Chapter 116: Fight for the chance (seeking first order)

“No, you have rendered great service this time. It would be against the rules not to reward you. Although I cannot bestow a reward on you on behalf of myself, I still have to show my appreciation,” the star said.

“Although your talent is exceptional, you are still young, barely twenty years old, and your Cultivation is shallow. It’s not suitable for a lavish reward, and I can’t think of anything good at the moment. Why don’t you tell me what you want?”

The Grand Diviner threw the choice to Li Qi.

He seemed very relaxed.

But Li Qi was sweating.

If he said something that displeased the other party, would he die?

However, he should answer immediately at this moment. If he thought too much, the other party might think he wasn't sincere but was carefully considering how to curry favor.

So, Li Qi only pondered for a moment, then immediately bowed and said, “This junior has no other wish. I only ask the Grand Diviner to trouble himself to inform my Teacher that this junior has not failed his mission and has successfully found Empress Luofu. That would be enough.”

After saying this, Li Qi secretly glanced at the Grand Diviner.

Unfortunately, the other party was just a star now, with no expression at all, making it impossible to read his Face.

“Good, what is your Teacher’s name?” the Grand Diviner asked.

This is bad.

Sweat beaded on Li Qi’s forehead.

What was Young Master Zhu’s name again?

He didn't know.

However, he immediately reacted and presented the willow branch: “I dare not ask my Teacher’s name, nor dare I address him directly, but this willow branch was given by my Teacher. The Grand Diviner should be able to tell.”

The Grand Diviner, however, looked at Li Qi’s willow branch and shook his head: “Oh, it’s that kid. He actually took a Disciple? Are you an apprentice or an inner Disciple?”

“Naturally, I am an apprentice,” Li Qi replied.

“Indeed, that kid has never had a Disciple, not even an apprentice. You are the first. Good, I have already informed him. Now, I will take Luofu and leave.”

Before leaving, he asked Shen Shuibi again: “Moon Essence, do you want to return with Luofu?”

“Niangniang should… be fine now, right? I hope the Grand Diviner can tell me how long it will take for Niangniang’s true spirit to recover,” Shen Shuibi asked in return when she heard the question.

“Of course, she is fine. Do you think my Shaman God Mountain cannot protect even Empress Luofu? As for the recovery of her true spirit, it will take at least ten years, or up to a hundred years. We still need to calculate it slowly after returning,” the Grand Diviner replied proudly.

Upon hearing this answer, Shen Shuibi glanced at Li Qi and whispered, “Li Qi, do you want to return to Shaman God Mountain to Cultivate as well?”

“My Cultivation has dispersed, and I have to start over anyway, so there isn’t much difference in where I Cultivate,” Shen Shuibi whispered, while glancing at Li Qi: “If you want to return to Shaman God Mountain, we can go back together. If you don’t go, then I… still want to stay by Niangniang’s side and wait for her to awaken.”

What could Li Qi think after hearing this?

If he didn't go to Shaman God Mountain now, was he going to wait until he died?

Since he had acknowledged a Teacher, it was normal to return to his School, right?

Li Qi quickly said, “Grand Diviner, may I be taken back to the School with you?”

“It doesn’t matter. You two can decide for yourselves,” the Grand Diviner seemed very casual and unpretentious.

However, at this moment, a voice came.

“Who said you could go back? Is he your Teacher, or am I your Teacher?” Young Master Zhu’s body emerged from the Void Realm, still in the scholar’s appearance.

The Grand Diviner had just informed him, and he had already appeared here directly.

“Young Master,” Li Qi immediately bowed.

He dared not call him Teacher, so he still called him Young Master.

“You completed the mission very well, but wanting to return to the mountain now is a bit unpromising,” Young Master Zhu said to Li Qi after appearing.

As soon as he appeared, everyone present looked over at him.

Before anyone could respond, Young Master Zhu looked at the Grand Diviner and said with dissatisfaction, “Old man, what do you mean? Taking my student back to the mountain now, do you want to ruin his future?”

“You sharp-tongued brat, I won’t argue with you. He’s your student anyway, do as you please,” the Grand Diviner, upon seeing Young Master Zhu arrive, actually just left directly.

He left…

Hey, you left Shen Shuibi and Yang Ning behind! And what do you mean by ruining my future!

Li Qi, Shen Shuibi, and Yang Ning were all dumbfounded.

Is he that unreliable? How could he just leave!

“Alright, you two idlers, disperse. I want to have a private word with my student.” Young Master Zhu, who suddenly appeared, waved his hand, and Li Qi felt his body move uncontrollably.

In an instant, the surrounding scenery changed abruptly, transforming into the Chaos space within the altar.

And Shen Shuibi and Yang Ning were gone, leaving only Li Qi and the smiling Young Master Zhu.

Li Qi respectfully lowered his head, waiting for the other party to speak.

“Hmm, well done. Although you are an outsider, I cannot deduce what you have done during this time, but to be able to find Empress Luofu and endure two sixth-rank demon kings while calling the Grand Diviner, it shows that you truly put effort into it, and your ability is not bad. No, you haven’t even entered the ranks yet, so I should say you are exceptionally outstanding,” Young Master Zhu said to Li Qi with a smile.

“Young Master, you flatter me,” Li Qi naturally had to be modest.

“You don’t need to call me Young Master. You can call me Teacher now,” Young Master Zhu said.

“Disciple greets Teacher!” Li Qi immediately bowed and shouted without hesitation.

He had finally latched onto this powerful backer!

After calmly accepting Li Qi’s bow, Young Master Zhu said again, “Do you know why I didn’t let you return directly to Shaman God Mountain?”

Li Qi, of course, didn’t know, so he answered truthfully, “Disciple doesn’t know.”

“If you return to Shaman God Mountain now, due to my seniority, you won’t Cultivate slowly like ordinary Disciples, but will directly enter the mountain. And with Moon Essence Shen Shuibi by your side, you’ll attract too much attention. Your Cultivation is not enough now, so you’ll be beaten to death if you go back. Even if you don’t die, your Dao Heart might be lost, and you’ll become a cripple,” Young Master Zhu explained.

Li Qi was embarrassed and boldly asked, “Teacher, may I ask… are you very unpopular?”

Young Master Zhu’s expression remained unchanged: “There are too many mediocre people on Shaman God Mountain, so it’s normal that we don’t get along.”

Li Qi wiped his forehead.

Alright, he understood.

You’ve offended too many people, and as your student, if my level isn’t high enough, it’s easy for something to happen when I go back…

“What then? What arrangements does Teacher have for me?” Li Qi asked.

As a Teacher, he should make some arrangements, right?

“Of course! This place is about three million li from Shaman God Mountain. I’ll give you a scroll of techniques. You can walk back to Shaman God Mountain from here, and finish learning the techniques along the way. After you return, you naturally won’t be afraid of them anymore!” Young Master Zhu clapped his hands and said proudly, “This arrangement will be very safe for you.”

Li Qi was dumbfounded after hearing this.

Sir, walking 1.5 million kilometers, an old horse travels eight hundred li a day, which would take ten years.

Do you want me to die?

“Why are you looking at me like that? Can’t you make progress and only ever travel eight hundred li a day? Alright, it’s settled then.” Young Master Zhu immediately made a decision when he saw Li Qi’s expression.

“Don’t worry, how could I really make you walk for ten years? Barring any accidents, after you enter the ranks in the first year, you’ll be able to travel by wind. This distance, after you reach the eighth rank, you’ll finish it in one or two years.”

“Teacher, do you think I can reach the eighth rank in two or three years? I’ve heard along the way that some people are stuck at the ninth rank for their entire lives…” Li Qi was first speechless, then said to Young Master Zhu.

“That’s ‘some people,’ not you. With the aid of the external Dao’s Dao Resonance, what difficulty is the eighth rank for you?” Young Master Zhu raised an eyebrow, not caring.

Li Qi, however, felt like he was about to dehydrate.

“External… Dao Resonance?” He repeated in a dry voice.

“What? You didn’t notice? I feel like it’s there?” Young Master Zhu leaned over and reached out to grab.

Li Qi immediately felt his vision begin to fill with static.

The progress bars, which had become accustomed to existing, all began to flicker violently!

Then, they were forcibly pulled out of his vision!

“Do you feel any change? Look, this is your external Dao’s Dao Resonance. It’s a trace of Innate Dao Resonance you accidentally obtained by crossing the Major Thousand Worlds. It usually exists in a way that aligns with your own thoughts. It can be considered a good Opportunity. Below the sixth rank, it can exert miraculous effects, but once you reach the fifth rank and can cross realms, this kind of thing is nothing. You’ll be able to obtain it easily then,” Young Master Zhu said casually, holding a ball of something Li Qi couldn’t see at all.

Then, he slapped it forward, and Li Qi felt another moment of trance. When he opened his eyes again, everything was restored.

Yes, it was confirmed.

His Golden Finger was indeed nothing. It could really be kneaded at will.

They said other people’s Golden Finger were so powerful that even the top big shots would fall for them. Why was his even analyzed to its essence, and even evaluated by his Teacher as ‘easily obtainable’?

Opportunity… his hidden cheat was actually just an ordinary Opportunity.

Indeed, there was no such thing as a protagonist in the world.

“I respectfully obey Teacher’s command. I will depart from here and head to Shaman God Mountain,” Li Qi replied respectfully.

“Don’t rush, I haven’t given you your reward yet,” Young Master Zhu stopped Li Qi.

“Although I don’t know what you experienced on the way, you actually faced two sixth-rank demon kings and held on. Not bad, you did very well. You truly are my student,” Young Master Zhu praised.

It’s as if you taught me anything…

Li Qi muttered in his heart.

Thump, a stone suddenly hit Li Qi’s head, making him dizzy and almost lose his balance.

However, he was not injured.

“Slandering your Teacher, you deserve to be hit. Although I haven’t taught you, you can’t say it out loud. You can’t even think it in front of me. Don’t you know that for Cultivators above the seventh rank, your thoughts are like shouting loudly in my ear? If you dare to think like that in front of anyone above the seventh rank again, you might not be able to walk back to Shaman God Mountain. This is a lesson for you,” Young Master Zhu said nonchalantly.

As he spoke, he stretched out his hand.

Immediately, the Chaos space split directly!

“When heaven and earth first opened, there were no human figures between them, hence it was called Chaos.”

“Later, the light and clear ascended, there were sun, moon, stars, and constellations. Therefore, the sun, moon, stars, and constellations are called the Four Symbols,” Young Master Zhu whispered.

As soon as his voice fell, the primitive Chaos sky around them suddenly cleared, and the sun, moon, and stars hung together in the sky, revolving around the earth!

Then, the sun, moon, stars, and constellations collapsed again, each transforming into a wisp of clear Qi that fell into his hand.

“I bestow upon you these Four Symbols Qi of the sun, moon, and stars, each with a wisp, each with its own wondrous use. You can study them in detail, and perhaps gain something. You can also use them directly if you encounter danger, and they can help you escape four life-and-death crises, providing some protection for your journey,” Young Master Zhu said to Li Qi, then waved his hand.

Four wisps of clear Qi surged into Li Qi’s body and lay dormant within him.

After doing all this, Young Master Zhu floated away, leaving Li Qi with a receding back.

He even left without saying goodbye.

Li Qi stood in the Chaos space, respectfully bowing to the retreating figure for a full five minutes.

Then, he raised his head, and the words he had suppressed for so long finally burst out.

Damn it, there’s a reason you’re unpopular!

He should be gone, right? He didn’t hear it, did he?

This Teacher is really unreliable!

— — — — — — — — — —

However.

Young Master Zhu wasn’t entirely unreliable.

As a reward for Li Qi successfully completing the task, and to ensure his smooth journey, Young Master Zhu gave Li Qi four wisps of Divine Qi, originating from the sun, moon, and stars, which should be very powerful.

Then, along with these four wisps of Divine Qi, Li Qi also received his inheritance. The techniques Young Master Zhu gave him were a new book in his mind, filled with 120 different techniques, estimated to be what he would learn over the next ten years.

Subsequently, Li Qi left the Chaos space and returned to White Snake Mountain.

Standing on the mountain, there was no one around.

It seemed that Shen Shuibi and Yang Ning must have returned, right?

“But… this can be considered a good thing, right?” Li Qi said to himself with a bitter smile.

Compared to those high and mighty Immortals, he was truly as humble as dust. To be able to get involved, he had to thank that Young Master Zhu, his cheap teacher.

He didn't seem to have told him his name yet.

Never mind, he would just call him Teacher.

After this, he would have to walk to Shaman God Mountain alone.

No, there was still Old Ma. He was a truly loyal brother, unlike women who just left whenever they wanted.

Wait, where was Old Ma?

Damn it, where was Old Ma?!

Li Qi panicked. He looked around and found that Old Ma was really gone!

This was bad news.

He wasn't really going to walk 1.5 million kilometers, was he?

Damn it, the distance to the moon was only 300,000 kilometers. Was he going to walk five times the Earth-Moon distance?

Li Qi quickly searched everywhere for Old Ma. Had he fallen down?

However, just as he looked down, he saw Old Ma carrying Shen Shuibi, slowly walking up from below.

Shen Shuibi was still the same, looking dazed, her whole being exuding an ethereal, otherworldly aura, as if she didn't belong to this mortal world.

Li Qi looked at Old Ma, then at Shen Shuibi on top.

The two looked at each other.

Then Old Ma galloped over, nuzzled Li Qi, and snorted, seemingly happy that Li Qi was fine.

And Li Qi also noticed that Old Ma seemed to have grown some scales on his neck's mane?

But that wasn't important. What was important was that Shen Shuibi was still here.

“Shen Guniang… why didn't you return to Shaman God Mountain with Yang Ning Guniang?” Li Qi suppressed his emotions and politely asked Shen Shuibi.

“Ah… that, I asked that Grand Invoker how he planned to deal with you.” Shen Shuibi seemed a little embarrassed, twirling her hair with her finger while sitting on the horse, she said: “He said he planned to make you walk back to Shaman God Mountain, considering it a form of tempering for you.”

“I asked how long it would take to walk.”

“He said, probably four or five years.”

“Then, he said it didn't seem very long, and Empress Luofu would also take ten to one hundred years to wake up. So, he suggested that I temporarily not go to Shaman God Mountain and simply walk back with you. It doesn't seem to delay anything, does it?” Shen Shuibi didn't know how to explain, so her logic was a bit muddled.

“I thought about it, and it seemed so, so I agreed.”

After Shen Shuibi finished speaking, she looked at Li Qi.

“I see.” Li Qi, on the other hand, calmly nodded after hearing this: “Then let's go.”

Calm my ass! It was my fault for slandering Teacher just now! You are truly my great benefactor! If others have a problem with you, it must be their fault!

“Mm!” Shen Shuibi nodded, and the two looked at each other in silence.

However, they soon smiled again. Li Qi led the horse, Shen Shuibi sat on it, and the two descended the mountain together.

Li Qi didn't know what to say. He just felt his mind was in Chaos, probably because Young Master Zhu had beaten him silly, and his usual quick wit and intelligence were gone.

He didn't even ask why Old Ma had grown some scales. However, he figured Old Ma must have also gained some benefits. Young Master Zhu shouldn't be that stingy, right?

Right?

They walked down the mountain like this, and halfway down, they saw flags fluttering in the distance. It was a carriage procession!

The carriages were exquisitely beautiful, pulled by four Dragon Steeds, each eight feet tall, adorned with silk, cinnabar, lacquer, silk, cotton, large bamboo, small bamboo, and gold.

The so-called 'four horses make a chariot' meant this was a carriage befitting the ceremony of a high official.

A whole train of carriages was arranged behind, forming a complete ceremonial procession. It looked like they were specifically waiting for a distinguished guest.

“What is that?” Li Qi raised his head, his gaze regaining clarity.

With this external stimulus, his lost intelligence immediately reasserted itself.

“Looking at the flags, it seems to be the Prefect's carriage. Wait, the Prefect of White Snake Prefecture?” Li Qi frowned, temporarily unsure what to do.

But before he could make up his mind, a voice suddenly came.

The voice appeared out of thin air beside his ear, saying: “Your humble subordinate has personally come to greet Young Master. Today, with the two Grand Diviners and Grand Invoker gracing our prefecture, the provisions are crude, and the welcoming ceremony is lacking. I feel ashamed and have no Face to keep the two of you, but seeing that Young Master is still here and has not left, I presume Young Master must possess a compassionate root, a kind heart, benevolence, and a magnanimous spirit, and will not find fault here. Therefore, I have specially prepared a humble feast here to welcome Young Master and the young lady to take their seats!”

Li Qi understood upon hearing this.

Well, Teacher had a lot of Face.

He had only passed by and hadn't even stayed, yet he had already scared the Prefect of White Snake Prefecture silly. He probably rushed here frantically to greet him.

So, Li Qi spoke: “Prefect, there's no need for this. We are merely passing through. Let's skip the banquet!”

As soon as he finished speaking, Shen Shuibi suddenly bent down and said to him: “This kind of banquet will have a lot of Heaven And Earth Treasure…”

Li Qi blinked upon hearing this.

At this moment, the voice said: “Young Master, there's no need to be modest. I presume Young Master is heading to Shaman God Mountain. Why not ride with your humble subordinate? Not only will it be faster, but it will also allow your humble subordinate to fulfill his duty as a host and express his sincerity!”

Li Qi listened to the other party's tone and couldn't help but sigh.

Was this what it felt like to have someone backing you?

Although Shaman God Mountain seemed to be at war with Tang Nation, which made him very afraid, in this Shaman Dao-governed territory, no matter what, having a Grand Invoker as his teacher instantly changed his status.

However, Li Qi also knew his place. He understood that the other party respected not him, but feared his powerful backing.

So he didn't dare to be too arrogant, and with Shen Shuibi's reminder, he softened his tone: “Since the Prefect has made such preparations, this junior can only accept respectfully!”

“Haha, Young Master, why do you say that? To be able to travel with Young Master is this old man's good fortune.” The Prefect's voice came.

Li Qi pouted.

He was just a humble subordinate, and now he was an old man. These people really knew how to push their luck.

However, since it was decided, there was no need for further pretense.

Li Qi waited in place.

After a while, the carriage came up the mountain.

At this moment, Li Qi finally saw that this carriage was truly… enormous.

Rather than a carriage, it was more like a fifty-square-meter studio apartment had been carried up the mountain.

Four Dragon Steeds, slightly shorter than Old Ma, pulled the carriage, with pack animals below. The carriage itself had Talismanic Incantation patterns, seemingly guiding the presence of certain 'Qi', making this luxurious studio apartment very stable.

Behind them, an honor guard followed, with clear ranks, setting up camps and tents. Some held flags, some played instruments, some held umbrellas, some waved fans, equipped with banners, Dragon umbrellas, robes, and dancing banners and flowers, welcoming and cheering along the road, with pearls, jade, and brocade, exquisitely adorned, elegant music and songs, fresh and neat.

Behind them were soldiers, holding bows, arrows, swords, spears, crossbows, and axes, with lacquered leather armor and bone arrowheads. Each was nine feet tall, with heroic Faces. All stood tall, moving with a hazy, dusty mist, exuding mighty prestige.

Just one glance revealed the Prefect's immense authority and prosperity.

Another official led the way, coming before Li Qi, stopping the carriage, then lowering it and opening the door: “Please, Young Master and young lady, board the carriage and travel with the Prefect!”

Li Qi asked: “What about my horse?”

“Young Master's mount will be handled by the stable boy, no need to worry.”

Upon hearing this, Li Qi helped Shen Shuibi dismount. He didn't take any luggage and walked proudly into the carriage.

Upon entering, Li Qi felt a moment of dizziness.

Damn it, this wasn't a studio apartment at all, this was a huge villa inside!

The inside of the carriage was much larger than the outside. From the outside, it looked like a fifty-square-meter studio, but inside, it was a magnificent carved building.

Inside, crystalline light dazzled the eyes. Li Qi felt as if he had entered a grand hall. Inside, a ten-meter-tall redwood tree stood, adorned with pearl flowers, qiong flowers, and agate flowers, a dazzling array.

Looking around, windows were veiled, and railings surrounded. Five-colored crystalline light dazzled the eyes, and various jewels displayed their wonders.

Green and emerald hues, layer upon layer, and various flowers and plants, beautiful beyond compare, stretching as far as the eye could see.

As they walked inside, more than a dozen maidservants respectfully bowed, calling out: “Welcome, Young Master!”

A dozen beauties, each graceful and elegant, with fragrant cherry lips, smiling Faces, red skirts and blue shawls, exuding a fragrant breeze, their eyes flickering as if flowers filled the air.

Looking at the hall, there was a long table already filled with people, some civil officials, some military Dao Resonances, and some who didn't seem to have official positions, likely from Cultivation Schools.

On the long table, various delicacies were arranged, their aroma wafting. Maidservants attended, gracefully serving.

Above all this, a desk was set, where a middle-aged man with a dignified Face, dressed in official robes, sat at the head of the long table, extending his hand to invite Li Qi: “Come, Young Master, please be seated!”

Li Qi remained rooted to the spot, not moving.

To be honest, he was stunned by the scene.

However, Li Qi had seen countless CG movie special effects, so he had a slight resistance to such mystical scenes. He was only momentarily dazed, and the moment the Prefect of White Snake Prefecture spoke to him, he returned to normal.

“Thank you for the invitation, Prefect.” Li Qi cupped his hands, then led Shen Shuibi to sit on the other side of the long table, facing the Prefect across it, appearing very natural.

As Li Qi sat down, the others also spoke one after another:

“That Young Master could personally attend this banquet truly fills us with joy!”

“I once read about Grand Invoker's power in ancient texts, and seeing it today is truly shocking!”

“Those two demons, the Curse Demon and Bear Killer, have occupied White Snake Mountain for a long time. Fortunately, your esteemed master eliminated them, truly saving the countless residents of White Snake Prefecture from their dire predicament!”

All sorts of flattery poured towards Li Qi.

This scene was like a mayor inspecting a neighborhood committee.

However, fortunately, Li Qi could handle it. While exchanging pleasantries, he said: “I am new here and do not yet know the names of the esteemed gentlemen of White Snake Prefecture? Could you please enlighten me, so that we may interact in the future.”

“Young Master, why do you speak of yourself as humble? How can we conduct ourselves then? I am Tan You, the Director of Bandit Suppression for White Snake Prefecture.” One person spoke first.

“Exactly! If Young Master speaks of himself as humble, where would we have the Face to sit here? Someone without an official position like me would be even more awkward, wouldn't they? My North Gate Gang is merely involved in some transport operations.” Someone echoed, stiffly hinting at their identity.

For a time, Li Qi was surrounded by even more people.

He navigated the conversations, responding appropriately. Even if he occasionally made a social gaffe, no one would care.

Just as everyone helps lift a sedan chair, and many hands make light work, in such a situation, even if Li Qi was a useless person without rank, he seemed to have truly become some noble person.

Shen Shuibi huddled to the side. Her cultivation was completely lost. Without sufficient discernment or unique investigative techniques, it was difficult to discover her true nature as a Fifth Grade being.

She was very beautiful, but at this moment, she was timid and seemed cowardly, without any adornments or makeup. Therefore, compared to the beautiful maidservants, she was inconspicuous, only regarded as a maidservant of Young Master Li Qi or similar roles.

So, no one paid attention to her, just as no one paid attention to the other maidservants around them.

This allowed her to have the Opportunity to look around.

However, what she looked at most was still Li Qi.

Although Li Qi was currently surrounded by a crowd, seemingly carried away, Shen Shuibi could perceive that Li Qi was very aware of his own limitations. Although he seemed to be highly praised, he always maintained clear-headedness and was not swept away by it.

This made Shen Shuibi quite happy.

At least it was better than his previous dazed appearance, as if he had been hit by a rock.

However, Shen Shuibi still occasionally glanced at the Prefect of White Snake Prefecture above.

Aside from inviting Li Qi at the very beginning, he did nothing else, just watching the pleasantries below.

Hmm, Li Qi was still inexperienced. Now he's being looked down upon, right? If Li Qi paid too much attention to the people below, he would seem a bit frivolous.

Shen Shuibi thought about these things in her mind.

But it didn’t matter; there was no need to interact with these people anyway.

After conversing for a while, Li Qi felt a bit tired.

These people were very enthusiastic about building connections, but despite their enthusiasm, no one actually offered money or gifts.

Just chatting was fine, but a never-ending stream of people was indeed a bit annoying.

Fortunately, everyone here was sharp and quickly left Li Qi alone, not wanting to be the one to incur his displeasure.

Seeing this, the Prefect clapped his hands: “How can we always just chat? Let’s eat first, and we can talk while we eat!”

Everyone responded in agreement, and then the banquet began.

As the Prefect made a gesture, the attendant maids nearby began to move, serving dishes and pouring wine, attending to the distinguished guests.

In addition to the maids, a line of young women emerged, dressed in elaborate attire and makeup, like willows adorned with flying flowers. As far as the eye could see, their Faces were all beautiful, as if they were Heavenly Immortals.

Dozens of dancing girls bowed in unison, their postures respectful, then stood in formation. Each one wore long-sleeved palace robes, graceful and elegant, with delicate figures, moving with light lotus steps, and speaking in sweet, melodious voices.

After being seated, the music slowly began, and the dance unfolded gradually, with seven or eight young women moving like butterflies flitting through flowers, each performing her part.

First, there were musicians, a line of beautiful women. Some played, some blew, their sleeves neatly arranged. They slowly extended their slender hands, playing jade flutes, tapping sandalwood clappers, holding jade zithers, their singing harmonious and melodious, a continuous, enchanting sound filling the air.

Then came the dancers. Upon hearing the elegant music, which filled their ears, the dancing girls, with their fluttering skirts, lifted their robes and rolled up their sleeves, appearing and disappearing, their laughter clear and bright.

Occasionally, bluebirds chirped, their calls harmonizing with the elegant music. Inside the hall, young maidens danced gracefully, swaying as if carried by the wind.

When the young dancing girls approached, their bodies sometimes felt cool, like ice jade in midsummer, helping to quell the fire three inches below one’s abdomen. Yet, the cooler they were, the stronger the fire became.

At other times, their skin was very warm, like spring, causing one’s internal heat to rise.

The young women moved like swallows through flowers, and the myriad treasures also shone brilliantly, dancing along with the young women. Under the lamplight, myriad rays of colorful light undulated, with countless lamps burning, creating a breathtaking scene, like stars descending, or like five-colored clouds appearing, flickering indistinctly.

Moreover, the music resonated throughout, and the beautiful women, along with the countless treasures previously displayed, were activated simultaneously, like a sheet of crystal, dazzling the eyes, making it hard to know where to look.

Suddenly, the giant coral in the center of the main hall began to sway, and countless flower buds grew upon it.

The flowers bloomed brilliantly, combining five colors, each as large as a bucket.

Within the heart of each blooming flower, a beautiful woman appeared in various poses: some playing jade pipes, some strumming jade zithers, some blowing jade flutes. Instantly, a fragrant breeze diffused, and flowers covered the ground, with butterflies like orioles fluttering among them, resplendent like piled brocade.

In an instant, the entire hall seemed to have special effects added, with light spots dancing, petals scattering, and butterflies flitting through them.

Upon closer inspection of these butterflies, they were all tiny, exquisite beauties, each carved from pink jade. Aside from their size and the butterfly wings on their backs, they were indistinguishable from humans, and incredibly beautiful. They wore no clothes, flickering and darting in the air, making them hard to see clearly, which only intensified the desire to grab one, hold it in hand, and examine its body closely.

Li Qi was utterly astonished by what he saw.

At this moment, the maid beside him spoke opportunely: “Young Master, please look. This item was made by the Dao of Reason of Tang Nation, from the East Sea. Its name is ‘Mirage Tree,’ and it can project illusions like Daoist Masters, making it perfectly suited for banquets and entertainment.”

Li Qi nodded, indicating that he understood.

This thing… if used on the battlefield, wouldn’t it be like holographic invisibility?

It felt a bit wasteful for the Prefect to use it for banquet entertainment.

In addition to these, the myriad delicious delicacies on the table also dazzled him.

This made Li Qi feel a bit emotional.

The Boat Towmen and these high-ranking individuals truly lived completely different lives.

While enjoying the singing and dancing, he savored the exquisite food.

Li Qi discovered that he had never seen most of the food on the table…

Even before the banquet began, piles of servants had already set up the tableware, which had an ancient charm. Instead of plates, there were jues, zuns, zus, and shangs, which Li Qi often saw in sacrificial ceremonies.

In front of each person’s table, there was even a small bronze tripod, in which an unknown meat was being cooked, emitting a captivating aroma.

The tables were entirely covered with gold and lacquerware.

Carved with red lacquer, exquisitely crafted, with a wooden base and red background, adorned with gold leaf.

As for the food, it was truly a feast of exquisite delicacies and rare dishes.

Li Qi recognized various meats, such as beef, lamb, chicken, duck, pork, fish, donkey, and horse, all present.

Besides these, there were many more things that tasted even better but were unidentifiable, likely rare ingredients.

But just by looking at the organs of these creatures, with wings, feet, fins, and scales, it was clear they came from various habitats.

This banquet was clearly a grand feast, gathering all the flying creatures from the sky, the running creatures from the land, and the swimming creatures from the water, from all corners of the world, into exquisite dishes.

The delicious dishes were endless, maids rotated in serving wine, fruits were arranged, fine wines filled the table, and the clear singing and wonderful dancing made it feel like a life of Immortals.

However, Li Qi still politely declined the maids who wanted to approach him to pour wine and serve food.

He still felt it wasn’t quite right, and besides, Shen Shuibi was still beside him.

Seeing his gaze, the maid understood immediately and quickly retreated, making space for Shen Shuibi.

Shen Shuibi was not polite either; she sat next to Li Qi and began to instruct him on how to eat.

When Li Qi picked up a piece of unknown meat, she explained.

“This is Feiyi. It looks like a quail, with a yellow body and a red beak. Eating it can kill Gu insects in your body. Since you’ve been traveling in the mountains, you’ve probably picked up some, so eating this to get rid of hidden ailments is good.”

“Don’t eat that one. That’s Danmu. It tastes very good, but eating one can keep you full for three days. Save it for last.”

“This is a sauce made from Bin Grass. You can dip your food in it. Eating it makes one feel no sorrow. It’s served at banquets in case someone is in a bad mood, but don’t eat too much, as it can lead to losing composure.”

“This is Qiongqi. Eating its meat can prevent nightmares and ward off evil Qi. Eat more; you’ve been affected by the evil Qi of those two sixth-rank demon lords. I’m worried about potential after-effects.”

“That round one, yes, that one. That’s the fruit of the Cuimu tree. If a person eats it, it can increase their strength. You have martial arts Cultivation, so you can eat more.”

Li Qi listened and used his chopsticks, sometimes a knife and fork, picking only the useful items to eat.

He didn’t just eat by himself; he also served Shen Shuibi what she wanted, earning praise from everyone at the banquet for his kindness towards his subordinate and for Shen Shuibi’s beauty and understanding.

Hearing these praises, Li Qi looked at their tables and, indeed, saw that the maids were only serving and not eating a single bite themselves.

Although everyone praised Li Qi’s generosity for sharing food with those around him, it seemed no one imitated him, indicating that they still didn’t care for such a practice.

After the meal, there was another round of pleasantries.

After such a long time, Li Qi began to grow tired of this endless pretense.

Don’t these people need to Cultivate?

How did they even reach their ranks?

This continued for a while, about an hour later, Li Qi suddenly felt the carriage come to a halt.

“Alright, we’ve arrived, and our Opportunity has also come. Young Master, will you come with us?” At this moment, the Prefect suddenly said with a smile, looking at Li Qi.

“Naturally, I will.” Li Qi cupped his hands, watching these guests, who suddenly no longer cared about the beautiful women and delicious food. They all stood up and rushed outside quickly.

Even the Prefect stood up and walked side by side with Li Qi: “Young Master is magnanimous, granting us an Opportunity. Alas, we all owe Young Master a favor.”

Ah?

Li Qi was puzzled.

However, when one is puzzled, one should pretend to understand.

He immediately replied, “Prefect, there’s no need to be so polite.”

“Haha! Young Master is indeed from a major School, so straightforward! I’ll express my gratitude when I return. I won’t delay here. Young Master can wait for us here, and afterwards, we’ll head to the prefecture city together!” The Prefect laughed heartily, then hurried out, disappearing from Li Qi’s sight.

Li Qi was a bit bewildered.

However, he also followed out of the carriage.

And then, he understood.

Why these people were so eager, and why the Prefect also wanted to curry favor with him.

Because the place they arrived at was not a city, but the previous battlefield!

On the battlefield, there was a circular mirror, a hundred li in circumference.

This was the trace left by the Grand Diviner when he suppressed the Cursed Demon Bear and killed the two demon kings. That one finger pressed a hundred li of land into a mirror-like smoothness, but upon closer inspection, one could discern the fingerprints on it.

Now, those important figures whom Li Qi had once considered high and mighty were all bending over, desperately observing the fingerprints on it, even getting into arguments over them, discussing with each other excitedly.

Their previous pleasantries with Li Qi seemed to have been suppressed for a long time.

“Ah! So that’s how it is!” Shen Shuibi beside him suddenly tapped her head, realizing with a start.

“Those with profound Cultivation naturally possess Daoism in their bodies. They came for the fingerprints left by the Grand Diviner!” Shen Shuibi also reacted.

Wow, for these sixth, seventh, and eighth-rank individuals, a single fingerprint left by the Grand Diviner was probably an Opportunity and resource they would be hard-pressed to find in their entire lives!

However, they were also afraid that coming here on their own would anger the Grand Diviner, so they brought Li Qi along. This way, even if the Grand Diviner sensed them, he wouldn’t make trouble.

Li Qi gave a wry smile. He had thought this bunch were flatterers, but it turned out they were all prepared. He had been… dragged along again?

Alas, he suffered from a lack of knowledge.

“…Forget it. If I tell them to leave now, they probably won’t. Why not try to recover some losses? Shen Guniang, you’re also a fifth-rank. Aren’t you going to examine it?” Li Qi immediately decided to cut his losses.

If the Grand Diviner’s fingerprints are for you to use, why not for me?

“I can’t use it. That Grand Diviner’s Cultivation is even weaker than Empress Luofu’s, but I’ve already studied the Daoism on Empress Luofu’s body day and night in detail. This single fingerprint is useless to me.”

Saying that, Shen Shuibi began to explain.

For Empress Luofu or that unknown Grand Diviner, their very existence could modify the ‘Dao’ of a region of Heaven And Earth. Their personal microcosms were already capable of altering reality.

Every hair and every strand, even a single fingerprint, was an external manifestation of this ‘Daoism.’ Although it was a very shallow point, less than one-trillionth of their true essence, for those with lower Cultivation, even a single glance could bring immense benefit, even leading to rapid advancement in Cultivation.

These officials and the Prefect in front of him were probably all practitioners of Shaman Dao, so the Grand Diviner’s fingerprints were extremely useful to them.

But for Shen Shuibi, as a legitimate Xuanmen practitioner, with Empress Luofu herself available for her to study at any time for thousands of years, these things were meaningless to her.

It was like… owls would fight over dead mice, but a Phoenix would only eat solid food.

This was the difference.

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