"Winter God Xuanming, huh..." Jiang Li squinted slightly.

Xuanming is the Winter God, as well as the God of the North and the Water God, wielding the powers of wind, snow, and bitter cold—attributes associated with Yin. Also, the Winter governs death, and the Gods of the North generally have a role in slaughter, making it a fitting match for the Queen Mother of the West, the source of Yin Qi.

Since the Immortal Queen had assimilated this Dao Fruit, she essentially met the Fitting Conditions for the Queen Mother of the West Dao Fruit. All that was left was to achieve Dao Fruit Perfection and then systematically complete the Promotion Ceremony.

Her difficulty in being promoted was probably the smallest among all the third grade beings of her time, no wonder she was so eager.

If it were not for the other third grade makers and her master, Tianxuan, taking precautions early on, the Immortal Queen might have indeed smoothly ascended to the Second Grade.

"Looks like going to Divine Gate Peak is out of the question now, wouldn't you say?"

The Eight Sceneries revolved, causing Jiang Li and Gongsun Qingyue to turn around and look towards the approaching golden light, "Esteemed Daoist."

The golden light flashed, revealing a Daoist dressed in a pale blue Dao Robe with a short beard and a refined face.

"Yuxu Temple's Guangyang, at your service."

The Daoist bowed, his manners impeccable, and then sincerely said, "Divine Gate Peak has become a forbidden zone; I urge you both to follow me back to Yuxu Temple to avoid any repercussions."

As he spoke, the Daoist made to approach them.

It was at that moment an invisible fluctuation emanated from Jiang Li, causing the approaching Daoist to suddenly falter, his face turning a shade of crimson as his True Qi roiled, displaying the highly refined and pure essence of Innate Qi Mechanism.

Innate Qi!

Jiang family bloodline!

"Wouldn't the Daoist like to mention his secular name?" Jiang Li fixed his gaze on the Daoist as the Eight Sceneries gradually solidified.

Daoists from Yuxu Temple usually used their secular names, and it could even be said that most of them did, with only a few substituting their secular names entirely with Daoist titles, illustrating their commitment to sever mundane ties and devote themselves to the Dao. In their social interactions, they usually referred just by their Dao titles, concealing their names.

However, this Daoist from Yuxu Temple did not seem like one who had severed his mundane ties; the relative importance of his Dao title and secular name in his heart was clearly evident.

The Daoist stopped in his tracks, his aura surging powerfully, his expression gradually becoming indifferent.

"My secular name has not been used for a long time, but if you both are really keen to know, I am not opposed to sharing it. Jiang Family, Jiang Biehe."

Jiang Biehe held his hands at his sides, a dangerous gleam hidden in his sleeves, as he stared intently at the two, "Please, follow me back to the temple."

The same request, but the tone was now completely different. Initially, there was at least an attempt at pretense, but now it seemed he was outright ready to confront Jiang Li.

He was a person from Yuxu Temple, and also one of the current Twelve Golden Immortals. His falling out with Jiang Li would undoubtedly affect the relations between both parties. Even if Daoist Guang Cheng still insisted on siding with Jiang Li, there was no guarantee that others from Yuxu Temple might not bear grievances.

The number of people in Yuxu Temple was few, and the emotional bonds between members were much deeper compared to other sects. In times of trouble, they favored kin over justice, emphasizing defending one's own. Regardless of where the justice lay, priority was given to supporting fellow sect members.

Of course, such methods would undoubtedly cause Daoist Guang Cheng to feel discontent, pushing him further. Yet, at this point, causing discontent was preferable to having Daoist Guang Cheng stand with Jiang Li.

Now they could only pressure fellow members through emotional appeals.

Undoubtedly, Jiang Biehe was in a rush, driven not just by Gongsun Qingyue's mentioned "sincerity," but also by the stance Daoist Guang Cheng was showing.

Wanting to meet Jiang Li alone indeed invited thoughts.

Moved by these thoughts, Jiang Biehe's Qi Mechanism naturally shifted, though minute, it did not escape Jiang Li's eyes.

Indeed, Yuxu Temple was not peaceful, and Daoist Guang Cheng indeed had an inclination to choose his side.

"It seems that in the Daoist's heart, the significance of family greatly outweighs that of the sect. Being of the Jiang family, should I feel happy, or should I feel sad for Yuxu Temple?"

Jiang Li smiled as he looked at Jiang Biehe, saying, "But have you considered that perhaps it is because of this inclination that Daoist Guang Cheng gave up supporting the Jiang Family? Since you have forsaken the sect, naturally, the sect will also forsake you. Maybe your actions will actually convince Daoist Guang Cheng to make his decision."

These were words aimed to manipulate the mind.

Jiang Li had no evidence to prove this point.

However, Jiang Biehe himself somewhat believed it, or perhaps he had already had such a suspicion.

So...

"Utter nonsense."

Jiang Biehe snorted coldly, "How dare you disturb the camaraderie of our sect. You deserve a beating."

From his sleeve, a fierce light suddenly burst out like two silver snakes intertwining as they slashed forward, and though they lacked a heaven-shocking aura, they were as perilous as a lethal strike.

However, since Jiang Li had sensed it beforehand, how could he not be prepared?

Sword light erupted abruptly, swift as a dragon, blocking both fierce lights. Within the sword that encompassed everything, a swirling flow of pure Primordial Qi moved; a single sword strike intercepted, yet it seemed as if thousands of blades struck simultaneously, instantly sparking intense sparks from those two fierce lights.

Two bursts of Sword Qi exploded, one cold and sharp, the other extremely violent, leaving scorched red sword marks. The two forces clashed briefly and separated; sword shadows fluctuated, and the fierce sword light continually collided.

The Great Circle Sword moved like flowing water around Jiang Li and Gongsun Qingyue.

On the other side, those two fierce lights also revealed their form, suddenly showing they were uniquely shaped weapons.

They resembled swords but were curved; the blade was straight, yet bent outwards at the tip, forming a hook shape, with a crescent-shaped guard extending from the hilt.

"Wu Hook Sword..."

Jiang Li recognized the origin of this sword, and looking at the circling Great Circle Sword light beside him, he noticed faint scratches.

Indeed, uniquely-shaped weapons were typically known for their treachery, focusing on unexpected victories, and killing with a single strike, demanding extremely sharp edges. Jiang Biehe's Wu Hook Double Swords naturally focused on this aspect, causing damage in the collision with the Great Circle Sword.

However, as the Great Circle Sword itself was made of Sword Qi, as long as Jiang Li's Innate Qi continued, it could essentially be shattered and still recover. Minor traces could be restored in an instant.

Instead, Jiang Li guessed his opponent's Dao Fruit path from these Wu Hook Double Swords.

'Wu Hook Sword, is it from the lineage of Universal Benevolent Real Person?'

With a sudden thought in his mind, Jiang Li raised his hand, and a tidal wave swept over, transforming into a swift vortex, "Mysterious Abyss·Unceasing Ceremony."

Water from the Eight Sceneries materialized, entangling the Wu Hook Double Swords as they slashed again, the rapid turning water streams overpowering with the gentility of water.

In the water vortex, the peculiar sword light exploded abruptly, both sides simultaneously exerting force, unleashing Innate Qi like a tide.

"Boom!"

Both streams of True Qi erupted at once, formidable like a force that could challenge the stars, their vastness manifesting unmistakably in this moment.

Jiang Biehe, who also had cultivated the "Qi Tomb," melded the Jiang family's unique skills with the cultivation techniques of Yuxu Temple, forming an abundant flow of Pure Qi. With True Qi bursting beneath, it created blue clouds, across the water vortex these collided with the Qi Mechanism of the Innate Eight Sceneries of another.

Powerful Primordial Qi surged from both sides, Wu Hook Double Swords also exploded into action, attacking from inside out; water waves burst open, abundant flow formed a tide, spreading out in all directions.

"Heavenly Gang Saber."

Jiang Biehe raised both hands, a cold light flickering, thirty-six bursts of Sword Light emerged, arrayed in the form of Heavenly Gang, piercing through space, the chilly Sword Light broke through the water wave tide, blocking all of Jiang Li's escape routes, while the Wu Hook Double Swords continuously attacked.

"Divine Skills of Daoist Mu Zha from Disciple Hui An?"

Jiang Li's thoughts flashed, Thunder Light flickered, intertwining a blaze of thunder, creating an invisible domain, forcibly solidifying everything ahead.

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