Chapter 254: Chapter 249: Lend a Hand
The target of the Heavenly Tribulation vanished, and after unleashing the last bolt of thunder, the tribulation gradually dissipated, leaving only the severely wounded Yunlai Island.
On the ground, Yun Jiuye was surrounded by divine light, his Qi mechanism expansive, as if he could ascend to the heavens at any moment.
A Fifth-grade Heavenly Immortal, his promotion was successful.
In the sky, the Azure Dragon swirled, teasing the coiling clouds, seemingly no different from a True Dragon.
One man and one dragon, one above and the other below, their four eyes met, both inwardly shivering.
After a great battle in Yong Province, Jiang Li had completed over half of his Dao Fruit cultivation. He later practiced the Wind Queen’ Strange Gate, grasped the principles of Essence Qi generating and overcoming, and dissected the Demon Cleansing True Qi using "Minister Fu Shan," making significant progress in his cultivation.
The "Nine Heavens Demon Clearing True Technique" created by Daoist Lord Li Boyang held the profound mysteries of great changes between heaven and earth. Merely analyzing the tip of the iceberg significantly increased Jiang Li’s Dao Fruit cultivation. Now, having undergone a Heavenly Tribulation and a Human Tribulation and acting on behalf of Heaven, he further used this understanding to grasp the Wood Qi in "Qi Tomb," finally filling the last gap and achieving Dao Fruit Perfection.
Currently, Jiang Li’s Essence, Qi, and Spirit had greatly advanced, his power surged – although not a Sixth Rank, he was as potent as one.
Yun Jiuye, from his Fifth-grade Realm, looked down at Jiang Li and sensed his astonishing strength, silently contemplating what advancements Jiang Li would make after ascending to the Sixth Rank.
Now Yun Jiuye could still look down at Jiang Li from his Fifth-grade position, but given Jiang Li’s rate of improvement, it was possible he might catch up to him soon.
Jiang Li, however, was astonished that he couldn’t see through Yun Jiuye. Even combining his Dao Fruit Ability with the Emperor’s Qi Observation Skill and calculating through the Wind Queen’ Strange Gate, he still couldn’t grasp Yun Jiuye’s foundation.
It was as if there was a layer of cloud and mist, obscuring the view.
’Although I don’t know what specific Dao Fruit of the Heavenly Immortal’s path Yun Jiuye had ascended with, from the current situation, this Dao Fruit seems to have the ability to isolate the Heavenly Mechanism,’ Jiang Li thought secretly.
Before Yun Jiuye’s advancement, he could still discern some of his foundations. Now, however, it was all a blur; even using the Wind Queen’ Strange Gate failed to calculate it.
This was either due to Yun Jiuye’s significant increase in strength, enabling him to mask himself, or it was the meddling of the Dao Fruit Ability.
Jiang Li briefly assessed the difference in their powers and decisively concluded it was the Dao Fruit Ability.
While the two were sizing each other up, another Qi Mechanism rose up.
Ling Wujue manifested a sharp Qi Mechanism, resonant as the ringing of a golden spear; a spirit official’s phantom emerged behind him, abruptly merging into his body, breaking the barrier and elevating him to a higher level.
After Yun Jiuye’s successful advancement, Ling Wujue, serving as his protector, also met the criteria for the Promotion Ceremony of the Dao Fruit, ascending to a Sixth Rank Spirit Official.
This greatly enhanced the strength on Yun Jiuye’s side – a Fifth Rank plus a Sixth Rank was enough to dominate the contemporary disciples. It should have been so...
Yun Jiuye looked towards the two figures moving to the opposite side, lightly holding the copper scabbard long sword at his waist, "Is this your answer?"
Feng Ziyang said nothing, merely holding his sword as well.
Yun Qiuchi took out a folding fan, flicking it open with a swish and gently swaying it as she spoke, "Big brother, you have ambitions, but alas, your sister here isn’t interested in being driven by you, not everyone is as content as Fifth Brother to be just a follower."
The Azure Dragon in the sky cast down its gaze, emitting a deep tone, "Big brother, need a hand?"
The three stood together, their Qi mechanisms aligned without contradiction, attempting to measure Yun Jiuye’s capacity as a Fifth Rank.
"You!" Ling Wujue moved forward in indignation.
The gap between Fifth and Sixth Rank wasn’t as vast as heaven and earth, but it was indeed a world apart. Fifth Rank comprised unique Dao Fruits, whereas the grades below Sixth Rank produced mass-produce Dao Fruits.
Because Cultivators couldn’t endure Fifth Grade Dao Fruits, the last four grades of Dao Fruits were created to provide Cultivators with a foundation to possess the capacity of Fifth Grade. This single-grade gap appeared much wider than the disparity between Sixth and Seventh Rank.
However, with Yun Jiuye’s recent ascension to Fifth Grade and the three attacking together, gaining a slight advantage over him wasn’t impossible.
"Then, lend a hand."
Yun Jiuye raised his hand to stop Ling Wujue, took a gentle breath, his face radiating bright light.
Jiang Li rode the wave of Yun Jiuye’s Heavenly Tribulation, transforming into an Azure Dragon soaring the skies, diminishing the effects brought by Yun Jiuye’s promotion. Those from other parts of the Dinghu Sect looking towards the direction of the Heavenly Tribulation could see an Azure Dragon hovering in the sky, stealing all the attention.
If Yun Jiuye didn’t demonstrate his strength now, he might inadvertently be underestimated by the Sect disciples.
Since Jiang Li and others wanted to test his strength, if he didn’t respond, it would seem like he lacked confidence.
Thus, he had to make a move.
His left hand waved lightly, golden light circulated, and in an instant, a row of talismans formed in front of Yun Jiuye. Seven talismans in total, each different, revealing different Qi mechanisms, yet each harmoniously aligned with the others.
Furthermore, the patterns on the talismans weren’t what Jiang Li and the others were familiar with but sharp and precisely deep cuts like marks on stones.
"Combine."
Suddenly, Yun Jiuye’s hand turned, and the seven different talismans merged into one. Each profound mark sketched a saber edge; an archaic saber formed, adorned with runes, materializing instantly.
Yun Jiuye had never before demonstrated such an ability...
The three of them simultaneously arrived at the same answer—Dao Fruit Divine Power.
The talismanic seed of the Yinglong Transformation could only facilitate connection, not merge into one entity; such an ability was beyond Yun Jiuye’s grasp, leaving only the explanation of Dao Fruit Divine Power.
The ability of the Fifth Grade Dao Fruit could already be called divine, capable of fusing seven talismans into one, an unimaginable feat.
"Supreme Mysterious Gold Saber, go."
Yun Jiuye waved his hand, the talismanic golden saber quivered, emitting a resonant clang of metal, and an invisible shockwave swept forward, instantly shattering the Qi Mechanism of the three, along with violently shaking their Protective True Qi.
Yun Qiuchi’s Protective True Qi was instantly shattered, while Jiang Li’s Body of Yinglong was also affected by the shock, but with the Three Flowers Gathering at the Top, she remained stable and unaffected.
The Golden Saber broke through the air, with a piercing howl following the shockwave ripple, its golden light was blinding, making it difficult to look directly at it.
"Burn."
Yun Qiuchi’s voice turned shrill, a fierce fire appeared before the golden light, blazing intensely, then she continuously cried out, "Use fire to overcome gold."
"Melt gold, boil iron."
"Transform Qi, ignite form."
Elder Tianquan combined the Mystic Sect’s spell and the Confucian School’s Word Follows Law technique to create the unique Commanding Technique of "Golden Mouth Jade Words," which Yun Qiuchi, as his True Inheritor, now fully unleashed in a burst of intense blue-flamed heat.
Moreover, Yun Qiuchi’s Qi Mechanism had also surpassed the Seventh Rank, clearly having been promoted to the Sixth Rank.
But it was not enough!
The Golden Saber moved unimpeded through the fierce flames, the fire adding a tint to the saber without diminishing its power. At the saber’s tail, a vortex formed, dispersing the flames and causing the firelight to scatter.
"Yang Soldiers’ Chastisement."
Sword Light suddenly appeared, accompanied by a fluctuating voice, and in an instant, it divided into hundreds of sword shadows, showcasing the Sword Immortal Dao Fruit’s ability to divide the Sword Light.
Then, the myriad sword shadows suddenly converged into one, a sword integrating hundreds of edges, striking the Golden Saber unfalteringly as it passed through the flames.
"Ding!"
Incredibly crisp yet piercing, the collision of the saber and sword sent terrifying waves through the air that rippled like water, creating sharp, distinct ripples.
The Golden Saber was briefly stalled by the Flying Sword. Feng Ziyang’s sword was solid and fierce, and with his profound family teachings, this collision with the Golden Saber blunted its edge.
Yun Qiuchi quickly shouted, "Gather."
The flame light gathered, re-melting the Golden Saber, and upon contact, it burst out with a sharp golden radiance.
In that instant, the Azure Dragon in the sky also surged upward from above, striking down.
Seeing this, Yun Jiuye, with a vague grasp of his fingers as he drew the talisman, the Golden Saber burst into dazzling golden light, transforming into countless small arrows flying upward, clearly having been wary of Jiang Li’s approach.
He used the earth to produce gold, producing the Supreme Mysterious Gold Saber, specifically to counteract Jiang Li’s Wood Element dragon body.
"Roar!"
The Azure Dragon roared, emitting a blue beam from its mouth, with Thunder Light rapidly traveling along it, hitting the golden energy arrows, completely disregarding the suppression of golden energy, obliterating the golden arrows. Additionally, a terrifying force was hidden within the thunder column, and in an instant—
"Boom!"
The explosion shattered the golden arrows, striking the Supreme Mysterious Gold Saber!
The Azure Dragon’s head tilted upward, its body soaring ten feet as if struck by great strength.
Below, the Supreme Mysterious Gold Saber suddenly shattered, bursting into countless fragments.
"Thud!"
The ground shook, mud and rocks burst forth, a Vigorous Qi Wave clearing everything in its vicinity, cleansing the golden energy and flames, and suddenly a large pit appeared on the ground.
At the center of the Qi Wave, a pitch-black sword was slanted on the ground.
All sorts of Martial Arts, this was the Super Electromagnetic Sword Technique.
In this move, Jiang Li and the others had the advantage.
Although it was three moves against one, but facing a fifth-rank with two sixth-ranks and one seventh-rank, this clearly showcased the strength of these three.
Seeing this, Yun Jiuye’s expression slightly darkened, and he was about to draw another talisman, but at this moment, the Azure Dragon in the sky swirled downward, spreading a vast mist, swiftly concealing the Qi Mechanism of the three.