Taiyi Dao Fruit

The wind ceased, the rain dissipated, within an area of a hundred yards around, only a few trees stood crookedly.

A flash of lightning passed, and Yang Ji appeared with a sullen face, his gaze fiercely sweeping around, and the brilliant thunder plowed through the ground.

He was ultimately a step too late.

Daoist Ming Zhen was slain, their side had lost support, and the Rain Master Token had been refined. If not reclaimed, the plan would completely fail.

Without the ability to pray for rain to rally the people's hearts, nor exacerbate the drought to incite public outrage, it could be said they were thoroughly beaten.

Yang Ji felt unwillingness in his heart, trying to find even a slight clue. His eyes scanned with lightning speed, and suddenly—

"Boom!"

His eyes emitted thunder light, and a lightning bolt struck the last remaining large tree within the region.

The tree trunk was immediately split, a shadowy figure flashed by.

"Young Master Yang, why rush so?"

"Who are you?" Yang Ji asked as he turned, his gaze constantly locked on that fleeting shadow.

His Eighth Grade Dao Fruit endowed him with the Law Order ability, and though he hadn't continued developing his speed, his pace was definitely not slow.

Catching up to the trail might be a bit difficult, but capturing his traces was quite easy.

"I'm someone who can help you."

The fleeting shadow moved behind another large tree, revealing a vague dark figure, completely hidden under a wide, black cloak, indiscernible in appearance, his voice also disguised, hoarse and deep, difficult to distinguish.

However, such speed could serve as a reference.

Several guesses immediately flashed through Yang Ji's mind: 'Is it the Divine Travel Grand Protector? Or a walker from Buddha Country? Or perhaps Zouwu from the Devil God Sect, or Qing Ji from the Monster Clan?'

"I can help you reclaim the Rain Master Token," the shadowy figure spoke in a deep voice.

"Why should I believe you?" Yang Ji pondered inwardly, testing the waters.

"Because we share the same goal," the shadowy figure issued a hoarse laugh, "and because I reached this place before you."

The former was to ensure the credibility of the information.

The latter, to demonstrate his ability to find Jiang Li.

And also······

"You have no choice but to trust me, without me, you absolutely cannot retrieve the Rain Master Token in time for tomorrow's ritual of Praying for Rain," the shadow mocked.

With that, he didn't wait for Yang Ji's reply, the shadow darted and swept into the wilderness, vanishing from sight in an instant.

It seemed, he was confident in Yang Ji's choice.

······

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Following a movement of about five miles carried by the wind, Jiang Li and He Feng landed on the ground, again stealthily moving through the wilderness, changing directions multiple times, finally turning into a gorge.

By now, it was nearing dusk, the post-rain sky still dark.

Treading on the desolate ground through the gorge, Jiang Li suddenly focused his gaze on a building, "A Daoist Temple?"

Not far ahead, a Daoist temple stood quietly.

In the Great Zhou Sect Realm, although the Mystic Sect was the leader, Daoist temples and temples were seldom seen across the Nine Provinces.

The temples that Zhou people worshipped at were ancestral shrines, housing their own ancestors, local spirits, and Emperors like Emperor Xi, Wa Emperor, Emperor Yan, and Yellow Emperor, among which, the temples of the Yellow Emperor were the most widespread.

As for Daoist temples and other religious temples, while the former weren't explicitly forbidden, local officials consciously suppressed them; the latter were outright not recognized by the court, classified under unorthodox sacrifices.

So, seeing a Daoist temple was quite a rare occurrence, especially since no sects were nearby.

What was even more peculiar was that the temple was not dilapidated.

Though the walls were covered with traces of wind and sand, and the temple's signboards were in disrepair, there was still someone in charge—it wasn't abandoned.

"Brother, what do you think?" Jiang Li asked Feng Manlou.

He was asking his opinion on the fortunateness of the temple.

After several fierce battles, even with Jiang Li's capacity of True Qi, he felt overwhelmed. Even after taking an Elixir to replenish True Qi, it was not enough, and he needed a place to rest and adjust his breathing for a while. Such a spot would undoubtedly be ideal.

But the situation inside the temple was unknown, so whether to enter required careful consideration.

At this moment, seeking the opinion of his profoundly unassuming elder brother was necessary.

Feng Manlou looked at the Daoist temple, suddenly smiled, and said, "Since we are here, it must be fate, why not stay a while?"

His smile was so mysterious that it reminded Jiang Li of a previous trap they had fallen into.

Though the result was good, Jiang Li had obtained the Master of Rain Token, and now with the Dao Fruit Ability "Wind Control," he could touch the disposition of Heaven and Earth. However, if it were to happen again, Jiang Li would kindly decline.

Thinking this, Jiang Li planned to return the way they had come and exit the canyon from the other side, not even passing by the temple.

He was prioritizing safety.

Just then, a trace of Qi Mechanism suddenly appeared.

Complex patterns appeared in Jiang Li's eyes as he stared fixedly above the Daoist temple.

He saw it.

A trace of Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy had entered the temple.

A vast Qi Mechanism absorbed this trace of energy. Jiang Li felt a connection, and at the same time, under the pull of that Qi Mechanism, the other side also sensed Jiang Li's presence.

Then, the temple's gate opened, and a young Daoist stood at the doorway, gazing toward Jiang Li and his companion.

"Fellow brother, will you enter now?" Feng Manlou asked with a smile.

"Since the host has invited us, it would be impolite not to go."

As Jiang Li spoke, his body emitted a golden light, the dazzling radiance masking his figure. He quickly removed his Nuo Mask and put on a set of white Cloud Clothes, using a Dust Cleaning Talisman to remove traces of dust.

In a blink of an eye, his appearance had drastically changed.

"Let's go."

The secret of swallowing the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Mechanism would interest any Cultivator, and Jiang Li was no exception.

Such an opportunity was worth exhausting his last resort.

Above the worn door of the Daoist temple hung a sign that read "Laojun Temple." Inside stood a young Daoist in a light cyan Dao Robe, his hair pinned up with a wooden hairpin.

His demeanor was clear and handsome, exuding the air of a hermit deep in the mountains, his gaze calm and as gentle as water, involuntarily bringing to mind the phrase "the highest good is like water." He stood inside the door but seemed to merge with the world behind him, every move in harmony with nature.

'Qi Refiner?'

Jiang Li immediately thought of that banned Dao Fruit Ability "Unity of Heaven and Man".

The Daoist's behavior was similar to this Dao Fruit Ability.

"Daode Sect's Zhang Daoyi, I greet the Fellow Daoists." The Daoist greeted them with a bow as Jiang Li and his companion arrived.

Using his Qi Observation Skill, Jiang Li could clearly sense that the Qi Mechanism originated from the Daoist before him. Surprised to find that the being absorbing the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Mechanism was a young Daoist, he also reciprocated the greeting, "Dinghu Sect's Jiang Li, greetings Fellow Daoist, this is my sworn brother Feng Manlou. We just happened to pass nearby and hope we have not disturbed you."

"Meeting is fate itself, talk not of disturbance."

Zhang Daoyi responded with a smile, stepping aside to make way, "Fellow Daoists, please, come in."