Taiyi Dao Fruit

"Boom!"

The thunder in the sky continued to echo, while lightning occasionally streaked through, illuminating the massive phantom that still stood in the center of Si Fan Valley.

Above Dinghu, waves began to swell, and from time to time, phantoms appeared on the surface of the lake—glimpses of scales and claws made Jiang Li's pupils constrict.

"Yinglong..." Jiang Li muttered under his breath.

Ancient texts say, "Chi You waged war against the Yellow Emperor with soldiers; the Yellow Emperor then ordered Yinglong to attack his forces in the fields of Jizhou. Yinglong held back the waters. Chi You called upon the Marquis of Wind and Master of Rain to unleash a great storm, but the Yellow Emperor sent down the Drought Demon Ba, which stopped the rains, allowing for the defeat of Chi You."

There is also a record in the Classic of Mountains and Seas·Great Wilderness North: "After Yinglong slew Chi You, he killed Kuafu, then went to reside in the south, hence why there is much rain in the southern lands."

Even though it was only a Dao Fruit, the seriousness with which Elder Tianpeng addressed it showed the strength of Yinglong.

Jiang Li crouched down, searching Luo Yi's body, and sure enough, pulled a scale-like object from his embrace.

A dragon scale!

A single piece of golden dragon scale.

"So, it was by relying on this thing that Luo Yi was spared the oppression of the Divine Domain? But isn't the Divine Domain that of the Earth Deity? And why would the Yinglong Dao Fruit stir?"

Holding the dragon scale, Jiang Li's mind was flooded with myriad thoughts.

Jiang Zhuyun must have been aware of the unrest of the Yinglong Dao Fruit, and that's why he sent Luo Yi to assassinate him tonight. This dragon scale, nine times out of ten, must be related to Yinglong.

"If that's the case, I really must take a fresh look at this young master of the household; he's quite good at hiding."

Jiang Li glanced at Luo Yi's corpse, "And quite heartless too."

He had pressed Luo Yi step by step, not only to confirm his suspicions but also to draw Jiang Zhuyun out. If Jiang Zhuyun was watching this place, perhaps he would show himself due to Jiang Li's pressing.

Unfortunately, right up until Luo Yi impaled himself on Jiang Li's sword tip, Luo Yi's cousin did not appear.

Clearly, Luo Yi had been treated as a disposable piece.

Whether Luo Yi succeeded or failed, it had nothing to do with the Jiang family.

He was merely a relative of the Jiang family, not a true clansman.

Instead, it was the other Jiang family members who lived incognito; if their involvement were exposed in this affair, the Sect could use that as a reason to intervene quite naturally.

"You speak constantly of ancestors, yet what a pity Jiang Zhuyun does not regard you as clansman, ah. He sent you to assassinate because you do not carry the Jiang surname," Jiang Li scoffed.

Jiang Zhuyun's goal had always been the Ochre Whip, not the death of Jiang Li, so he would never sacrifice himself just to kill Jiang Li. This assassination could be seen as a warning to the Sect.

A warning not to press too hard.

As for killing Jiang Li, success would of course have been great, failure, though not acceptable, did at least buy some respite.

As for Luo Yi, regardless, his fate was sealed.

One had to admit, the man was ruthless and cold-hearted.

"But excessive outward cruelty will only leave one isolated and alone. If this is how you treat your clansmen and relatives, what's to say of others?" Jiang Li revealed a smile, "Your decisiveness and ruthlessness leave the Sect with no way to act, yet you've given me an opportunity... Hisss—"

Just as he was feeling pleased with himself, pain flared in Jiang Li's sides once again, forcing him to bend over with an expression of helplessness.

At this moment, Jiang Li desperately wished to have the Ochre Whip's recognition—for with the whip by his side, he wouldn't have ended up like this.

...

...

Upon the undulating surface of the water, a figure cloaked in a cloak sensed the fading presence in the distance and slightly lowered their gaze, "Failed."

Luo Yi had failed, Jiang Li was not dead.

The mysterious figure who received this answer stepped on the waves and turned to leave.

However, at this moment, a swoosh of sword light streaked past, and a red shadow landed on the water's surface several meters away, locking onto his figure with a chilling aura.

"You're going to leave, just like that? Senior Brother Jiang."

Gongsun Qingyue, playing with her hair tousled by the wind, felt her Qi Mechanism fluctuate, with one sword shadow after another forming at her side, "To assassinate a fellow sect disciple, doesn't Senior Brother think he owes an explanation?"

"What explanation?" Jiang Zhuyun answered indifferently, "Jiang Li insulted Luo Yi's mother with his words, driving Luo Yi to such fury that he sneaked into Si Fan Valley during his reflection period, attempting to kill out of rage. What does that have to do with me?"

"Do you think I would believe that?" Gongsun Qingyue couldn't help but laugh.

"Whether you believe it or not, it's no concern of mine."

Jiang Zhuyun's words stayed calm, but a hint of Yin Spirit Energy surfaced subtly, "If the Yinglong Dao Fruit can be triggered once, it can be a second time. This was merely a warning; next time might not be the same. With the Emperor of Zhou languishing ill in bed, if you breach the pact, he'll bear the brunt and perhaps ascend to the heavens on a dragon. If the elders of the sect deem the death of the Emperor inconsequential, they are free to take direct action."

"If it meant exchanging my life, Jiang Zhuyun's, for that of the Emperor, it would seem a worthwhile trade no matter how one thinks about it."

Even if breaching the pact didn't necessarily bring about retribution that could harm the Emperor, the slightest possibility kept the Sect elders from taking that bet.

Thus, they could only use a "soft sword" to deal with the Jiang family.

Having said this, Jiang Zhuyun was about to continue his departure.

"Even so, with Senior Brother's actions being so suspicious, suspicion cannot be dismissed. Let your younger sister escort you to the Law Enforcement Hall," Gongsun Qingyue said, as sword shadows pierced through the air, forming the silhouette of a vulture, the fierce winds surged like a wave along with the sword, and barraged towards the figure about to leave.

Yin Talisman Seven Skills·Scattering Formation Technique Vulture.

Jiang Zhuyun suddenly turned back, his Qi Mechanism bursting forth, and an expanse of True Qi condensed before him into the shape of a mountain.

"Hidden Abyss."

Mountain Qi stopping, Earth Qi storing, the two energies intersecting—the Hidden Abyss formed an immense presence; a mountain rose to the forefront, sword light crashed against it, and the vulture's double wings struck the mountain, eliciting a sound like clashing metal.

"Boom!"

The blast of Qi spread over the water, raising tumultuous waves, as suddenly, two walls of water rose on either side, shooting up towards the sky.

"Yin Talisman Seven Skills, impressive indeed—my thanks," Jiang Zhuyun remarked, his figure flashing through the surge of water, moving instantly by thirty meters, before his trace vanished.

At the original spot, Gongsun Qingyue stood with her hands behind her back, resolute, "Qi Tomb Absolute Skill, not bad."

The water curtains on both sides also fell at this moment, splashing water everywhere and further accentuating an unrivaled grace, showcasing exceptional poise.

Then, Gongsun Qingyue bent over, a wilted expression on her face.

"Damn scoundrel!"

Both her legs trembled. If it weren't for the sword supporting her from below the water's surface, Gongsun Qingyue felt she would have fallen in. As for her waist, it felt like boiled noodles, nearly folded in half.

"Damn it! If I hadn't been so drained, he wouldn't have gotten away so easily, ouch."

Gongsun Qingyue, holding her waist, almost dropped to her knees, "All because of that damned guy."

Shivering, she retrieved a medicine bottle from her storage bag, and Gongsun Qingyue swallowed a dozen pills before she barely managed to support her body.

"Jiang Li, I'll make you pay sooner or later."

In comparison to Jiang Zhuyun, Gongsun Qingyue found Jiang Li even more detestable.