Taiyi Dao Fruit

Gongsun Qingyue's Authority Seal had the ability to control the Dao Fruit Abilities of court officials. Anyone who harbored an Earth God Dao Fruit was subject to its influence; the only difference was in the degree of effectiveness.

Ren Zihe, an Eighth Rank individual like Ren, could be completely stripped of his power by Gongsun Qingyue, and even the Prefectural Governor of Fufeng County, though slightly higher in grade, could not escape.

Barring any unforeseen circumstances...

When Pure Light shone upon Jiang Zhihuan, a light of the same hue emerged, enveloping him and actually countering the Pure Light sent by Gongsun Qingyue, making it difficult to envelop Jiang Zhihuan.

"Mountain Domain."

Jiang Zhihuan pinched a formula between his fingers, and mountainous silhouettes undulated behind him, as an invisible heavy pressure instantly descended upon the area, shaking the main hall of Jiang Mansion incessantly.

At the same time, someone chanted loudly.

"A child does not speak of strange powers and chaotic gods."

Beyond the invisible pressure, another suppressing force intensified. An inexplicable power filled the surroundings, causing the Qi Mechanism to feel unreal and supporting Jiang Zhihuan's "Mountain Domain," causing the two Dragon Claws transformed by the Innate Qi to appear faintly dispersed.

"The path of 'Da Xue' lies in cultivating magnanimity and in intimate relations with the people..."

One after another, shining characters flew in from outside the house and descended directly upon Jiang Li, with the massive Qi Mechanism of benevolence and vastness bearing down upon him.

"Three Flowers Gathering at the Top."

Upon Jiang Li, the Three Elements converged, and three flowers bloomed atop his head. The characters that fell upon him proved fragile as snowflakes, scattering apart upon impact.

Simultaneously, the Three Elements Combined around Jiang Li, stabilizing the Innate Qi immediately; at the same time, he gripped the two Dragon Claws firmly, ready to crush Jiang Zhaoren and Jiang Zhaoyi to death directly.

"Come out."

Jiang Li had already discerned that Jiang Wuming had colluded with someone from the Ji Family. Sensing the lethal tactics hidden within Jiang Li, Jiang Wuming desired to force Jiang Li to expend his energy through the hands of others, hence this futile disturbance.

If Jiang Wuming did not show himself, Jiang Li would be wary, not daring to act first, while the person from the Ji Family would engage Jiang Li to exhaust his killing techniques.

Like the individual who had just made a move.

Such a person most likely possessed life-saving cards gifted by their elders.

However, Jiang Li had detected the suspicious points first and directly offered poison as a gift, prompting a confrontation. The other party, realizing that Jiang Li was suspicious, intended to have Jiang Zhihuan come forward to divert attention, but Jiang Li, decisive in nature, acted boldly as soon as he sensed something amiss.

Now, as Jiang Zhaoren and Jiang Zhaoyi, the two brothers, were about to become doomed souls under Jiang Li's hand, Jiang Wuming would have to emerge if he was nearby.

But Jiang Wuming did not appear.

"The virtue of a gent...

...man is like the wind, and that of a petty person is like the grass; when the wind blows over the grass, it bends."

"Boom!"

The wall to the side of the main hall burst open as a fierce Qi Force stormed in with a howling gale, instantly filling the inner space with Jiang Li as its primary target.

Had Jiang Li been set on murder, this fierce Qi Force would have struck him directly. Even with the protection of Three Flowers Gathering at the Top, the damage from the strike would significantly deplete his Three Elements.

"Yinglong Transformation."

Jiang Li suddenly turned, and eight red talismans appeared on his acupoints. The Innate Qi surged out tumultuously, transforming into a violent flood.

"Bang!"

The raging storm met the wild tide, as the fierce winds surged forth, leaving the spirit hall in utter disarray—the Jiang Wuye's spirit tablet was even shattered to dust.

"The Confucian School's 'Junzi Wind'!"

Gongsun Qingyue sternly exclaimed, her sword formula conjured, sword shadows whirling rapidly around her, blocking the fierce wind. Then, her seal technique changed, and she was about to command her sword to provide assistance.

However, a solid palm force burst out from behind Jiang Zhihuan, giving birth to a mountain-like handprint with the rocky color of a mountain, which, in collaboration with Jiang Zhihuan's Mountain Domain, slammed into the flurry of sword shadows.

In an instant, sword shadows shattered one after the other, the handprint bolstered by the Mountain Domain, its presence as if Mount Tai was bearing down, immensely heavy.

Gongsun Qingyue immediately transformed her hand seals into a palm strike, releasing boisterous Flame Qi Fierce Force from her body, like a coat of flaming azure clothes enveloping her. She pushed forward a palm strike, colliding the Drought God Fierce Flame with the Mountain God handprint. In an instant, mountains crumbled, flames exploded, and their True Qi wildly surged, creating wave after wave of Qi ripples.

"Cousin Qing Yue, Cheng Ye is here to greet you."

The youth who had appeared earlier in the teahouse now stood in the hall, and with a push of his palm, that immensely dense True Qi was released by him.

"Ji Chengye, you dare sabotage the affairs of my sect?" Gongsun Qingyue summoned her True Qi, her voice firm.

"It's better for the Jiang family to remain divided."

The youth laughed heartily, his palm force almost solidifying into something tangible, not recoiling even an inch within the midst of the Drought God's flames.

His magic practiced the Earth Element, and with the help of Jiang Zhihuan, who possessed the Mountain God Dao Fruit Ability, it was like having two Seventh Rank individuals fighting one, dragging Gongsun Qingyue into a direct contest of power.

With this impediment, Gongsun Qingyue temporarily had no leeway to provide assistance.

Meanwhile, not far away, at the center of the surging fierce winds, Ming Yang arrived flanked by Lan Feng, a vast, pure white Qi forming a whirlwind in front of them, with words faintly visible within it.

The Confucian School's "Junzi Wind," which seems like magic but is not, expresses the righteousness of the gentleman with the Daoist principle "Word Follows Law," utilizing the upright Qi of Confucianism to manifest various strange abilities, thus proclaiming, 'Under the gentleman's style, the petty submit.'

"Sir, you are suspected of assassinating Qi Mountain County Magistrate Li Yi, please serenely surrender and cooperate with our investigation," Ming Yang stated authoritatively, holding a scroll in his hand.

Although everyone knew that the assassination of Qi Mountain County Magistrate wasn't the main issue, with this as a pretext, the Fufeng County government could justly intervene, rallying the government's forces for aid.

Even with the howling winds, Jiang Li could hear the rush of footsteps and the clinking of armor; a Soldier Evil Qi emerged surrounding the Jiang Mansion.

"One Sixth Rank, two Seventh Ranks, and the mobilized military forces, no wonder you were confident in confronting me with a killing move."

Under the illumination of the Three Flowers Gathering at the Top, Jiang Li seemed nonchalant amidst the violent winds, slowly unfolding the antagonist's setup, "However, you have no evidence of me killing Jiang Wuye and County Magistrate Li. No matter how much you investigate, you will find nothing. So, let me help you."

Upon those words, an uncomfortable sensation suddenly rose in Ming Yang's heart.

Then, he saw with his own eyes, behind Jiang Li, a dragon claw clenched firmly, and with a grating sound, Jiang Zhaoyi's head was crushed into pieces.

Now, there was evidence of Jiang Li committing murder.

"Isn't Jiang Wuming showing himself yet?" Jiang Li's eyes turned with the Eight Trigrams, "It seems he is indeed not here. Has he gone to the ancestral land?"

Don't forget, Jiang Li still had capable masters at his disposal; although the exact strength of the Clan Elder was unknown, the fact that he forced Jiang Wuming to retreat unwillingly that day suggested that the Clan Elder's power was no less than Jiang Wuming's.

To deal with Jiang Li today, the obstacle of the Clan Elder had to be removed, which is why Jiang Wuming went to the ancestral land.

As soon as it was discovered that the Clan Elder had left the ancestral land, he would directly invade, capturing a large number of hostages in addition to some secrets of the ancestral land, and could also force the Clan Elder to return.

On this side, the initiative was left to allies, a Sixth Rank, two Seventh Ranks, and the force of the government—sufficient to force Jiang Li's hand to reveal his lifesaving trump card.

Though the plan was simple, it was indeed practical; as long as Jiang Li was willing to come, he was almost certainly walking into the trap. If there was any flaw to speak of, it was the risk that Jiang Zhaoren and Jiang Zhaoyi had to take, and the fact that—

They had not considered what would happen if Jiang Li and his companions held the upper hand in strength.