Chapter 387: Chapter 105 Emperor Yan’s Tao Fruit
Bitten by a dog, then stricken to the ground by Jiang Li with a series of moves...
Of course, the Second Prince felt that he had been on his guard and wouldn’t be defeated so miserably, but with that dog there, chances were he would still lose, eight or nine times out of ten.
He watched from the sidelines and saw everything clear as day; that dead dog was fast as a shooting star—faster than him, no doubt about it, certainly a fifth-rank. Maybe he could fend off the dog one-on-one, but add Jiang Li to the mix, and if the Second Prince stepped up, the outcome would likely be a dog bite.
This injury was one thing, but the key issue was losing face.
And more importantly, the Eldest Prince had already lost face, yet the Second Prince still had a chance to save his own.
If he went ahead, both might end up with the same fate.
If he didn’t go, it would mean the Eldest Prince lost face, while the Second Prince led comfortably from afar.
The choice was quite clear, it didn’t need to be spoken aloud.
If Princes couldn’t do it, then the rest were out of the question. Faced with the duo of man and dog, it would be difficult for anyone among the fifth-rank to win, let alone the fourth-rank...
With all this commotion here, yet no sign of intervention from Qianyang Palace, or any movement from the fourth-rank experts, it could be assumed it was tough for them to intervene. This Jiang Li, indeed, had come prepared.
The Eldest Prince realized this and nearly succumbed to rage, with Disaster Qi creeping up from his injured leg. So it turns out, he was bitten by the dog in vain, and afterward, he would have no way to openly regain face.
Because it was this little upstart from the Jiang family who held the true power, not the Prince himself.
What infuriated him the most was that the opposition was relying on the power of the Gongsun Family. Eating the Gongsun Family’s food to strike at the Ji Family’s Prince, how could the Eldest Prince contain his fury?
As for the Second Prince, he just stood there, unmoving.
Whether to stop or let it happen was quite apparent now.
"It seems the Second Prince has made his choice, indeed worthy of the Royal Family’s foremost talent,"
Jiang Li could hardly be ignorant of the Second Prince’s thoughts and readily added fuel to the fire before slowly wheeling his chair past the Second Prince.
Upon hearing this, the Second Prince’s arm at his side clenched quietly into a fist, obviously catching Jiang Li’s sarcastic tone.
He who knows the times is a true talent, but the so-called title of talent here is loaded with derogatory connotations and even a sense of condescension.
However, he still endured it.
Not only because of the red dog looking fiercely around but also because of the unclear situation at Qianyang Palace; he dared not act rashly.
Previously, he decided resolutely to stop Jiang Li, and now he patiently stepped back. The Second Prince’s response earned him a nod of approval from Jiang Li.
’Should I take the chance to get rid of him?’ A bold idea flickered in Jiang Li’s mind.
Then, he promptly extinguished that thought.
From the Heir of King Lu, Lu King, to the Fourth Prince, and then the Ji Clan members manipulated to death by Jiang Li under Junzi Wind, Jiang Li was quickly becoming the bane of the Royal Family. It was better to keep a low profile.
’Even if he were to be killed, it can’t be connected to me anymore. I, Jiang Li, am utterly loyal to Great Zhou, not the type that sabotages the Royal Family. Definitely not.’
As the wheelchair entered the huge cave entrance, rolling on the wind, it moved steadily downwards until finally reaching the rough and uneven ground of the Underground Palace.
"Wang—"
The red dog swept through like the wind, clearing all the rubble in front of it and conveniently flattening some protrusions—quite considerate indeed.
After all was done, it suddenly appeared on Jiang Li’s knee, half-squatting and looking up at him, with an expression on its dog face that seemed to be seeking praise.
Jiang Li: "You seem to have adapted pretty quickly."
And here it was acting like a sycophant already. He could not decide whether it was his own charismatic influence that even a dog submitted to him or if it was simply too obsequious?
[As for Jiang Li being too small-minded to allow the dog any other choice...]
Impossible! Absolutely not!
Jiang Li firmly rejected this possibility.
"You’ve done very well," he looked at the red dog and decided to give it a name, "Come Fortune."
Red Dog: "?"
It shook its head like a rattle, full of unwillingness.
Even though it was just a dog, it had some discernment towards the dignity of names, and Come Fortune—no matter how you looked at it or listened to it—did not seem like a name that could match its status.
"Unhappy with it?" Jiang Li felt a bit troubled, "What about... Chang Wei?"
Chang Wei on Come Fortune, an upgrade.
The name did sound imposing, but the little red dog sharply sensed someone’s bad taste and still shook its head frantically.
"What would you like then? Heavenly Dog? Sakaski? Red Furred Pooch? Wangcai?"
Jiang Li’s mood was quite good at the moment, so he was exceptionally patient. While pushing his wheelchair, he said, "Or should I name it ’Howling Celestial Dog’ or something?"
As someone with a past life, Jiang Li naturally had corresponding preferences in certain aspects; just like if he were to raise a monkey, he would probably think of "Wukong," and for a pig, "Zhu Bajie." As for dogs, other than Er Ha, it would be the Howling Celestial Dog.
Unexpectedly, when he mentioned the Howling Celestial Dog, the little red puppy began frantically nodding its head, seeming to firmly decide on that name.
With its unsophisticated threshold for recognition, the words "Howling Celestial Dog" captivated it at first sight.
However, Jiang Li found it a bit headache-inducing.
In this world that cared about karma, haphazardly picking a name could very well break some taboo.
"How about calling it ’Xiao Tian’? Just change one character," suggested Jiang Li.
Whether it was changed or not, the pronunciation was the same. Anyway, Xiao Tian seemed quite pleased, happily lying on Jiang Li’s lap.
At this time, Jiang Li was approaching the large bronze cauldron. He reached out slowly and gently pressed his hand onto the cauldron.
The treasure light of the Divine Farmer’s Cauldron glowed even more dazzlingly, an invisible throb appeared between Jiang Li and the cauldron; blood flowed faster, veins swelled, giving rise to an increasingly urgent sensation.
Finally, his fingertips touched the cauldron’s body, feeling the ancient patterns.
[Third Grade Dao Fruit: Emperor Yan]
[Category: Human-God]
[Fitting Conditions: Fourth Grade Dao Fruit, Human Race, possessing Emperor Yan’s bloodline]
[Promotion Ceremony: Heavenly and Man Respect]
[Divine Skills: Primordial Human (incomplete), Southern Heavenly Emperor, Sun God??????]
[Primordial Human (incomplete): Abilities of Human Attribute Dao Fruits below Third Grade cannot affect oneself.]
The information about the Dao Fruit entered his mind, forming a specific format for the parts he could perceive.
’Only one Divine Skill can be known? And it’s incomplete...’
As this thought emerged, Jiang Li suddenly felt an intense burning sensation. Blood surged within him, red patterns spread all over his body, and his skin took on the hue of crystal.
[Primordial Human: Raise Human Attribute Dao Fruits below Second Grade to Second Grade; abilities of Human Attribute Dao Fruits below Second Grade cannot affect oneself.]
The complete information of the Dao Fruit Divine Power surfaced in his mind, and Jiang Li’s heart shook fiercely, ’So strong!’
Strong! Incredibly strong!
Is this the value of Emperor Yan’s Dao Fruit? Just one "Primordial Human" was enough for Jiang Li to feel its straightforward and profound strength.
Upon reaching Sixth Rank, Jiang Li had already felt that Dao Fruits of Ninth and Eighth Grades did not greatly enhance himself, especially Wang Chongyang’s Dao Fruit, whose ability was almost completely covered by Luu Dongbin’s Sixth Rank Dao Fruit.
But with a Divine Skill like "Primordial Human" that could raise the grade of Dao Fruits, then even low-grade Dao Fruit abilities might have their chance to shine again.
Jiang Li contained only Uniqueness Dao Fruits; if he were to raise all their abilities to Second Grade, he dare not even contemplate the extent of the increase in strength...
’The Divine Farmer’s Cauldron contains only half the Divine Skill "Primordial Human." That means the other half must be within the Ochre Whip.’ A fierce desire welled up in Jiang Li’s heart.
A complete Dao Fruit Divine Skill would be of Second Grade, which Second Grade Emperor Yan Shennong should have, but even a half-completed one was a significant upgrade.
Now, Jiang Li understood why the Jiang family opted to split the Dao Fruit. Even the divided Dao Fruits provided an increase that would likely surpass other Third Grade Dao Fruits.
Unfortunately, the requirements for advancing Emperor Yan’s Dao Fruit were too harsh. Just from the phrase "Heavenly and Man Respect," one could see the level of difficulty, so much so that no member of the Jiang family through the generations had been able to advance two Third Grade Dao Fruits, using them only as Dao Artifacts instead.
’If it weren’t for that, this opportunity would not have come to me.’
Jiang Li extended his hand forward, pressing his entire palm against the Divine Farmer’s Cauldron, a pumping heat continuously transmitted from beneath his palm, like a fiery ball, a sun.
His inner Innate Qi responded, starting with the vigor of life, turning to intense heat like fire, then to the desolation and coldness of death, as if he were passing through the four seasons. This reminded Jiang Li of his initial feeling of undergoing tempering by the Ochre Whip.
The cycle of the seasons, all due to the changing sun, and the transformation of weather corresponds to the Innate Eight Qi.
A sudden enlightenment welled up in his heart; the eight qi within Jiang Li transformed, with the Wood Qi of life matching the spring, the Fire Qi’s growth corresponding to the summer, followed by...
’The chill wind of autumn matches the sternness of metal, the fluctuations of wind.’
A golden yellow vitality tinged with withered hues emerged at his surface, an invisible sternness in tune with the Heavenly Phenomenon, not a murderous aura of humans but a transformation of heaven and earth.
’The Golden Qi Kill, it’s not just about killing life, but also the natural purification of heaven and earth.’
Jiang Li suddenly understood the significance of the Divine Farmer’s Cauldron to the Jiang family.
The tempering of Innate Qi was like the tempering by the Divine Farmer’s Cauldron; this cauldron subtly accorded with the essence of "Qi Tomb," even without the "Qi Tomb" Cultivation Technique, by using the Divine Farmer’s Cauldron, one could gradually reconstruct the "Qi Tomb."
It’s no wonder the Jiang Family Master kept the Divine Farmer’s Cauldron as a protective treasure, rather than the Ochre Whip, which would be more beneficial for the family.
While the Ochre Whip could catalyze a Hundred Herbs, the Divine Farmer’s Cauldron contained the fundamental secret techniques of the family.