Chapter 16: Turbulence Arises on the Fengyun Platform

Jiang Li's body was indeed shaking, but it was not because of excessive depletion; rather, it was due to the continuous deepening of Dao Fruit fusion, resulting in the rise of the Essence Qi Divine Water as a boat rises with the tide.

His limbs and bones felt as comfortable as if they were soaking in a hot spring, making him sway as if about to fall, yet his mind was exceptionally clear; he could even feel the pumping of blood within his body, the overflowing of True Qi.

Every strand of True Qi was controlled to the minutest detail, enabling Jiang Li to minimize the consumption, and due to the growth of the Three Elements, his True Qi actually increased rather than decreased.

'Hmm?'

Jiang Li suddenly felt a foreign object in the palm of his hand behind his back, a faint fragrance reached his nose, and he immediately felt a jolt in his body, his True Qi becoming even more vibrant.

'Elixir?'

Such effects were undoubtedly those of the precious elixirs of this age, and it was the kind that directly supplemented the Essence Element True Energy.

And the person who could silently deliver an elixir into Jiang Li's hand at this moment was none other than Feng Ziyang, who was hovering in mid-air.

He was actually standing on Jiang Li's side... No, it should be said that he came to help Jiang Li.

Considering that Feng Ziyang didn't stop Qi Changsheng's Abdominal Language Skill this time, Jiang Li had basically confirmed the stance of this referee.

And then there were those challengers.

Jiang Li didn't believe that only the Jiang Family Disciples were outstanding among the Outer Disciples; even if many Outer Disciples had gone out to earn good deeds, there were definitely quite a few who had completely fused with the Ninth Grade Dao Fruit within the Sect.

Yet so far, none of the Outer Disciples challenging Jiang Li had come close to the likes of Li Chongyue and Zhang Zhenyang.

This was clearly the result of someone's prior instruction, ordering those Outer Disciples not to take action. Once they did, they would be labeled as part of the Jiang family.

'But if this Bone Marrow Cleansing strike hits the Jiang family's vital points, they might have to act despite knowing it would expose them,' Jiang Li lamented in his heart, 'The old ginger is still hotter.'

They didn't need to take action directly, just a little arrangement, and they could create a situation where the Jiang family was trapped between a rock and a hard place.

This was a plot deliberately targeting the Jiang family.

Luo Yi on the cliff also realized this, and seeing that the expected Outer Disciple challengers didn't show up, he knew how deep the scheming behind this challenge was. They were casting a net, waiting for their Jiang Family Disciples to leap into it.

The problem was, they had to leap anyway.

"Let me do it."

A tall figure passed by Luo Yi with an appearance of slowness but actual swiftness, a flicker of a shadow, and in an instant, crossed the chains and stepped onto the Fengyun Platform.

"Outer Disciple Luu Wangji, here to learn from Junior Brother's techniques."

The Fengyun Platform burst into action, and an invisible might, dense as a stormy mountain rain or a river's tide, filled the air, causing one's breath to involuntarily catch.

Upon further observation, the individual wore a green robe, his hair bound with a jade crown, his face as handsome as carved jade, and his demeanor exuded authority. This person was unmistakably someone who had integrated the Divine Power of the Heavenly Weapon Dao Fruit into his very bones; even a real Heavenly Soldier might not possess such an imposing presence.

"Luu Wangji..." Jiang Li murmured the name.

This man was recognized as one of the strongest among the Outer Disciples, rumored to have completely fused his Dao Fruit half a year ago but had remained at the Ninth Grade due to an incomplete Promotion Ceremony.

Yet he hadn't expected that even this man was one of the Jiang family's own.

Indeed, the Jiang family. Those who come forth now would be assumed to be from the Jiang family, whether they truly were or not.

"Should I call you Senior Brother Luu or Senior Brother Jiang?" Jiang Li looked at the formidable opponent who had taken the field, finally ending his hours-long 'idle mode'.

"As for your idea, Junior Brother Jiang, those who wander have few choices."

Luu Wangji candidly admitted his own identity and looked at Jiang Li without any malice. In fact, there was a kind of forthrightness in his gaze. "Junior Brother Jiang, you use good deeds as stakes to invite others to gamble. Why not have you and I also make a wager, how about it?"

"Oh?"

"In this contest, if Junior Brother wins, the Eighth Grade and Seventh Grade Dao Fruits will all be provided by your Senior Brother. If Senior Brother wins," Luu Wangji said with a smile, "Junior Brother should cast aside all grievances, join the Jiang family's children with a united heart, and advance or retreat together. In the future, the Dao Fruits, cultivation techniques, and elixirs needed for your cultivation will be taken care of without Junior Brother worrying; someone will make the arrangements for you."

"Wow, didn't expect such a good offer," Jiang Li couldn't help but raise an eyebrow.

Was he seeing a heavily manipulated contest and wanted to undercut it, directly solving the root of the problem?

One couldn't help but admit that this method of dealing with the situation was truly formidable. Setting aside whether Luu Wangji could fulfill his promise, just this way of solving problems was far better than Luo Yi's aggressive tactics.

Win or lose, it was beneficial either way, and even more so in a loss—so much that it somewhat tempted Jiang Li.

"However, I refuse," Jiang Li said decisively.

It seemed beneficial whether he won or lost. A loss meant a long-term meal ticket, and victory meant eating from both the Sect and the Jiang family, biting the hand that feeds from both sides. But in reality, both outcomes were traps.

Playing both sides was akin to being a fence-sitter; neither party would ever trust him fully. Such a move would basically burn all his bridges, causing the Sect to lose trust in him.

Of course, Jiang Li could claim that he won these benefits by himself, but trust, the cornerstone of relationships, was best left unsullied.

Jiang Li could take by force, could cunningly seize, but he could not allow the Jiang family to willingly offer him benefits, not even if it was just suspicion.

As for casting aside previous grievances...

A true man born between heaven and earth, how could he be content living under someone else for long!

And after almost getting me killed, now you want me to work for you, wishful thinking.

Jiang Li's words of refusal left no room for discussion, so any subsequent persuasion from Luu Wangji naturally went unheard. Still, he was not annoyed, simply raising his hand with an expression of regret, "That's truly a pity."

With the word "pity," it was as though an actual force swept through in all directions, stirring the air around and creating ripples.

"True Qi leaves the body!"

Exclamations came from outside Fengyun Platform, and even Feng Ziyang couldn't help but watch carefully.

This time it was true; True Qi was indeed leaving the body. Luu Wangji's True Qi surged like river tides all around him, merging with the Heavenly Weapon Divine Power, stirring up the wind and clouds. Within several meters around him, the air tightened, and Jiang Li felt his breath catch, as if an invisible boulder was pressing on his chest.

This was clearly the ability of True Qi leaving the body, a feat belonging to the Eighth Grade Realm, yet it was displayed by Luu Wangji, who was of the Ninth Grade, and his momentum was above that of an average Eighth Rank Cultivator.

Seeing such a force, Jiang Li could only think of one possibility.

"Qi Tomb," he blurted out.

The Qi Tomb, the supreme scripture of the Jiang family, a legacy of Emperor Yan and the so-called origin of the Divine Skill of Innate Qi!

And being able to cultivate the Qi Tomb, it was no wonder that Luu Wangji had dared to make such promises before. Though he was of the Ninth Grade, his status was definitely above that of Luo Yi.

"It's just a bit of the surface," Luu Wangji shook his head, "The complete Qi Tomb is not for anyone other than the Family Head to cultivate. It is also not something a Ninth Grade cultivator like me can practice. However..."

However, a bit of the surface was enough.

Luu Wangji turned his hand and pushed; True Qi formed a wall, stirring the air and bringing with it an overwhelming force bearing down.