Chapter 465: Chapter 183: Primordial Lord Rain Master, Taiping Steps Back
Thunder roared outside, quickly returning to calm. Faced with Jiang Li’s threat, the Thunder God and Lightning Mother no longer had the heart to continue clashing with Elder Tianpeng.
Who still fights when their home is about to be lost?
However, with Elder Tianpeng watching closely like a tiger, even if they stopped, it wouldn’t be easy to back down.
"The honored one doesn’t believe you dare?" The divine statue of the Lightning Mother said coldly.
At this point, it was a matter of seeing which side would give in first.
"You young one, you are merely a fortunate novice. Despite your talents, without Tianxuan’s favor, you would never have reached this day. Now you rely on the Gongsun Family and even serve as their affiliated son-in-law. You dare destroy a divine statue— even if your master might tolerate you, neither the Gongsun Family nor the Ji Family will," the Lightning Mother sternly warned, showing no sign of yielding.
You actually got that right, Master would tolerate me...
Spit.
Jiang Li severed the nonsense thoughts in his mind with Sword Intent and said, "Would you like to test my courage?"
As he spoke, Jiang Li was about to raise his sword.
"Stop!"
The booming voice of the Thunder God erupted, "Jiang Li, you dare blaspheme Yellow Heaven!"
"You call the Yellow Emperor ’Yellow Heaven,’ does he acknowledge that?" Jiang Li contemptuously retorted, looking at the majestic divine statue, "Moreover, perhaps the Yellow Emperor himself would be pleased to see a stone statue aid a junior like me."
"Nonsense!" the Lightning Mother shouted sternly.
"You are not the Yellow Emperor, how would you know if I am speaking nonsense?" Jiang Li lightly laughed, "Both of you, recognize your roles. What roles do you have, and what is mine? You are merely outsiders; I am the Yellow Emperor’s own kin."
"Do you think you understand the Yellow Emperor more than his own kin?"
Even an affiliated son-in-law counts as kin, which makes perfect sense.
During this conversation, Jiang Li had already leveled his long sword, the sword light flickering, preparing to strike at any moment.
Speaking of kin, his actions showed no hesitation; the sword light soared, slicing through the air with an unrestrained momentum that made the divine statue of the Lightning Mother tremble as sparks wildly surged around it.
How could he dare?
He really did dare!
In the blink of an eye, amidst the sparking and flaring, a cold, clear voice suddenly came, "What do you want?"
From the decapitated divine statue of the Rain Master, streams of golden light flew out, and something Jiang Li had kept up his sleeve suddenly flew into that light, instantly forming the silhouette of a person.
Although formed from golden light and dressed entirely in gold, a graceful figure and the silhouette of palatial attire could be discerned, a sheer veil hiding her features, revealing only her cool, detached eyes. From just the manner of her appearance, her identity was clear.
Primordial Lord Rain Master, one of the Four Gods of the Taiping Sect.
The sword light stopped an inch from the divine statue, the sword momentum restrained, not harming the statue by even a fraction. Jiang Li glanced sideways at the projection of the Primordial Lord Rain Master, sensed Divine Intent from the Rain Master Talisman that had flown from his sleeve, but discovered it was now disconnected.
Jiang Li had seized the Rain Master Talisman from Yang Ji, and with its help, he had understood the Wind and Rain Sword, and later used it to study the Innate Water Qi. Today, this talisman, already consecrated by him, upon encountering the Primordial Lord Rain Master, directly defected.
With the Rain Master Talisman acting as a conduit, the Primordial Lord Rain Master’s astral projection had come, signifying the Taiping Sect’s withdrawal.
Jiang Li’s thoughts raced as he faced the gaze of the Primordial Lord Rain Master, stating calmly, "Very simple. One, the Taiping Sect must withdraw from this temple; two, those responsible for the destruction of the Emperor Yan’s statue must pay a price, with their lives."
Jiang Li didn’t demand that the Taiping Sect genuinely withdraw from Liangzhou Province, only from this temple, as the former wasn’t realistic.
He was merely using this threat to determine the outcome of this conflict.
Jiang Li and Elder Tianpeng had won, so you must pay a price, that’s all.
After this, if you wish to threaten using a divine statue again, you’ll need strength equal to or greater than the opponent, just like today.
"I understand. Those responsible for this will pay with their lives," the Primordial Lord Rain Master stated in her frosty voice, "People of my sect will also withdraw from the Two Saints Temple."
"Primordial Lord!" the Lightning Mother called out.
The Two Saints Temple was initially designated by the Taiping Sect as the venue for their doctrinal discussions with the Mystic Sect. Withdrawing now and choosing another place would be akin to slapping their own faces. And before they could even protest, they were met with a blow that damaged both their morale and their reputation.
The cost was significant.
Otherwise, why would the Thunder God and the Lightning Mother insist on guarding this place? It was to prevent the loss of the area.
Executing the responsible person meant dealing with those involved in blocking the faith dedicated to Emperor Yan, not actually finding the person who damaged Emperor Yan’s statue. This move was undoubtedly an admission of guilt, accepting that the Taiping Sect was the instigator.
The Primordial Lord Rain Master showed no intention of addressing the Lightning Mother’s doubts, only looking at Jiang Li and asking indifferently, "Is there anything else?"
Her voice was clear and cold, seemingly devoid of human emotion, as if the significant issues of the Taiping Sect did not concern her at all.
Compared to the Thunder God and the Lightning Mother, this Primordial Lord Rain Master was far more profound—at least Jiang Li couldn’t see through her.
"Decisive."
The swordlight circled, the long sword slanted towards the ground. Jiang Li did not push his advantage and sheathed his sword, saying, "Now, you can leave."
As for the Yellow Emperor’s statue, there was no need to worry anymore.
If the Taiping Sect had withdrawn and Jiang Li still harmed the Yellow Emperor’s statue, the situation would have been completely reversed, turning the Taiping Sect into the known aggressors.
Moreover, the Gongsun Family might have something to say. Unless Jiang Li boldly revealed his master-disciple relationship with his master, the Gongsun Family could devour him.
"Take your followers and fellow Daoists, and leave," said the Primordial Lord Rain Master to the Lightning Mother’s divine statue.
Upon hearing this, the Lightning Mother withdrew her Divine Sense without a word. The moment her Divine Sense left, the statue was internally and externally destroyed by lightning, disintegrating instantly.
Clearly, the Lightning Mother was displeased with the Primordial Lord Rain Master’s decision but could not oppose it.
Among the Four Gods, the Primordial Lord Rain Master had the strongest ability and naturally held the highest position; had she not been disinterested in sect affairs, the Taiping Sect might have had another vice hierarch. Her decisions could not be contested, even by the Lightning Mother.
After the Lightning Mother left, the Primordial Lord Rain Master did not leave immediately but instead gazed deeply at Jiang Li and said, "It seems your master places great importance on you, even expending his Lifebound True Essence to leave a mark on you, allowing him to sense your situation at any moment."
A mark? Is there one?
In front of Jiang Li, the Karma Collection rapidly flipped through, but there was no record of any such mark. As for Lifebound True Essence...
Would the Tianxuan Yin Element count?
Jiang Li now thought that his significant advancement in Dao Fruit during those three days and nights might have been due to obtaining the Tianxuan Yin Element. The meeting of Yin and Yang greatly enhanced the Pure Yang Qi, promoting the integration of Dao Fruit.
Of course, it might also be due to matching some Dao Fruit’s interpretative rules.
After all, Lu Dongbin was an unconventional and unorthodox adept.
"It seems, senior, you are quite familiar with my master," Jiang Li said, his expression revealing nothing unusual.
"Because I am her enemy. Those who know you best are always your enemies."
A slight inflection finally crept into the Primordial Lord Rain Master’s typically icy voice as she gently waved her sleeve, her silhouette formed of golden light gradually dissipating, "Go back and tell Tianxuan that I shall soon advance in rank. When that time comes, we shall see who is superior."
As her voice faded, the figure dispersed, leaving only a Jade Talisman that then...
Flew into Jiang Li’s hands.
Jiang Li: "???"
She was not taking the Rain Master Token away?
Though it no longer contained the Rain Master Tao Fruit, it was still a Fourth Grade Magical Artifact and perfectly harmonized with the Primordial Lord Rain Master. She chose not to take it with her and simply left it behind.
Honestly, had she intended to take it, Jiang Li might have tried to keep it. Now that she voluntarily left the Rain Master Token, Jiang Li did not dare to take it.
’Well, I’ll have her check it when I see her next.’
After thinking it over, Jiang Li decided not to discard the Rain Master Token but also did not keep it close as before. He resolved to have Tianxuan inspect it for hidden traps the next time they met.
By his estimate, the letter sent by Qing Ji should have reached her by now.
’Speaking of her... I actually miss her a bit.’
With this thought, Jiang Li felt it might be inappropriate, so he added in his mind, "And the senior sister too."