Chapter 1012: Kasyapa

Li Qi ultimately did not force Bei Jia.

There was no need.

He quickly left Bei Jia and returned to Shaman God Mountain.

Near Shaman God Mountain, at Shamansan's residence, Li Qi visited Shamansan again.

At this moment, Shamansan was sitting at the bow of a small boat, drifting down a river, with a young girl standing beside him, who had just reached the Seventh Grade, looking lively, cute, and full of vigor.

How should I put it, Li Qi had never experienced such vigor in his life.

According to Zhu Fengdan, Li Qi was already filled with a sense of decline when he was in the Eighth Grade, looking as if he had no youthful appearance at all.

But this young girl was different.

In silk slippers and a brocade dress, she laughed lightly amidst the breeze, playfully showing off her water magic next to Shamansan, making the boat's bow wet, yet the boat moved, breaking the shimmering water, crushing layers of green clouds.

At this moment, she was talking to Shamansan about something, seemingly asking Shamansan to agree to something for her.

Li Qi stepped out and landed on Shamansan's boat.

The moment he landed, the boat jolted due to the change in weight, and the young girl, who had been focused on the water splashes in her hands, lost her footing for a moment and let out a small cry as she began to fall.

However, being a Seventh Grade cultivator, how could she fall due to such a small matter? She simply twisted her body lightly, clouds formed under her feet, and she flew over gracefully, saying unhappily, "Where did this person come from? Appearing so suddenly without any etiquette?"

"The matter is quite important, so please bear with me," Li Qi casually replied, then walked towards Shamansan.

Shamansan smiled, "Looking at you, have you been to the North Pole and met the Spirit Dao?"

Li Qi nodded, "Yes, I've seen it. It's a bit difficult to handle. You've really given me a tough problem."

The young girl, seeing Li Qi dare to speak to Shamansan in such a tone, immediately shrank back obediently, found a place nearby, and sat properly, waiting for the two to finish talking.

But Li Qi ignored her and said to Shamansan, "Given the state of the Spirit Dao, honestly, it's very hard to deal with."

"If it wasn't difficult, I would have gone myself. Why would I need to find someone? By the way, let me just say, there's only one chance to contact the Spirit Dao. If it doesn't work once, even I couldn't find a second way in. Did you get in?" Shamansan asked.

Li Qi's expression froze.

"So this is why you're looking for us suckers?" Li Qi's tone was a bit stiff.

"What do you mean suckers? If I can't get in, naturally I need others to help. You're helping me, and I'm not not paying you, so how is that being a sucker?" Shamansan replied, "So, coming back to it, were you rejected?"

"Hmm... I saw what you mentioned, the equivalent of the Desire Realm, that 'unfolding concept.' Just when I wanted to make a move, I was repelled by the concept, and after that, I couldn't find it again," Li Qi sighed, shaking his head. "Can I never go there again?"

"Yes, you can't go there again. That's how the Spirit Dao is. It seems you'll have to be like me and find some agents?" Shamansan asked.

Li Qi was speechless.

He let out a long sigh, then looked up at the sky, "Why didn't you tell me when I set off?"

Shamansan laughed heartily, "I really wanted to tell you, but if I told you, you would definitely be hesitant and drag it out indefinitely. It's better to let you take a shot."

"Is this taking a shot? Isn't this wasting an opportunity?!" Li Qi frowned.

"Did you waste an opportunity?" Shamansan retorted.

"Of course I did. If I had been prepared beforehand, the outcome wouldn't have been like this," Li Qi said helplessly, "Why the rush? Do you really not want to give me the Desire Realm?"

"What preparations could you have made beforehand?" Shamansan shook his head, "It would just be endless deliberation, dragging out a lot of time. If it doesn't work once, it basically means it's impossible."

Li Qi was furious. Shamansan was clearly talking nonsense. He always investigated thoroughly before acting. If he had been given the chance to properly investigate, things would not have come to this point.

But since things had come to this, he had no choice but to sigh.

"Alright, so, this is the next person you're preparing to throw in?" Li Qi glanced at the young girl sitting properly beside them.

"Hmm, I suppose so," Shamansan's attitude remained indifferent, with an infuriating calmness.

Li Qi was seething with anger but could do nothing. He simply stood up, let out a long sigh, and then flicked his sleeve, departing.

Shamansan remained quietly seated, his expression serene.

After Li Qi left, the young girl immediately stood up and skipped over to Shamansan, "Teacher, who was that person just now?"

"His name is Li Qi. He's a very powerful person, a Ordained Invoker from the Zhu Rong lineage. He's currently a Second Grade cultivator," Shamansan replied, "But don't worry too much, he has a very good temper and won't bother with you."

"Second Grade, huh..." The young girl looked in the direction Li Qi had left. "So, Teacher, are you... trying to make him work for you?"

Shamansan shook his head, "He was before, but not anymore. Li Qi can't work now, but his Master can."

"His Master?" The young girl tilted her head.

"His Master is very powerful. It's no exaggeration to say he's the greatest thief in the entire Universe. But I can't invite him, so I'll have to ask Li Qi to do it," Shamansan said, sitting at the bow of the boat, perfectly content.

The young girl's heart was clearly not on this matter, so she chattered about other things.

The schemes of the old folks clearly wouldn't fall on her. Young people enjoyed their joyful childhoods, and as for external matters, someone would always shield them from the wind and rain.

——————————

Soon, in Zhu Fengdan's Immortal Cave.

It was clearly much better here than before.

Previously, this place was practically a junkyard, and it was filled with items of no low rank, all sorts of Spiritual Artifacts salvaged from who knew where, discarded like trash everywhere.

Moreover, in a sense, this trash was essentially radioactive.

The aura emanating from high-grade items, when not restrained by Restrictions, was almost devastating to the outside world. And with so many high-grade wondrous items piled together, their auras mixed, creating an overwhelming pressure that directly resulted in Zhu Fengdan's Immortal Cave being barren of any vegetation. Without some serious skill, one couldn't survive here.

This was why his Immortal Cave was so desolate.

Almost no demonic creatures could be born here, and virtually no mundane creatures could survive here. If something were to be born here, it would certainly be a very powerful natural anomaly, perhaps some small monster that, if unleashed, would disrupt many worlds.

However, for now, no such small monster has been able to survive in this place, as the difficulty is still too high.

Just then, someone arrived, breaking the desolate tranquility.

Without a doubt, it was Li Qi.

Li Qi walked lightly into the place, covering his nose.

Wow, I haven't been here in years, and it feels like those high-grade wondrous items inside have fermented. If they''re left to stew for a bit longer, I feel like a huge monster will pop out.

What level would that be...

As he was thinking this, Zhu Fengdan's voice came from inside: "Yo, disciple, why did you suddenly come to my place? This lonely old man hasn't seen you in a while."

"Master, if I weren't also a Second Grade cultivator, I would truly be humbly apologizing. But it's only been two or three hundred million years, millions of epochs. If I really came to see you every epoch, you'd probably be chasing me out with a stick," Li Qi, of course, wouldn't be intimidated by Zhu Fengdan's words now, and just walked in casually.

Then, in his hand, he carried some local specialties brought back from the Spirit Dao. They were a form of 'concept,' invisible in this material world, but Zhu Fengdan could perceive them.

"I'll just leave these here for you, alright? By the way, when are you going to clean up this messy place of yours? If you don't want to do it yourself, find someone to clean it up..." Li Qi placed the items in Zhu Fengdan's pile of trash.

Nearby, a giant Phoenix respectfully bowed to Li Qi.

Li Qi returned the bow. He was quite familiar with this giant Phoenix. This Fourth Grade Phoenix was the one that had carried Li Qi to Mount Luofu for the marriage proposal, and it was also the one that had carried Li Qi to Tang Nation.

This giant Phoenix was still Fourth Grade, which was normal. Not everyone ascended as quickly as Li Qi. Not to mention Li Qi, even the Little Celestial Master's cultivation speed was almost beyond everyone's reach.

"Clean what? Isn't it nice just sitting here? Look, this is called art! I've named it 'Treasure Mountain'!" Zhu Fengdan emerged, wearing a loose robe, looking very satisfied with the pile of things in his courtyard.

Li Qi glanced at it.

Alright then.

The words "Treasure Mountain" truly couldn't be faulted by him.

If this wasn't a Treasure Mountain, what was?

"So, what brings you to me? I heard you've been quite busy recently with demon extermination, doing pretty well, huh? Many people have heard of your reputation and come to pledge allegiance to you," Zhu Fengdan said.

"What are you talking about? Do I only come to you when I have something to ask?" Li Qi pouted, "Can't I just be here to show filial respect?"

"Oh, please. With your personality, you wouldn't come to me unless you had something. Just tell me honestly, otherwise I'm going to sleep," Zhu Fengdan said with disdain.

Li Qi laughed heartily. His Master truly understood him.

So, without being coy, he directly told Zhu Fengdan the truth.

About the Desire Realm, about the scheme with the Demonic Prince, and about the transaction between the Spirit Dao and Shamansan.

He laid it all out.

Then, Li Qi looked at Zhu Fengdan and said, "So, Master, what do you say?"

Zhu Fengdan also looked at Li Qi, "Mmm-hmm, you want me to use the Spirit Dao to help you steal something?"

Li Qi smiled without speaking.

Master and disciple exchanged glances, then burst into laughter together.

They were indeed Master and disciple, with great tacit understanding.

Why steal from the Spirit Dao when they could just steal from the Desire Realm?

If Shamansan, that old geezer, wanted to scheme against people, why be polite? It wasn't the first time Zhu Fengdan had done something like this. Stealing from the Spirit Dao might get them chased, but if they stole from Shamansan, what could he do?

Eliminate Li Qi and Zhu Fengdan?

Don't be ridiculous. Shamansan would most likely suffer in silence.

As for whether this was Shamansan's own arrangement, meant to induce Zhu Fengdan to do this?

That didn't matter. Act first, ask questions later.

Outlaws didn't consider such things. Getting the Desire Realm was a win.

Any problems afterward could be dealt with then.

Anyway, for a Second Grade cultivator, as long as you don't want to win, you won't lose.

Who can't just give up? It's quite difficult to eliminate the possibility of a Second Grade cultivator, especially when they're hiding like a turtle.

——————————

Just as Li Qi and his Master Zhu Fengdan were plotting how to deal with Shamansan—

The Demonic Prince, however, was facing an uninvited guest.

This uninvited guest was named 'Kasyapa'.

Kasyapa, one of the Buddha's disciples, was the most terrifyingly talented among them. After becoming a Buddha's disciple, he attained the Arhat realm (Fourth Grade) eight days later, known as 'Foremost in Asceticism'.

Asceticism refers to severe self-discipline and abstinence. Kasyapa was the most capable of enduring hardship and the most resolute in his beliefs among the Buddha's disciples.

Currently, Kasyapa was a Third Grade cultivator.

With the disappearance of Buddhism, Sariputra had entered Nirvana, Rahula had gone mad, transforming into a star that disturbed the heavens, and Maudgalyāyana focused on demon extermination. Only two Buddha's disciples were still striving for the former monastic order: Ananda and Kasyapa.

Kasyapa had been organizing the Buddha's posthumous manuscripts. He always claimed to have inherited the World Honored One Tathagata's responsibility to propagate the Buddha-Dharma, and thus refused to retreat.

And now, Kasyapa's sudden visit to the Demonic Prince surprised even the Demonic Prince himself.

"Mahakasyapa, why are you bothering with me instead of managing your monastic order?" The Demonic Prince asked Kasyapa before him.

Although Buddhism had perished, it had split into many smaller Dao Orthodoxy. Some joined the Human Path, while others formed their own sects. Among them, the one that claimed to be the 'orthodox' was the sect established by Kasyapa.

Many said that after the Buddha's Nirvana, only someone as steadfast and unyielding as Kasyapa could manage the remaining monks without them splitting apart.

After the Buddha's Nirvana, the current Buddhism could only be sustained by Kasyapa.

And now, Kasyapa said to the Demonic Prince, "Before the World Honored One entered Nirvana, he once said that I would achieve the Bodhisattva fruit in a future life, becoming Kasyapa Bodhisattva."

"Mm," the Demonic Prince nodded.

What did that have to do with him?

The Demonic Prince cared nothing for such things.

Just as many years ago, the Demonic Prince was a single-minded person. Even if there were a thousand paths before him, he would always only see one.

Kasyapa was not in a hurry, merely saying, "But before the World Honored One entered Nirvana, he also said to you... that you would achieve Buddhahood in the future."

"Mm," the Demonic Prince continued to nod, his gaze now filled with confusion.

Was Kasyapa here for revenge?

Unable to solve his own problems, was he looking for someone else to be the problem to solve?

It couldn't be, was it a demonic thoughts at work?

"The World Honored One also said another person would achieve Buddhahood. In the future, Sariputra would achieve the Hua Guang Tathagata," Kasyapa added.

The Demonic Prince was getting annoyed.

Then Kasyapa said, "Maudgalyāyana is dead."

This made the Demonic Prince serious. "Oh? The Demonic Dao did it?"

"Yes, it was the Demonic Dao. Maudgalyāyana slaughtered hundreds of millions in City of Dreams. His Karma was too deep, and Divine Ability ultimately cannot escape Karma, so I came to find you."