"On what basis does this layperson believe I can bear the Emperor Yan's Dao Fruit?"

Jiang Li was not intimidated by this secrecy and remained focused on the key point, directly asking, "At that time, I was only of the Seventh Rank."

He was aware of his own unique Qi Shu, but just this alone was too arbitrary to conclude that he could accommodate the Emperor Yan's Dao Fruit in the future. Or was it that the Awakened could predict Jiang Li's future at that time?

"A Seventh Rank capable of accommodating three unique Dao Fruits?" The Awakened smiled slightly, "Low-grade unique Dao Fruits are rare, and for someone who can successively accommodate Ninth Grade, Eighth Rank, and Seventh Rank unique Dao Fruits, the Mazer has never seen before. This alone is enough for the Mazer to invest."

"Seeing the Dao Fruit?" Jiang Li showed a hint of astonishment.

[But in reality, Jiang Li had already put his mind at ease. Although seeing the Dao Fruit others accommodate is indeed surprising, compared to the possibility of the Karma Collection being detected, this matter is still acceptable.]

[If the Awakened could perceive the Karma Collection, it would mean Jiang Li's background had been fully seen through, and the cover provided by the Karma Collection would no longer be reassuring.]

The Awakened was unaware of the change in Jiang Li's thoughts. Seeing Jiang Li's astonished expression, he did not hide it further, saying straightforwardly, "The essence of the Dao Fruit, Tan Yue, you should know as well; the Dao Fruit is Cause and Effect. In other words, if one can perceive Cause and Effect to a certain level, detecting the other's Dao Fruit, or even knowing the other's Dao Fruit Divine Power, is not difficult."

"However, Tan Yue's causality is indeed too heavy; the Mazer could previously detect Tan Yue's Divine Skills, but now can only roughly know at which level Tan Yue's Dao Fruit resides."

The Awakened spoke thoroughly, revealing all relevant matters to avoid causing Jiang Li any suspicion.

Jiang Li, in turn, covertly observed, utilizing the Karma Collection and his own Eye Power to gauge his words and expression, finally determining that the Awakened was not lying. At least Jiang Li could not see any signs of deception.

And with the Awakened's level of awareness, he should not lie.

Although the commandments of monks might not apply to the Awakened, the emergence of commandments originated from the earliest Awakened, and by examining the commandments, one could roughly estimate the Awakened's character. And someone capable of accommodating the Awakened Dao Fruit and demonstrating it to Perfection would not have a character too far off.

So Jiang Li did not show any sign of doubt. Believing the Awakened, he remarked, "The layperson's ability could be compared to that of the Great Venerable."

"A thought kept constantly will surely have an echo," and this ability to perceive the Dao Fruit through Cause and Effect—if the Awakened and my esteemed brother faced off, one wonders who would be superior.

"Over-praised," said the Awakened. "In terms of understanding causality law, the Mazer indeed surpasses the Great Venerable, but in terms of deduction and divination, the Great Venerable is the best in the world. With the Great Venerable's ability, perceiving the Dao Fruit through Cause and Effect is certainly achievable. With Tan Yue's Yi Dao proficiency, if one can further comprehend Cause and Effect, it should also be possible to accomplish this."

As these words fell, the Awakened suddenly smiled, lightly parted his lips, and spoke in a grand voice, "Thus have I heard."

"Even if a hundred thousand kalpas pass, the karma shall not be extinguished; when the conditions converge, the fruition shall be reaped by oneself."

Suddenly, the surroundings darkened; countless intersecting beams of light appeared before Jiang Li's eyes.

Jiang Li's Divine Thought instinctively drifted, and all sorts of information and images flowed into his heart.

'Causality line...'

For Jiang Li, seeing these causality lines was not the first time, so he was not surprised, but it was indeed the first time he realized he could clearly grasp these fine lines of causality, as if with just a thought, all the causes and effects would be crystal clear in his heart.

All the Dao Fruits accommodated up to now were within his perception, including the current Qingyuan Miao Dao True Monarch Dao Fruit. Jiang Li could even sense the integration progress of the Dao Fruit.

—Sixty-eight percent.

In his mind, the precise integration progress of the Qingyuan Miao Dao True Monarch and himself appeared, and up to now, the efforts made to demonstrate the Dao Fruit flashed across his mind, including various challenges and battles.

'As it turns out, the more one demonstrates a single Dao Fruit, the lesser the effect, no wonder in the past year, despite diligently cultivating the Eight-Nine Profound Skill, I always feel the Dao Fruit progress isn't as before.'

'Yang Jian's Dao Fruit still requires more battles.'

Information regarding the Fourth Grade Dao Fruit hovered in his mind, and with his thoughts swayed, Jiang Li sensed the other Dao Fruits.

For instance, the Fifth Grade Dao Fruit Zhuang Zhou is yet to be complete; the most complete Zhuang Zhou Dao Fruit is third grade, while the remaining part is with the Awakened. Previously, Jiang Li only knew the Dao Fruit was with the Awakened; now, he could sense its approximate location.

There is also the Sixth Rank Luu Dongbin Dao Fruit, which has room for completion.

As well as…

'Marriage?'

Jiang Li could sense, besides the two red threads of Tianxuan and Gongsun Qingyue, a third thread of marriage emerging, just flickering in and out of view, not as tightly binding as the two red threads.

In addition to this, various causes and effects were also evident in his mind.

The closest causality line...

Jiang Li looked forward.

This causality line was connected to the Awakened and was gradually thickening, indicating Jiang Li and the Awakened's causal ties were deepening.

As for the Awakened—

Although his body was a form of Spiritual Thought, he could also see the causality lines. However, looking around the Awakened, only a few causal lines were visible, one of which was linked to Jiang Li.

Following this causality line of his, Jiang Li saw an illusory figure appear within the Awakened, with obscure information flickering at the end.

[Fourth Grade Dao Fruit: Venerable Anan]

[Category: Human]

[Fitting Conditions: Unknown]

[Promotion Ceremony: Unknown]

[Divine Skills: Foremost in Hearing, Thus Have I Heard...]

[Thus Have I Heard: The framework of Buddhist scriptures, the supreme vehicle of Hearers. When reciting the true Dharma, one can comprehend the essence of the law, trace the source of the law, as if being present at the time, can also transmit the Dharma to others, evolving the various subtleties in mind, like an epiphany.]

The Dao Fruit accommodated by the Awakened during the Fourth Grade was precisely Venerable Anan, one of the Buddha's ten foremost disciples. However, this was not the Anan from Buddhist legends, but Anan as a person. The Awakened Dao Fruit must be carried by a cultivator on the human path; those of the Buddha attribute will not suffice.

Anan was reputed as the "foremost in hearing," meticulously remembering the Buddha's words and actions. After the Buddha's death, he was the one to recall and transmit the teachings. The phrase "Thus have I heard" found at the beginning of all Buddhist scriptures, well-known to devout followers, references Anan as the one who initially heard the Buddha. Locking these teachings into the fabric of doctrine allowed the messaged to be remembered and recited correctly from his legacy.

This Divine Skill of [Thus Have I Heard] was derived from this, allowing its possessor to trace the source of the Buddhist law, to witness the Buddha firsthand, and enable the Awakened to impart the essence of the Dharma with this ability. Once he understood this, the surrounding darkness suddenly dissipated, and he returned to the previous scene.

The Awakened suddenly smiled, nodded slightly, and said, "Does Tan Yue comprehend?"

"I understand," Jiang Li nodded, "I realized that deepening causality, indeed."

The Awakened was just as cunning as the monks, always leaving favors without a trace, keeping Jiang Li firmly tied to his path. And the favors he granted were precisely what Jiang Li needed. Even knowing that favors needed repaying, Jiang Li remained happily receptive.

"Ha," the Awakened laughed heartily, saying, "this is simple; if the Mazer advances in the Promotion Ceremony, it won't take more than a year or two. If not, there's nothing more to be said."

As he finished, the Awakened suddenly waved his hand gently, "Tan Yue, it's time for you to return. Let us part ways for now. Until we meet again."

The Stone Pavilion gradually faded, flickering light and shadow, and Jiang Li suddenly felt emptiness beneath him, as the stone bench had already vanished.

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