Taiyi Dao Fruit

Hearing the Clan Elder's words, Gongsun Qingyue, who wanted to take action, had to temporarily shelve her plans and said, "Consider yourself lucky."

Although she yearned to demonstrate her prowess to Jiang Li, there were more pressing matters concerning the Qi Mountain Jiang Family at hand.

However, Jiang Li responded, "If Senior Sister wishes to test my skills, then please make your move now, for—I am, after all," he drew out his words with a hint of mocking laughter, "in time."

In time for what?

Of course, in time to go outside and discuss matters with the Clan Elder.

Just a Senior Sister trying to make an impression.

The words might not have been spoken so bluntly, but the message was made crystal clear.

Gongsun Qingyue's eyebrows knitted in a slight frown, her lotus-stepping feet lightly tapped on the floor, and suddenly a compass shadow appeared on the ground beneath her, showing the image of the Nine Palaces and the Eight Trigrams. Several sharp sword shadows shot out from the void, whirling towards Jiang Li like a swift wind.

As a candidate for the position of Sect Leader, nurtured by Elder Tianxuan, Gongsun Qingyue had never been weak, but she had never had the chance to reveal her full strength. Now, with her power further advanced and a pre-arranged formation at her aid, the emergence of her sword shadows turned the whole room into her domain.

However, Jiang Li's Emperor's Qi Observation Skill could discern the Three Talents; how could he possibly overlook the formation inside the room?

"Three Flowers Gathering at the Top."

With a soft chuckle, Jiang Li saw the gathering of Essence, Qi, and Spirit into one, blooming three flowers above his Heavenly Spirit, and when the sword shadows struck, they seemed to encounter an invisible barrier, making no progress.

The Dao Fruit Ability of "Three Flowers Gathering at the Top" is not only a cultivation skill but also a defensive technique. The three flowers represent Jiang Li's Three Elements, and as long as the Three Elements do not wane, the flowers will not fall, leaving all offensive moves naturally ineffectual against Jiang Li.

This seemed similar to Protective True Qi, but common Protective True Qi, no matter how mysterious, is based on True Qi. Meanwhile, a Qi Refiner's "Three Flowers Gathering at the Top" is based on the Three Elements, tripling the reserve energy.

Moreover, Jiang Li's Three Elements were far stronger than other Qi Refiners of the same Grade.

The sword shadows weren't even qualified to make the Three Flowers waver. Jiang Li raised his hand, and the surrounding clouds transformed, in an instant, into the pure energy of wood, forming a massive dragon claw with rolling thunder appearing between its grips.

"Tianpeng, Tianpeng, Nine Elements Evil Child."

Thunder pertains to Wood, and by using the "Heavenly Banner Spell" with his Innate Wood Qi, Jiang Li unleashed a bolt of lightning from the dragon claw. It split space like a cleaver, shattering the formation, and shot straight at Gongsun Qingyue's body.

'He actually discerned the operation of the formation so easily...'

Gongsun Qingyue had always been vigilant about Jiang Li's Qi Observation Skill and had estimated its depth. Still, she didn't expect that following Jiang Li's promotion, his Qi Observation Skill would also rise substantially, easily seeing through the Qi Mechanism of the formation.

While she pondered, the lightning was about to strike her. Gongsun Qingyue pinched a sword formula, and a splendid sword materialized abruptly, sweeping by like a startled swan.

"Boom!"

Lightning collided with the sword, and the force of thunder and fire clashed, causing a huge roar. Gongsun Qingyue operated her palm technique, concentrating a Flame Flow at the edge of her palm, where patterns like those on a talisman appeared, transforming the flame light to reveal hues of blue and crimson.

A Drought Demon Ba inducing calamity burned fiercely like a blaze. Although Gongsun Qingyue was far from reaching Drought's level of a desolate thousand-mile stretch, she had already begun to showcase the semblance of scorching wrath. With one palm thrust forward, the room instantly became like a parched desert, her palm's might incinerating all in its path.

Even the lightning seemed about to be consumed, as its rampant Thunder Light was entirely replaced by Flames.

However, the next instant, streams of Primordial Qi surfaced. After the Wood Qi had been struck down, the other seven streams of Primordial Qi surged wildly, like seven flood dragons, throttling the flames.

The fierce Qi Force instantly tore apart the furniture within the room, destroying the structure, as Primordial Qi interwove, giving rise to the image of rain clouds. They surged forward, the Innate Water Qi extinguishing the Flame Qi, the Heavenly Qi absorbing and encompassing, the Earth Qi using fire to produce earth. The three types of Primordial Qi dissipated the Flame Flow, and intertwining with the other kinds of Qi, an overwhelming torrential surge rushed straight toward Gongsun Qingyue.

She had indeed achieved a breakthrough in her realm, but now, both being at the Seventh Rank, Jiang Li's power far surpassed hers, fully demonstrating the might of the "Qi Tomb."

With such power, Gongsun Qingyue, caught off guard, possessed no ability to counter it.

Fury surged violently, about to strike Gongsun Qingyue; she even prepared herself to withstand the brunt of it.

But at that moment, Innate Qi joined the furious flow, and in an instant, the overwhelming energy transformed into a spring breeze, brushing against her face. The Qi Mechanism permeated Gongsun Qingyue's body, nourishing her blood and Qi, washing away a day and night's fatigue, and even soothing the agitated Flame Qi.

"Thank you, senior sister, for your protection."

Hearing Jiang Li's voice of gratitude, Gongsun Qingyue's heart suddenly calmed down.

Once the spring breeze dissipated, the chaotic scene inside the house became visible—the shattered doors and windows and the ruined walls—but Jiang Li was nowhere to be seen.

Presumably, she had gone to discuss matters with the Clan Elder.

Seeing the state of the room, Gongsun Qingyue said softly, "The fight wasn't even settled, and you ran off. As always, all talk but..."

"Considering your final act of diligence, I forgive you."

Although once again subdued by Jiang Li, it seemed that this time, her mood was rather good.

...

...

Jiang Li descended from the sky, light as a feather, setting foot on the ground without a sound, just in time to meet the Clan Elder, ready to intervene at the commotion.

"It's nothing, I was just playing around with my senior sister," Jiang Li said with a sheepish smile.

With an odd look, the Clan Elder glanced at the gaping hole in the wall, thinking to himself that these siblings sure had a peculiar way of 'playing.'

Nevertheless, peculiarities aside, it seemed their bond remained strong, and he need not worry. If the two of them were to become enemies, the future path for the Jiang family would not be an easy one.

"It's good that the Young Master knows his limits."

The Clan Elder seemingly let out a sigh, then presented an invitation, "This is an invitation sent by someone from Qi Mountain, asking you to attend Jiang Wuye's funeral."

Jiang Li took the invitation, opened it, and his brow immediately raised, "July 24th? That's not an auspicious day."

Ordinarily, after the seventh day following someone's death, it is acceptable to hold the burial. Jiang Wuye was sent off by Jiang Li on July 16th, and the 24th would indeed be after the traditional mourning period, so burying him would not be against custom.

However, the 24th was not a suitable day for burial.

[July 24th, the year of 1995, Xinyou Month, Jisi Day, suitable for taking office, moving earth, offering sacrifices, avoid burial.]

Burying on this day, would they not fear Jiang Wuye would find no peace even in death?

Jiang Li flipped through the calendar recorded in the Karma Collection, reviewed it, and said, "July 27th is a suitable day for burial, just a three-day wait is needed, but Jiang Wuming insisted on picking the 24th, it seems he can't wait."

Jiang Wuming would be aware of Jiang Li integrating the ancestral land on this side.

Even with Jiang Li's combination of grace and authority, there were bound to be some thorns within the ancestral land, an unavoidable fact.

Jiang Li was aware of this as well.

"He can't wait indeed," Jiang Li touched his brow, sensing the talisman within his Sea of Consciousness, "Well, I don't want to spend too much time on this either."