Taiyi Dao Fruit

At the main entrance of the house, two Ninth Grade individuals stood, one to the left and one to the right.

One was dressed in tight attire, similar to that of the house servants, clearly one of the Jiang Mansion's own, while the other wore the official's dark clothes, likely from the government.

Inside the house, a middle-aged man with a square face sat upright on the Taishi Chair at the head of the room. He had three long beards hanging from his chin, was dressed in a Yun Pao, and wore a Liang Crown on his head, his face adorned with a reserved smile. This man was none other than the second master of the Qi Mountain Jiang Family, also in charge of the family's secular affairs, named "Jiang Wuye."

And in the guest seat sat the County Magistrate, dressed in the official attire of a magistrate, indeed the Magistrate of Qi Mountain County.

"County Magistrate Li," said Jiang Wuye with a smile, "there is a saying that without significant business, one does not visit the hall of three treasures. I wonder what important matter brings you here today?"

County Magistrate Li, with a serious expression and neither humble nor arrogant, replied, "Mr. Jiang should know that I am here today to seek help from the nobility."

"Oh?" Jiang Wuye displayed a perfectly timed curious expression.

County Magistrate Li continued, "Three days ago, the Emperor issued an order calling Zhang Zhixuan of the Taiping Sect to appear in the palace. This has caused a stir among the local branches of the Taiping Sect. Recently in our county, I have also noticed that the Taiping Sect has gathered followers multiple times, preaching about Zhang Zhixuan's past deeds of spreading benevolence throughout the Nine Provinces. If this continues, I fear there will be trouble."

"I see," Jiang Wuye responded noncommittally.

To be blunt, he was afraid that the Taiping Sect would rebel.

But even if the Taiping Sect had not yet rebelled, even if it did, what did that have to do with Jiang Wuye himself? Was he really expected to toil like a dog or horse for the sake of Great Zhou's Jiangshan and take the lead in opposing the Taiping Sect?

No, he would only take advantage of the warfare to loot fertile lands and make a fortune from the conflict.

In Jiang Wuye's view, no matter how many followers the Taiping Sect had gathered, they could not trouble the court. This so-called rebellion could be crushed with a mere gesture. How could those commoners with no foundation in cultivation possibly shake the eight-hundred-year foundation of Great Zhou?

The Qi Mountain Jiang Family only needed to defend themselves for a while, survive the conflict, and then they could reap immense profits.

This was not a disaster at all, but rather an opportunity.

County Magistrate Li, seemingly unaware of Jiang Wuye's indifference, continued, "To prevent rebels from causing chaos, I would like to ask for the Jiang Family's help to disperse the gathering crowds. Of course, I understand that Mr. Jiang is currently troubled by the difficulty of unifying the nobles, so I will first resolve this crucial concern for you before the Jiang Family takes action."

Jiang Wuye laughed, "County Magistrate Li, do you know what you are saying?"

Solving crucial concerns, with you, a mere county magistrate?

But County Magistrate Li did not laugh. Instead, he looked steadily at Jiang Wuye.

Jiang Wuye found himself unable to laugh as well. He stared at County Magistrate Li and unconsciously lowered his voice, "Who is backing you?"

A county magistrate alone certainly couldn't resolve this matter, but if someone higher up was directing him, that would be a different story.

This time, County Magistrate Li's visit was not to seek help but rather to offer it. Helping the Qi Mountain Jiang Family was his true aim.

But hadn't the court chosen Jiang Li as a puppet?

"All you need to know," County Magistrate Li replied calmly, "is that not every nobleman wishes to see Jiang Li rise."

The two men locked eyes, and Jiang Wuye suddenly felt that this seemingly insignificant magistrate was exceptionally confident.

If that was the case...

It wasn't that one couldn't try to make contact.

With strong support, the Jiang Family of Qi Mountain stood a better chance of consolidating their subordinate families.

For this goal, collusion with the court wasn't out of the question. If Jiang Li could do it, why couldn't the Jiang Family of Qi Mountain?

At this thought, Jiang Wuye revealed an enthusiastic smile and stood up, saying, "County Magistrate Li, those are hardly appropriate words. We families are born and raised here, dedicated to maintaining the local peace and stability, and it is our duty to do so."

"Please also tell that noble person that my older brother will absolutely not let Jiang Li's plot succeed. If there is a chance, he will ensure that Jiang Li can come but—"

Before he could finish saying the word "return," a crimson shadow burst through the door. Two Ninth Grade guards at the door suddenly showed blood marks on their necks and fell silently.

The crimson shadow then rapidly approached, its body flickering with light and shadow, indistinct like an invisible illusion, thrusting a pitch-black sword rapidly, prompting a sense of life-threatening danger within Jiang Wuye, leaving no ground for negligence.

He stimulated his True Qi, utilized his Dao Fruit, and his robes ballooned like a sphere, with blazing flames rolling fiercely, even the phantom Divine General on his body took on the color of flames, his palms moved together as if striking river waves, and the unmatched palm force burst forth.

Meanwhile, County Magistrate Li shattered the Taishi Chair beneath him and leapt back, a stream of white Qi already emerging as he loudly shouted, "Assassin!"

In the land of Yong Province, where Martial Virtue was abundant, officials, even if not handling governmental affairs, had to find time for cultivation, lest their heads were not guaranteed any longer. Both County Magistrate Li and Ren Zihe were Eighth Rank; however, in terms of on-the-spot responses, Li was undoubtedly more adept than Ren.

As the main target of the assassination, Jiang Wuye fought with all his might, while County Magistrate Li attempted to escape while calling for reinforcements. Though the two had never cooperated before, at this moment their coordination was seamless, yielding the best response possible.

However—

The long sword suddenly flickered, a piercing black light flashing by. The sword aiming for Jiang Wuye carried black thunder and shot towards County Magistrate Li, penetrating him swiftly and pinning him against the main house's pillar.

The escaping white Qi quickly dissipated, revealing a face that couldn't believe what had happened.

Meanwhile, Jiang Li struck with both palms, Innate Qi and the flames merging; a torrent of red light visible to the naked eye was dissolved, and all Flame Qi was refined.

"Innate Qi?! You!"

Jiang Wuye quickly shifted from offense to defense, his palm force withdrawn, while inversely circulating his True Qi, not hesitating to get injured just to use Jiang Li's palm force to retreat.

Innate Qi was not something that could be contended with, especially when the cultivation technique and Innate Qi originated from the same source; it was even less advisable to resist directly.

As the four palms touched, a powerful palm force surged instantly. Jiang Wuye withdrew his strength to transform power, planning to use that force to retreat, but unexpectedly, that palm force transformed into a sense of eerie Qi upon contact. A trail of black Qi spread upward at the point where their palms touched, decaying flesh and burning through meridians wherever it passed.

Poison!

"Bang!"

Jiang Wuye recoiled from the palm force, retreating and falling onto the main seat's Taishi Chair, his eyes wide open, his face covered with black lines, the severe poison claiming his life.

On the other hand, County Magistrate Li was obliterated by Yin Thunder, his essence Qi thoroughly extinguished, also completely dead.

Jiang Li grabbed the long sword coming to him, his figure backing off and once again turning into an illusion as he exited the main house, brushing past the house servants rushing towards the sound, not stopping, stepping out of the Jiang Mansion, and boarding a carriage.

Just then, the carriage had just taken the alley slowly gaining speed, Jiang Li climbed aboard, and the carriage promptly exited Qi Mountain County, rushing towards the ancestral land of the Jiangs.

Behind him, the news of Mr. Jiang and County Magistrate Li's deaths was still circulating within the Jiang Mansion. By the time the news spread throughout the city, the carriage was probably already nearing the ancestral land.