Taiyi Dao Fruit

Laojun Temple, though small like a sparrow, had all the essential organs, with the main hall, guest courts, and everything else complete.

Daoist Zhang Yi led the two people to the guest courts, stopping before a stone table. A pot of tea was already prepared on the table, and not far away, there was a bluestone facing the newly risen bright moon.

It seemed that Daoist Zhang Yi would meditate and summon the spiritual mechanism on this bluestone, and during times of leisure, he would casually drink some tea; such days were indeed carefree.

Daoist Zhang Yi gently flicked his sleeve, the bluestone silently moved to the back, and then he took out teacups and poured tea.

Feng Manlou watched Daoist Zhang Yi's actions, which always seemed in harmony with nature, and smiling, asked, "You have an extraordinary presence, Daoist. When I heard that you hailed from the Daode Sect, I initially thought you might be Daoist Master Yuan Zhen. But upon hearing the latter part, I realized I was mistaken."

Yuan Zhen, the Daode Sect Sect Master's disciple and the Daoist Lord's grand-disciple, held a position in the Daode Sect equivalent to Yun Jiuye of the Dinghu Sect, yet without peers like Jiang Li and Gongsun Qingyue to contend with, his position seemed unshakeable.

But now, perhaps there was.

"Daoist Master Yuan Zhen's nephew is here too, but he went out to gather information because the county government has posted an announcement that a rain prayer ceremony will be held tomorrow," Daoist Zhang Yi replied.

"Nephew? If I may ask without presumption, your master is..." Feng Manlou couldn't help but ask.

As far as he knew, the Daoist Lord should have no siblings, yet this man referred to Yuan Zhen as his nephew, which meant his identity...

"My master is Li Boyang, who is none other than the 'Daoist Lord' known to the world," Daoist Zhang Yi's words dropped like a huge rock, stirring waves in Feng Manlou's heart.

Among the six supreme beings, "Daoist Lord" Li Boyang was the earliest to become famous, the oldest, and even his disciples had already become third-grade, leading Daode Sect. Generally, Yuan Zhen was regarded as the successor of the Daoist Lord, along with figures like Yun Jiuye.

Yet who could have known that Daoist Lord had taken another disciple, and it appeared this one was about the same age as Yuan Zhen.

'No wonder he can summon the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Mechanism, so he is his disciple,' Feng Manlou murmured inwardly, an unusual contemplative expression crossing his face.

While Daoist Zhang Yi smiled, pushing the teacups toward them, he said, "There are two other disciples accompanying us, engaged in their evening lessons. I had sensed the presence of a fellow Daoist and originally intended to send a disciple to welcome you, but upon reflection, such an act seemed too discourteous. A fellow Daoist like you deserves my personal welcome."

He said this with a distinguished air, his words directly addressing Jiang Li.

The Dao Fruit Ability of Unity with Heaven and Man fully demonstrated itself, with Daoist Zhang Yi standing before him, yet making Jiang Li feel as if he faced Heaven and Earth.

He also sensed that the Jiang Li before him also embodied the Qi Refiner Dao Fruit, and his power was not inferior to his own, capable of drawing from the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Mechanism.

The term "fellow Daoist" originated from here.

His main invitation was for Jiang Li, the fellow Daoist. As for Feng Manlou, it was merely incidental.

There was no helping it, after all, this affiliated son-in-law of the Dragon King had hidden himself too well.

Daoist Zhang Yi sat opposite Jiang Li, the two separated by a stone table, their eyes meeting, and suddenly, the atmosphere charged with tension.

Daoist Zhang Yi, in harmony with nature, every gesture in unity with Heaven and Earth, corresponding with the wind, moving with the Qi, merely sitting there exuded a forceful presence.

Unity with Heaven and Man had great downsides, yet its advantages were equally significant. If unaffected, a cultivator who harbored the Qi Refiner's Dao Fruit could greatly elevate their Mental State, benefiting both their cultivation and perception.

Now, Daoist Zhang Yi used this to gauge Jiang Li's mastery over Unity with Heaven and Man.

'It's also good, I also want to see why you can summon Heaven and Earth's Spiritual Mechanism.'

Facing the imposing force, Jiang Li showed no change in demeanor, also sitting on the stone stool, his posture erect, Qi undulating, and suddenly—

The wind started.

A gentle breeze arrived suddenly, Daoist Zhang Yi's imposing force suddenly fluctuated, showing discord, while Jiang Li seemed to merge into the wind, as if making the wind a part of himself.

The Wind Force whirled around Jiang Li, lifting bits of dust, moisture gathering, faintly steaming, Jiang Li's exterior manifesting clouds and mist, towering boundlessly, seemingly opposing the other side.

If one said Daoist Zhang Yi's spirit merged with Heaven and Earth, then Jiang Li used physical means to leverage Heaven and Earth, making nature comply with him. The former was like a perfect painting, while the latter made perfection no longer perfect, setting stillness into motion.

One merged with Heaven and Earth itself, the other made Heaven and Earth merge with him.

Both were merges, yet their directions were completely opposite.

In the present moment, it was unclear who was superior, as neither of their realms had reached the peak, but from their performances, Jiang Li seemed superior to Daoist Zhang Yi.

Daoist Zhang Yi's Unity with Heaven and Man was merely a Mental State, a force, while Jiang Li's Unity was put to practical use—the wind truly started.

Jiang Li, standing firm, resonated with Heaven and Earth, his reality overpowering Daoist Zhang Yi's illusion.

The tangible manifestation suppressed the illusory Mental State, causing ripples in Daoist Zhang Yi's spirit, and these slight ripples could not escape Jiang Li's investigation. His body surrounded by clouds, guiding the flow, the whole person seemed ready to fly off with the wind at any moment.

Daoist Zhang Yi's spirit was thus even more affected.

If this continued, this invisible contest would be considered a loss for Daoist Zhang Yi.

"Good."

He suddenly spoke up, with the Three Flowers blooming above his crown, Ying and Yang Qi rising and mingling, showing dragons and tigers, "I was just about to witness the ultimate technique of 'Qi Tomb.'"

Sensing Jiang Li's Qi Mechanism, feeling that formidable power not inferior to his own, Daoist Zhang Yi instantly thought of the currently renowned Jiang Li and 'Qi Tomb.'

He invited Jiang Li into the temple partly out of hospitality, but also driven by the idea to test 'Qi Tomb.'

Just right, Jiang Li also wanted to probe Daoist Zhang Yi's secrets. The two had intentions aligned, perfectly matching, leading to this present scene.

The clash of momentum placed Daoist Zhang Yi at a disadvantage, forcing him to speak first. Now, he utilized True Qi, Yin and Yang Qi rising and blending, dragons and tigers uniting, suddenly merging into one, transforming into a force.

Daoist Zhang Yi pointed, Yin and Yang Qi turning into chaos at his fingertip, converging into a singularity, focusing his gaze as though on a point.

This singularity approached Jiang Li, with the surrounding cloud Qi instantly responding and moving, wind rising, water surging, the force of wind and rain striking, the surroundings suddenly turning oppressive, as if arriving at a stormy night.

Innate Qi, like a raging storm, struck towards the singularity, relentless, yet the point remained steady, crushing the Wind Qi in an instant, causing the wind to pause.

Then, around Jiang Li, the Eight Qi lacked one, changing rapidly.

Endless changes, Primordial Qi like dragons and snakes madly dancing, furiously biting at the singularity, continuously crushing it.

Under this forceful impact, the singularity of finger strength ultimately couldn't sustain.

Daoist Zhang Yi, at this moment, circulated his True Qi, drawing Heaven and Earth Qi, and suddenly, a vicious wind arose around him.