Chapter 1004: Transaction with the Witch God

Shamansan looked up at Li Qi, then clapped his hands and said, "Kids, that's it for today. Go back and do your homework."

Those young Young Masters all glanced at Li Qi, seemingly displeased.

Even for them, listening to the Shaman Dao's teachings was a rare opportunity. Some had signed up decades ago, as time passed very quickly for the Shaman Dao, no matter how idle he was. A blink might mean hundreds of thousands of years had passed, so being able to catch the Shaman Dao giving a lecture was incredibly lucky.

Li Qi also felt a bit bad. If someone had interrupted the Shaman Dao's lecture when he was young, Li Qi would definitely have wanted to slap them in his heart.

Of course, it would only be in his heart. It was easy to guess that anyone who could disturb the Shaman Dao was probably not someone to be trifled with.

Li Qi waved his hand: "I'll wait a bit first. You all chat, I'll find something to do nearby."

"Alright." Shamansan nodded and sat back down.

Li Qi retreated to the side, arriving at Annam, about one or two hundred million li away from Shaman God Mountain.

Anyway, this distance was just a single step away.

On a mountain peak here, Li Qi quietly waited for the lecture to end.

It would probably take about a month? Judging by their progress.

For First Grade and Second Grade, a month passed in the blink of an eye, so it was nothing.

Li Qi came to this mountain peak, and nearby was a beautiful forest.

It was dawn, and the light grew brighter. The trees and shrubs, as well as the various creatures running in the wilderness, appeared in the mist, becoming clearer and clearer.

The pearly-gray mist of early morning gradually dissipated, though some still drifted in the air. The light in the sky refracted through it, creating a Tyndall effect, as if an invisible hand was constantly and silently spinning fine threads, then hanging them up, weaving them through the mist, finally forming a beautiful curtain of light.

In this place, Shaman God Mountain, the great source of heaven and earth was strong, and the air was filled with Dao Resonance. Even the scenery seemed to have an added filter, a sight absolutely unseen outside this realm.

Mortals probably wouldn't see anything special, but in the eyes of someone like Li Qi, the 'information density' of the world's scenery was significantly higher.

The pixels were higher than outside this realm, and the clarity and filter were not on the same level, nor was the color depth.

Li Qi was admiring these beautiful sights when suddenly, he saw a couple.

They were a Mortal couple, likely ordinary people living in the Shaman God Mountain territory.

Just as there were Mortals in Chang'an, Shaman God Mountain naturally had Mortals and Mortal things, which was normal, after all... no matter where, Mortals were the majority.

Unless specifically filtered to prevent Mortals from entering, otherwise, Mortals would always make up the bulk.

The number of Mortals was simply too vast, and their reproduction rate was fast, making them easily the main body of the local environment.

Li Qi saw that the Mortal couple was lying on their backs, sleeping in the sun.

The husband was clearly middle-aged, severely overweight, and had lost his attractiveness, snoring loudly.

The wife was about the same age, not pretty, a bit short, and had dark skin.

As they slept together, Li Qi suddenly felt a stir in his heart.

He remembered that in the Eighth Grade, Li Qi had also seen such Mortal couples. At that time, Li Qi, immersed in his feelings for Shen Shuibi, was greatly puzzled by these people, unable to understand why they were together, and he took it for granted that there was no true love between these Mortals.

It's easy to imagine, isn't it? Mortals naturally like beautiful things, so how do unattractive couples get together? When describing love, everyone likes to write about the mutual admiration between handsome men and beautiful women; it makes the description beautiful. Kissing the lips of a beautiful girl is always more heartwarming than kissing the lips of a dark-skinned tank.

However, the current Li Qi couldn't help but smile.

What a childish thought.

Only foolish, naive young people would think that a person must be handsome, gentle, graceful, and charming to love others, to be loved by others, and to marry happily.

It's not like that. Even if one is ordinary or even inferior, one can still love and be loved.

That kind of love, which initially excites and blinds one to action, that so-called love, is merely a temporary fervor of youth.

Beyond that, there are precious feelings that can only be experienced after both parties have matured through a considerable period of shared life. Such feelings often not only thrive under favorable conditions but also endure trials in harsh environments that could easily corrupt and utterly destroy them.

Li Qi watched the couple sleep and couldn't help but sigh with emotion.

So, he stood and watched for a while, recording them as part of the scenery.

After they awoke, Li Qi walked up to them and said: "I was passing by and saw you two sleeping here, blending with the scenery. I couldn't help but paint a picture. I thought it wouldn't be good to keep it myself, so I'd like to give it to you."

After speaking, Li Qi took out his painting. The landscape within was vividly depicted, and the couple was also included.

The couple immediately became joyful and gratefully said to Li Qi: "We've long wanted to ask a painter to draw our portrait, but unfortunately, we were short on money and never had any. To meet you today and have you fulfill this dream for us, please do come to our home as a guest so we can properly entertain you."

Li Qi did not refuse and went with them to their home.

They immediately took out eggs, killed a chicken, opened the rice jar and salt pot, and prepared a meal for Li Qi.

Li Qi finished his meal, left the painting there, and then departed.

Later, one year, a plague spread rampantly in Annam. The two prefectures where the couple lived, Li and Su, were particularly severe, with three or four out of ten people dying. The Shaman Dao said this was because a plague ghost had appeared, and they could not deal with it.

When the plague spread to the couple's home, they discovered that a vine had grown on the painting at some unknown time. Soon, two gourds grew from the vine, gradually enlarging to the size of large urns that could hold two dou of wine.

They used a knife to dig out the contents of the gourds and found them filled with medicine. They ate the medicine, and their illness immediately disappeared. They also gave it to others, and the medicine in the gourds could never be exhausted. When the national ruler heard about it, he bought the gourd with gold and an official position. Their descendants also received noble titles, and the Shaman Dao enshrined this item in the national ruler's palace.

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As for Li Qi, over a month later, he had returned to Shaman God Mountain, and the Young Masters had dispersed.

Li Qi came to Shamansan's side and said: "Shaman Dao, I've come to retrieve the Desire Realm."

"This is not something that can be taken casually," Shamansan said. "Why do you want the Desire Realm?"

"I am trying to fight against the demonic thoughts, and for that, the Desire Realm is necessary," Li Qi replied.

Shamansan chuckled lightly: "This answer isn't very clever. Shaman Dao has no intention of fighting against the Demonic Dao, nor is there any need."

Li Qi, of course, understood this, and he could almost anticipate that Shamansan would answer this way.

The First Grade, with the exception of the demonic thoughts whom Li Qi couldn't fathom, and the overly pure Haotian, all the other First Grade he had met so far, in Li Qi's eyes, shared a common characteristic.

That is, they had no regard for profit, no regard for life, no personal grudges, and were even too lazy to engage in conflict with others.

They simply did their own things, wanting to achieve their own goals, nothing more.

However, when they did their own things and achieved their goals, they often encountered other First Grade. When no one was willing to give way, battles would ensue, leading to 'Dao contention'.

But the essence of this struggle did not involve any personal hatred. Perhaps these mutually restraining First Grade had a good relationship, but they still had to fight to the death.

Similarly, in the absence of any Dao contention, First Grade rarely chose to seek trouble with others. They were too busy with their own affairs to have so much time to cause trouble.

Therefore, Shamansan had neither hatred nor animosity towards the demonic thoughts. Without Dao contention, it was impossible for Li Qi to persuade him. Li Qi could not sway a First Grade's decision.

"So, it's not a conflict between Shaman Dao and the Demonic Dao, but my personal conflict with the demonic thoughts. The Desire Realm itself was cultivated by me. It shouldn't be unreasonable for me to want to take it back," Li Qi said.

Shamansan shook his head: "You once used the Third Grade to cultivate an organization called Qi Palace. So, was Qi Palace established by these Third Grade?"

This question was very pointed.

Undoubtedly, in the establishment of Qi Palace, those Third Grade contributed greatly; one could even say they poured their heart and soul into it. The actions of Qi Palace, its specific operations, and even the creation and closure of many possibilities were all done by them.

For some of them, Qi Palace was their life's work.

But from Li Qi's perspective, none of this seemed so straightforward, because... just like a child, they actually served as 'nannies,' but the reason for this child's birth and the environment in which it grew were all orchestrated by Li Qi.

Li Qi merely used their hands to create the future he desired.

What Shamansan was saying was that the Desire Realm was merely something he had obtained by borrowing Li Qi's hand, and using this reason to take the Desire Realm away wouldn't quite work.

So Li Qi could only sigh: "Shaman Dao, just tell me directly, what use is controlling the Desire Realm to you? Is there anywhere you can use it?"

"Of course," Shamansan said. "Otherwise, why would I take the Desire Realm?"

With that, Shamansan seemed to have no intention of hiding it from Li Qi. He directly opened his hand, and immediately, the Desire Realm appeared from his palm.

At that instant, Li Qi's consciousness seemed to be drawn away.

He saw the tiny Desire Realm in his palm, with its myriad beings, bustling and toiling.

What Li Qi saw within it was an arena, where the Universe's two great adversaries, two 'viewpoints'—one material, one spiritual—were donning disguises, preparing for a desperate battle.

The Desire Realm and the material world were locked in a life-and-death struggle within a kind of semi-Awakening spiritual world.

In the cities and villages of the Desire Realm, in countless worlds and even planets, in endless forests, oceans, cosmic spaces, and even in the clouds of gaseous giant planets, and in every nook and cranny where life could exist, a great struggle concerning thought and reality was brewing everywhere.

This kind of battle was an astonishing situation for the beings of the Desire Realm, and it would destroy everything they took for granted.

All happiness, all capacity for scrutiny, speculative imagination, all creative thought, and all goals for a great life became foolish, ridiculous, self-indulgent acts.

How to face such an era? As an ordinary person in the Desire Realm, how can one have the courage to face all of this?

How can one both face the struggles of this era and maintain an intact mind?

How can one prevent the struggles of this era from destroying the integrity of the spirit within us? Know that in this world, they live for a complete spirit.

By observing this struggle, Shamansan was gradually understanding the world of pure spirit, and how the power of spirit influences reality and the material world.

So that's… that's why Shamansan wanted to take the Desire Realm.

He was using the nature of the Desire Realm to study the place of pure spiritual power in 'natural' phenomena.

After all, the Desire Realm was personally crafted by the demonic thoughts, and its unique properties could not be replicated by Shaman Dao. Clearly, this was good Materials for study.

This struggle would profoundly reveal the nature of demonic thoughts and spirit, natures that Li Qi had never encountered.

"This is the use of the Desire Realm to me. If you understand the use of the Desire Realm, if you find something similar, I might be able to exchange the Desire Realm with you," Shamansan said.

Upon hearing this.

Li Qi suddenly smiled with relief.

"So that's how it is, so... Shaman Dao, do you want me to go to the Spirit Dao?" Li Qi asked.

Only the Spirit Dao could achieve this. It was a Dao Orthodoxy of pure concepts, similar to the Demonic Dao yet completely different.

"It doesn't necessarily have to be you, but there is indeed something I want from the Spirit Dao, it's just inconvenient for me to get it myself," Shamansan admitted directly, without evasion.

Li Qi could only smile wryly.

It really didn't have to be him.

Shamansan had clearly made his plans. As long as the Desire Realm was in his hands, someone would always want it.

As long as someone wanted it, they would have to do this work for Shamansan.

Regardless of whether that person succeeded or not, Shamansan himself would definitely succeed. There would be a continuous stream of people working for free for Shamansan, and if they didn't succeed, they wouldn't get paid.

But even knowing it was a trap, Li Qi couldn't not jump into it. At the very least... Shamansan's trap was clearly priced, not some conspiracy, but laid out in the open.

It wasn't entirely unacceptable.

"Then, what is it that you want?" (End of Chapter)