Taiyi Dao Fruit

Red County Divine Land, although ancient, had no pronounced gender discrimination; after all, this was a world where women could rise to the top on their own.

Thus, even for a woman, even for a royal princess, Princess Ji Lingguang still wielded great authority. As the head of the Southern Heavenly Department, an institution of the court dealing with the Cultivation World, Ji Lingguang's one word could mobilize tens of thousands of people.

Yet, such a figure had married a Seventh-Grade Practitioner.

When Jiang Li learned of the specific realm of the man in green, although he didn't understand the specifics, he was greatly shocked.

The gap created by the difference in realms was unimaginable; the difference between fourth-rank and seventh-rank was like that between mud and clouds. During their intimate moments, a fourth-rank could break the back of a seventh-rank merely by shaking their legs, making it hard to believe these two could come together.

This difficulty was akin to Jiang Li's own successful advancement to teacher at the seventh-rank, even saying it was as difficult as reaching the heavens would be an understatement.

'This affiliated son-in-law, could he be a Dragon King?' Jiang Li wondered.

"What's his name?" Jiang Li asked through a whispering transmission.

"Feng Manlou."

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While Nan Feiyun still wanted to struggle, Feng Manlou acted first and threw out a Golden Rope. The rope, like a living creature, bound Nan Feiyun tightly, and even possessed a strange prohibitive power that made Nan Feiyun's Dao Fruit, True Qi, Divine Essence, and Qi blood all subdue, unable to be utilized at all.

"Stop struggling. My Seventh Grade Dao Fruit is named Witch Xi, capable of summoning and commanding spirits. Even if you die, I can preserve your soul in time for you to be tried in the Divine Capital," Feng Manlou said indifferently, "Your Taiping Sect, this time you've really done for."

Humans have three souls and seven spirits; among these, the seven spirits depend on the physical body to manifest, and if the body dies, the spirits disperse, and with missing spirits, one becomes a ghost. In the Five Turbid Evil World, without a Ghost Attribute Dao Fruit, maintaining the soul body for even a moment is difficult, and it would be annihilated completely.

But with the relevant Dao Fruit Ability, it would be different.

Hearing Feng Manlou's words, Nan Feiyun's expression changed, and he had to admit that his side truly was doomed this time.

"My sect is a major sect in the world; even if it encounters temporary misfortune, it does not harm the foundation. At most, it is just my own death," Nan Feiyun said through gritted teeth.

"Don't tell me that; I'm not the one making the decisions,"

Feng Manlou chuckled and ignored Nan Feiyun, walking over to Ren Zihe.

"As for you, as an offending official, you are not under the jurisdiction of the Southern Heavenly Department. I will hand you over to the county government, who will then send you to Divine Capital where the legal system will penalize you. Your family's fate won't be too good."

Saying this, Feng Manlou showed a hint of pity.

This trace of pity was not for Ren Zihe, but for his family.

Great Zhou's laws were extremely strict for officials; since they were provided with Dao Fruits to enable their cultivation and the possibility of longevity, their punishment, when they committed crimes, was also extremely severe. According to Ren Zihe's actions, his own death was the lightest punishment, the most severe would be the extermination of his Three Clans.

This was why Jiang Huaimin had knelt so quickly.

Had he been slower to surrender loyalty, his Three Clans might have all ended up accompanying him below.

Ren Zihe was suppressed just like an ordinary person and was currently kneeling on the ground because of an altercation, but upon hearing Feng Manlou's words, he still lifted a fierce face and said, "In Great Zhou, each official position is like a slot for a radish, and unless you pull this radish out by the roots, how can you make room for the next one? I accept my fate today. I have been an official for forty years, diligent and devoted. I have long met the standards for promotion, but because someone was occupying the position, I couldn't be promoted, not even allowed to advance in Dao Fruit. I could only waste year after year."

"My downfall today is due to my ill fortune, but sooner or later there will be another Ren Zihe, there will always be!"

By the end of his speech, he burst into a grim laugh, though it was unclear whether he was laughing at himself or at the future of Great Zhou.

Even an Eighth Rank Cultivator, if they cultivated long term without further advancement, could live a life free of disasters and illnesses, and surpass a hundred years in age. But for Ren Zihe, a local official, where would he find so much time to cultivate?

His lifespan was at most a hundred years, perhaps even less.

After all, even real Immortal Gods fell during the End of Dharma, let alone those who harbored the Immortal God's Dao Fruit. Even if one could live a long life, it ultimately had an end.

This was especially true for low-grade cultivators.

"Do you realize," Feng Manlou shook his head, "that based on your words, your likely final outcome will be the execution of your entire clan?"

"To live for one's kin, to die and journey to the Netherworld together, isn't it beautiful?" Ren Zihe laughed wildly, like a madman possessed.

"How truly selfish you are."

Feng Manlou shook his head, pulled out a thick rope, and let it tie itself around Ren Zihe, while a dark seal also appeared on Ren Zihe's body.

He turned back to look at Xiang Shushi, "Both prisoners have been sealed by me. Xiang Shushi, they are now in your custody for transport."

"Additionally, this."

Gongsun Qingyue and Jiang Li approached, with a flick of the finger, Cao Yuanlong was thrown their way, "Xiang Shushi, if you would please."

"It's my duty." Xiang Shushi saluted.

He went over to pick up Cao Yuanlong, then captured the other two, rapidly like the wind and in a blink, he was gone, leaving no trace. It was unclear whether he took the prisoners to the county city temporarily or directly to the county government.

After he left, Feng Manlou seemed to breathe a sigh of relief, his entire demeanor relaxed.

"It's finally easier. I've been watched all along the way, which forced me to maintain appearances." Feng Manlou moved his shoulders and neck, his entire being beginning to radiate a liveliness that matched his appearance.

As he moved, he looked towards Gongsun Qingyue and Jiang Li, "It has been a long time, niece, and this young man…"

Feng Manlou's gaze moved to Jiang Li, meeting those eyes with a mysterious pattern, "Young man, quite handsome, almost catching up to me. This wouldn't be some unlucky fellow you've taken a fancy to, would it?"

"He is my junior brother," Gongsun Qingyue said evenly.

"So, he's the unlucky fellow your master picked for you," Feng Manlou realized.

Confirmed, this is a fellow practitioner.

Jiang Li, using the Emperor's Qi Observation Skill, covertly examined the other, trying to discern if he was indeed a Dragon King. No matter how he observed, he could only see the Three Elements characteristic of a Seventh-Grade Practitioner, nothing extraordinary.

"Stop looking, you won't be able to tell."

Gongsun Qingyue, seemingly aware of Jiang Li's covert observations, transmitted a message, "Some in the Ji Family also suspect that he hides his true nature, after all, a dragon doesn't dwell with snakes, let alone marry one. Could a man who caught the eye of a Royal Princess be ordinary? Yet even inviting the master to use his eyes to observe, nothing hidden can be seen by him."

"Many suspect that someone might have taken in the Matchmaker Dao Fruit, using it to secretly manipulate the Royal Princess through mismatched alliances, but it remains a speculation without proof. Thus, we can only assume that the Royal Princess found her true love."