist Lord's intentions means action against the Awakened is still planned, otherwise why speak so much?

"From the current situation, the Awakened's ascension is preferable to the Tathagata's reappearance, but I have another option."

The Daoist Lord's beard and hair flutter automatically, as two streams of Pure Qi ascend from the Heavenly Spirit above.

"And that is to kill him before the Awakened ascends."

A majestic voice came with the wind, as a middle-aged Daoist rode on auspicious clouds, arriving slowly yet swiftly.

He wore a cyan dao robe, his appearance exuded authority without fury, looking identical to the middle-aged form previously displayed by the Daoist Lord. In his right hand, he held a sword in reverse, its tip prominently extending from his shoulder.

Pure Qi floated around him, his figure did not feel illusory, yet Jiang Li's Heavenly Eye discerned that this was a Primordial Spirit body.

The Daoist Lord's final Primordial Spirit had arrived.

The Three Pure Ones Primordial Spirit, left at Kunxu Mountain to guard against the Immortal Queen's promotion, had come here. The Qi Mechanism on him hinted at restlessness, carrying a faint but chillingly sharp Yin Qi, surrounded by a barely dissipated golden breeze.

"West Splendor Miao Qi..."

Upon seeing that Yin Qi and golden breeze, Tianxuan instantly knew their origin. She spoke solemnly, "The Daoist Lord's Primordial Spirit and the Immortal Queen have fought."

"Leaning on 'Daoism Rules the World,' he gained a slight advantage and injured the Immortal Queen."

The middle-aged Daoist glanced at Tianxuan upon hearing her voice and responded calmly. The sword in his reverse grip hummed, dispersing the lingering West Splendor Miao Qi, "This humble Daoist also informed the Immortal Queen about the secrets of the Second Grade Dao Fruit, temporarily removing her concerns about seizing the opportunity to ascend."

Whether lightly or heavily wounded, any injury left by the Daoist Lord's Primordial Spirit would take time to heal.

Moreover, having learned the secrets of the Second Grade Dao Fruit, even if Tianxuan went to concede to the Immortal Queen at this moment, the Immortal Queen would be unable to ascend immediately, unless she didn't value her life...

The Daoist Lord's readiness to fight on two fronts showcased the astounding capabilities of these old hands, leaving Jiang Li deeply impressed.

It was said he leaned on 'Daoism Rules the World' for a slight advantage, but defeating the Immortal Queen, who had the backing of the Immortal Palace, wasn't simply a matter of relying on divine skills.

The Immortal Queen's foundation was not shallow, possessing the Plain Cloud Realm Flag and the assistance of the Immortal Palace's array, yet a single Three Pure Ones Primordial Spirit was victorious.

Of course, Jiang Li had to concede to the shamelessness of 'Daoism Rules the World.' He managed to obscure cause and effect, withstood divine suppression using the remnant 'Primordial Human,' otherwise he, Jiang Sikong, might have been another Immortal Queen, slightly bested by the Daoist Lord.

As he spoke, the middle-aged Daoist transformed into a strand of Pure Qi, descending upon the Daoist Lord's head, as three strands of Pure Qi formed a spinning lotus, akin to the Three Flowers Gathering at the Top. The sword in his grasp also fell into the hands of the Daoist Lord.

The sword appeared ancient, its blade presenting four sides, lacking sharpness, possessing only inner restraint.

However, as the sword fell into the Daoist Lord's hands, starlight emerged along the blade, arranging into the shape of Seven Stars. The surrounding Essence Qi and Five Vile Qi were drawn toward the sword, as though it truly contained stars, utilizing invisible gravity to attract surrounding objects, regardless of form.

The Daoist Lord's first disciple, Taibai True Monarch, uses a sword, the younger disciple, Zhang Daoyi, also uses a sword, so would the Daoist Lord not use a sword?

Now it seems that he does.

Thus, Jiang Li decisively spoke, "The Daoist Lord mustn't use the sword."

His words were as law, instantly suppressing the sword momentum that just emerged from the Daoist Lord, causing the sword in his hand to seem on the verge of slipping away.

The Daoist Lord, exuding a profound, mysterious aura, nearly faltered, nearly laughing from Jiang Li's divine skill.

"Boom!"

Five fingers clenched tightly, a thunderous sound resounded within his grasp, akin to the explosion of a thunderbolt. Jiang Li, unlike past Emperors, did not possess an invincible might over the world, coupled with the Daoist Lord reclaiming his final Primordial Spirit, achieving Three Pure Ones Perfection, he finally broke free of divine skill constraints with sheer power.

He forcefully grasped the sword in his hand, causing Yin Yang to overturn, and Heaven and Earth to fall into chaos.

"Emperor Sword."

Simultaneously, Jiang Li also unleashed his sword. The sword embodied the Nine Provinces, enveloped the foreign lands, embraced the four seasons, surrounded the Four Seas, accorded with the Five Mountains, governed by the Five Elements, deliberated in criminal law and virtue, opened with Yin Yang, held with spring and summer, and moved with autumn and winter.

Jiangshan, Sheji and the living beings existed together, the Nine Provinces were encompassed within a single sword, as the sword rose, the world submitted.

"Inverting Yin and Yang."

Likewise, the Daoist Lord's sword emerged, resembling a dragon, yet akin to the curve between Taiji's Yin Yang. Wherever the Sword Light reached, Yin Yang inverted, Heaven and Earth lost order, black and white were confused, and above and below became indistinguishable.

The order of the world seemed to lose its reason, realms and powers seemed to distance, even Divine Thought became chaotic.

Yin Yang inverted, Heaven and Earth disordered.

This was the sword of disorder, standing opposed to Jiang Li's Emperor Sword.

One side presented the Nine Provinces with the sword, the other inverted Yin Yang, Jiang Li's sword carried the Nine Provinces, while the Daoist Lord's sword disrupted the order of Yin Yang, the Sword Light entirely concealed within chaos and disorder, only a tumultuous tide of black and white remained.

"Strike!"

Jiang Li once more employed divine skill, guiding cause and effect with 'Emperor Emerges from Zhen,' the Sword Light carrying all under the Nine Provinces followed a drifting, erratic trajectory to strike mid-air.

Then, amidst the black and white, the sword tip appeared, Pure Light suddenly revealed, exposing the Daoist Lord's figure.

The Sword Light manifested sword shapes, sword tip against sword tip, as needle against awn, directly colliding. Two grand forces concentrated simultaneously at one point, bursting forth, forming a dark singularity.

The scene of the Nine Provinces and the phenomena of Yin Yang disorder seemed to vanish at this moment, power converged into one spot, then rebounded outward, causing the Great Circle Sword in hand to vibrate vehemently.