Taiyi Dao Fruit

Three ethereal shadows separated from Jiang Li's body, gathering Qi into form, "Through the Gathering of Primordial Conference," the entirety of the Primordial Qi derived was assimilated into the three, causing them to manifest into physical entities.

Immediately after, the three solidified figures reentered Jiang Li's body, his already formidable power growing manifold, the vast Qi Mechanism drawing back a returning Sword Light, a sword evolving the changes of the four seasons.

"Spring and Autumn."

From spring comes birth, from birth comes killing, the Sword Light drawing upon the vitality of everything, corresponding to the season of early spring, sword Qi dazzling like scattering peach blossoms, yet in an instant, all life is exhausted, leaves fluttering down.

With his own thoughts leading the force of heaven and earth, corresponding to the birth of early spring, he also drew upon the killing power of the world, using it to cut through the birth, the stronger the life force, the more flourishing the killing intent.

Having once created the sword style inspired by the vision of that moment, Jiang Li further elevated it, a Sword Light carrying the hue of golden autumn soared into the sky, bringing a killing intent to the palm strike that encompassed a province's worth of scenes.

In an instant, anomalies flashed, the landscapes of mountains and rivers appeared between heaven and earth, a Golden Wind came from the west, everything turned to autumn, a span of golden yellow.

The ultimate killing intent represented the might of heaven and earth, coldness absent, rather naturally evolving into anomalies, the Sword Light like the wind, cutting through the descending palm.

One sword, breaking through King Shu's third-grade palm strike.

"Hmph!"

The oppressive might came crashing down once more, the Golden Wind that penetrated the Handprint was forcibly scattered by a figure in mid-air, as if King Shu had teleported there.

This was the Yu Step.

The Mystic Daoists' method of moving through the constellations, its source being none other than Yu King. With King Shu having attained the Yu King Dao Fruit, he naturally also acquired the Yu Step, now a Divine Skill. What seemed like ordinary steps actually aligned with the virtues of the Three Talents. King Shu shifted through the air, covering nearly a mile in the blink of an eye to arrive above, reaching out with one hand imbued with great strength, grasping downwards, the dissipated Golden Wind unexpectedly caught as if it were tangible, revealing Sword Light of the Great Circle Sword.

King Shu's expression was icy, about to directly seize the Sword Light, but simultaneously, an arm stretched out as if from the void, perfectly positioned, blocking at King Shu's wrist.

"Bang!"

The air exploded, creating a True Void, a simple touch containing extreme power.

Jiang Li emerged before King Shu, his hand blocking King Shu's arm, his right knee striking, a massive Qi Mechanism fluctuating within.

King Shu's expression grew colder, knee colliding against knee with a thunderous roar, his arm vibrating with strength, brushing aside Jiang Li's arm, a fist thundering towards his chest.

Jiang Li's arm was brushed aside, but the other grasped the Great Circle Sword, the sword striking down on the incoming fist.

"Clang!"

Dragon Scales of an earthy hue flashed upon the arm, the colorless sword tip striking them, sparking myriad sparks, the edge of the sword showing a dark red scorch.

The Great Circle Sword reverberated, one sword as if a thousand, countless sparks heating the Dragon Scales red, such that the Fist Power was hindered, the residual force still blasting upon Jiang Li's chest.

In an instant, as if struck by a great mountain, Jiang Li's figure plummeted from mid-air, like a comet striking the earth at an angle, power erupting, in that moment—

"Boom!"

The air formed a wild surge, rolling outward, the violent power bursting from within Jiang Li, yet the falling figure abruptly stopped before crashing into the mountain behind.

The surge continued to spread, three figures separating from Jiang Li's back, each taking a part of the strength with them, what was meant for one was now rolling out like a raging wave.

Jiang Li halted mid-air, lightly patting his chest, a substantial force pushed away like dust dispersing.

"Always, I've had a little doubt about the gap between my own strength and that of a third-grade opponent; now it seems, that doubt seems to be resolved," he said leisurely.

"Arrogant!"

King Shu said coldly, "Just because you caught one punch from this prince, you entertain such unrealistic delusions?"

"If the prince were able to fully master the Yu King Dao Fruit, I would certainly not dare to speak so boldly; if the prince had ascended to the Purple Extreme, I would have fled without looking back. Unfortunately..."

Jiang Li spoke languidly, the vertical mark between his eyebrows slowly opening, "The prince has not managed to achieve any of that."

His gaze was fixed upon the landscape of mountains and rivers, faintly visible behind King Shu.

That was the territorial map of Liangzhou Province, and only of the Liangzhou Province.

Through previous observations and the current exchange, Jiang Li had guessed a bit of truth in the Yu King Dao Fruit.

If his guess was not wrong, the Yu King Dao Fruit in some aspects bore similarities to the Emperor Dao Fruit, able to grow in strength with the expansion of the territory governed. Perhaps it was a direct enhancement, or it could be the brewing of a great momentum; in any case, it was inevitably tied to the Nine Provinces.

After all, Yu King was one who stabilized the Nine Provinces.

If the Dao Fruit were to attain Perfection, it would likely be able to elevate the bearer's power to the level of a Supreme.

Sadly, for now, King Shu can barely manifest the scenery of a single province, and even that one province, he had yet to fully grasp.

According to King Shu's original plan, the moment he stepped into the third grade, he intended to use the momentum to weigh down on Liangzhou. With the capability of the Yu King Dao Fruit, he could have fully used the water disasters to negotiate with the Taiping Sect, whether in battle or alliance, rise with the wind, and soar directly upwards.

Alas, he met a spoiler.

The Great Venerable intervened, adding waves to King Shu's plans, then Jiang Li struck, interrupting King Shu's ascension, causing him to miss a golden opportunity, and even destabilizing his foundation.

To this point, with Jiang Li confronting him directly, it was truly both new grudges and old ones coming to the fore, and King Shu couldn't help but be furious.

"Today, this king shall make you pay for everything you have done," King Shu said with a harsh tone.

Now that he had caught onto Jiang Li's trail, King Shu was prepared to pay any price to dismantle this obstructionist enemy, this great thorn in his side, into countless pieces.