Taiyi Dao Fruit-Chapter 1360 - 102: Emperor Xi (Part 2)

But it never completely disappeared.

The final sword of the Great Heavenly Venerate still exists in Jiang Li's eyes. He slashed the Sun Star with the sword, injuring Jiang Li's left eye, and sealed a space in the shape of a sword scar, or a small world, within it.

This act not only damaged Jiang Li's foundation but also kept that sword ever-present, which is why Jiang Li's injuries never truly healed.

To recover, he must refine this sword first.

Once the sword scar is no longer a disturbance, even if the injury is severe, Jiang Li has his own ways to recover.

"No matter."

Jiang Li raised his head, meeting the worried gazes of Tianxuan and others, and said, "Even a living Great Heavenly Venerate couldn't win, let alone a dead one. Just give me some time, and the injuries will naturally heal."

"Then focus on your recovery first," Tianxuan insisted. "Now that you are invincible in the world, you should take a good rest. As for other matters, leave them to us."

"Indeed," Gongsun Qingyue nodded in agreement, "Even if a Second Grade intervenes, there are still Daoist Lord and Ye Ru to handle it. Junior brother, just focus on healing."

Karma Tathagata smiled and said, "What the Empress said is true, besides if not for putting in more effort, the Dao Artifact Jiang bestowed would be too hot to handle."

Since receiving the Amitabha Dao Artifact, Emperor Jiang's favor is something one can never repay, and Jiang Li and Karma Tathagata are like-minded, so Karma Tathagata is naturally willing to work for him.

As long as the Second Grade doesn't act as before, Jiang Li doesn't need to intervene personally.

"Rest, huh..."

Jiang Li muttered softly and suddenly smiled, "It's not impossible."

He turned around, slowly stepping up to the Imperial Platform, placed his hand on the Dragon Throne, and sat down.

As he sat down, his will merged with the land beneath, then spread throughout the Nine Provinces, with perception manifesting abundant red clouds, and Fire Virtue Qi evolving countless anomalies in another dimension.

Great Zhou has become the mainstream of the world, and Jiang Li, who rules Great Zhou, is the protagonist of this era.

With the momentum of the world, the torrent of the Human Path, the vast spiritual mechanism, all at this moment find a center. The sense of power resonating in his heart gives Jiang Li a feeling of omnipotence.

Since Great Zhou became dominant, this is the first time Jiang Li sat on the Dragon Throne. This sitting indeed feels different from before.

His will, after covering the Nine Provinces, continues to expand outward, eastward to Canghai, westward to Buddha Country, upwards to Heaven, and downwards to Yinming.

The augmentation of this grand momentum allowed Jiang Li's damaged foundation to begin its restoration, and the sword scar that lingered in his left eye showed signs of being refined.

For a moment, Jiang Li truly relaxed.

He couldn't help but slightly close his eyes, immersed in this newfound sensation, his will galloping across the universe, reaching into the Ten Directions.

In the eyes of the people in the hall, around Jiang Li a gradually appeared aura of faint red Qi, projecting a sense of utmost divinity and sanctity.

"Jiang Tanyue's Dao Fruit should soon reach perfection," Karma Tathagata quietly said, "Ruling over the world, transcending from human to divinity, he is transitioning from Emperor to Heavenly Emperor."

It's not a change in status, but a natural evolution brought by being invincible and governing the Three Realms.

The Three Emperors of ancient times were like this, and now Jiang Li, who contains two of the Three Emperors Dao Fruit, is the same. Invisible, he fully aligns with the path of the Three Emperors and simultaneously aligns with the Sun God's supreme position.

With the expansion of Great Zhou's territory, as the sun revolves day and night, Jiang Li's Dao Fruit will continually unfold, eventually reaching perfection in the near future.

After Karma Tathagata finished speaking, he slightly nodded towards Jiang Li as a form of salute, then turned and left Ziwei Hall.

The rest, upon hearing this, also exited one by one. Even Tianxuan, Gongsun Qingyue, and Primordial Lord Rain Master, after just a glance, initially left.

Jiang Li thus remained seated on this supreme throne, seemingly in a meditative doze, remaining motionless for a long time. His mind, however, was in sync with Heaven and Earth, with every inhale and exhale as if stirring a wind that echoed through the Nine Provinces.

The Fire Virtue Qi grew denser, seemingly enveloping Jiang Li's form, with a Great Sun manifesting, the sword scar reflected on it becoming increasingly subtle.

Time quietly passed, and the Ziwei Hall remained brilliantly illuminated, without distinction between day and night. Through prolonged refining, the souvenir left by the Great Heavenly Venerate to Jiang Li had diminished to a mere trace...

Jiang Li suddenly opened his eyes,

His left eye tingling slightly, golden light flickered within, and then with a wave of his hand, a Taiji Ball flew out from his sleeve.

The misty Pure Qi flowed with the rotation of the Taiji, while the shadows of the Pangu Banner and Green Duckweed Sword streamed around the Yin Yang Eyes, extolling beginning and end, cause and effect. At the center of the Yin Yang Fish, a dragon-shaped line emitted barely detectable brilliance.

Jiang Li gazed at the Taiji Seal, silently contemplating until a certain moment when he praised, "Remarkable!"

"I've employed the Three Pure Dao Artifacts, using the Three Treasures Jade Ruyi to amalgamate the Three Emperors' Merits for suppression, yet could not fully restrain your recovery. Is this the Dao practice of a Heavenly Venerate level powerhouse? Truly astounding."

Jiang Li pressed his left eye virtually, "If not for this sword scar left by the Great Heavenly Venerate, I might not have even sensed your slow recovery. Though it isn't obvious, it never ceases."

In fact, if Jiang Li had been a moment later in detecting the anomaly, he would've lost the chance for discovery.

This sword scar was left by the Great Heavenly Venerate with all his might, and the Great Heavenly Venerate's physical body, primordial spirit, and Dao Fruit have all been taken by Emperor Xi. The two actually maintained a slight connection.

But once Jiang Li refines the sword scar, this connection will be severed.

A true Heavenly Venerate level entity is indeed unfathomable; despite falling to such a state, they still grasp a sliver of uncertainty.

Had the Great Heavenly Venerate not usurped Heaven's incense, perhaps at the instant of the Promotion Ceremony's completion, he would've already faced total defeat.

Before Emperor Xi awoke, it didn't matter. Once he woke, even under dire circumstances, he could still unearth uncertainties.

Perhaps, even without Jiang Li defeating the Great Heavenly Venerate, Emperor Xi could have been reborn once more. Even if the Great Heavenly Venerate could suppress Emperor Xi's True Spirit temporarily, he might not indefinitely contain him. Ultimately, it might be Emperor Xi recovering to a certain extent, turning to directly suppress the Great Heavenly Venerate.

Even the Three Pure Dao Artifacts couldn't entirely suppress Emperor Xi, so the Great Heavenly Venerate was even less likely to do so.

Amidst the Taiji Yin Yang Fish, brilliance flowed, and a faint yet soul-stirring voice arose, "Balancing me with the Three Pure Dao Artifacts, you are indeed remarkable as well."

Now discovered, this leader of the Three Emperors refrained from self-deception, instead providing a straightforward response.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Li's brow slightly raised.

He relinquished the Three Pure Dao Artifacts not just out of boldness, but because Jiang Li intended the Three Pure Dao Artifacts and Emperor Xi to counterbalance each other.

On the surface, it seemed that Jiang Li had forfeited three First Grade Dao Artifacts, but in reality, he rather sees it as temporarily setting aside three burdens.

No matter how many tricks the Three Pure Ones have, their ultimate goal is solely to have Jiang Li bear the Three Pure Dao Fruit.

As long as this point is maintained, there's no fear of falling into a scheme.

The Three Pure Dao Artifacts are Emperor Xi's seal, and the same goes for Emperor Xi towards the Three Pure Dao Artifacts.

The two are like this Taiji, complementing each other, forming an indestructible seal.

Unless the Taiji itself becomes unbalanced, even Jiang Li would find it difficult to break this seal. The previous Great Venerable's desire to help Emperor Xi break the seal by accessing it was undoubtedly a pipe dream.

In fact, it was a bait deliberately laid by Jiang Li to offer the Great Venerable a glimmer of hope, keeping him engaged in mortal combat.

His intentions up till now remained undiscovered, yet were immediately seen through by the freshly awakened Emperor Xi.

Nevertheless, Jiang Li showed no loss of composure, rather supplementing, "That's not all. In the confrontation between Your Majesty Emperor Xi and the Three Pure Dao Artifacts, I can further observe the foundation of both, assisting my own progress further."

"So, you aim to step into First Grade by your strength alone?"