Chapter 127: Suddenly attacked

The car’s speed was very slow.

The technology in the Earth Oil Realm was not as advanced as Earth’s; radio technology had only just begun to emerge.

Therefore, it took Li Qi and the others several days to reach the territory of Extreme North Industrial Company.

As soon as they got out of the car, the group looked at the icy, snowy landscape.

It truly was the extreme north.

Fortunately, everyone had Cultivation, so they weren't afraid of the cold.

However, this was also a city; Li Qi and the others had merely gotten out of the car outside the city, surrounded by buildings, but there wasn't a single person—they must have all been evacuated.

As soon as he landed, Li Qi felt a massive Qi surge towards him.

He immediately drew his willow branch and swung it in the air!

With a crack, the Qi that had gathered around him suddenly began to retreat, evidently startled by the whip’s sound.

Li Qi naturally knew the reason.

His willow branch contained Great Blessing Divine Qi. Although the whip was not of high grade, only eighth-grade, for Shaman God Mountain disciples, such an item could inspire awe.

After one whip, Li Qi shouted, “Junior Brother, why don’t you reveal yourself?”

He immediately called him Junior Brother, taking advantage of the situation.

If the other party truly accepted the title of Junior Brother, then according to Shaman Dao etiquette, they would have to lower their head.

“Haha, how long have you been initiated that you dare to call me Senior Brother? Why don’t we reveal our inheritances and determine seniority based on our qualifications?” At this moment, a figure walked out from the road not far away.

Shen Shuibi glanced at him and said to Li Qi, “It’s fake.”

Li Qi said to Bai Di, “Bai Di, go.”

“Young Master’s command, I dare not disobey,” Bai Di said.

Then, he made his move.

The longsword was unsheathed, a swift strike!

Like a white swan gliding by, light and deadly, the figure that had emerged was directly cut into pieces!

Only after the figure shattered could the sound of sonic booms, a series of cracks and bangs, be heard in the air.

Bai Di was a Martial Artist Genius who was just a hair’s breadth away from advancing to the eighth-grade of Martial Dao; his strength among the ninth-grade could be said to have reached its limit.

He only needed to comprehend Martial Dao Divine Intent to advance to the eighth-grade.

However, after that figure shattered, countless figures could be seen emerging from the surrounding houses.

They all looked exactly alike.

They were all that ordinary, simple person.

This entire area had been set up with an illusion!

“Haha! Junior Brother, you attacked as soon as you arrived. Didn’t you say you wanted to discuss with me? By directly attacking, are you afraid of me? Or is the discussion just an excuse, and you were originally planning to strike first? Are you full of schemes and tricks?” The countless figures spoke in unison, their voices creating an echo that reverberated through the surrounding buildings.

This Diviner was very confident.

A crowd illusion formed by the power of humanity, combined with his Karma interference, made it impossible for a ninth-grade Invoker to distinguish it.

If the opponent couldn't find it, then he would gain an initial advantage. Either they would admit their inferiority and fall into other traps, or they would only be able to break the situation with violence.

Breaking the situation with violence would be a huge loss of face and would also be limited by his other arrangements.

At that time, victory would be assured.

He watched everything around him with a smile.

However, what he didn’t expect was that a woman beside the Invoker whispered into his ear, “Observing its patterns, they are smooth and soft, neither rushed nor agitated, but in reality, the inside and outside don’t match. The overall formation is like throwing a spear, as urgent as a taut string. Therefore, it’s all fake. In this situation, the momentum follows the form, and it always returns. The hidden point of this illusion array is there.”

“It’s all fake; the real one is there,” Shen Shuibi concluded, then marked it for Bai Di using Daoist Art.

Bai Di nodded in thanks, and then, sword shadows flew!

But suddenly, a shadow emerged in the air!

The shadow was exactly identical to Bai Di, also holding a sword, and instantly appeared behind Bai Di, slashing down fiercely!

Bai Di deftly parried the shadow’s blade, using the flat of his sword to lightly deflect the downward chop. At the same time, he took a step forward, thrusting his knee between the opponent’s legs, instantly closing the distance and crashing into the shadow’s embrace, while simultaneously tripping the shadow’s calf with his leg.

The shadow was hit in the chest by Bai Di’s shoulder and tripped by the leg, causing it to fall to the ground. However, it reacted quickly, swinging its sword with one hand to prevent Bai Di from pursuing, and supporting itself with the other hand, kneeling on one knee, it performed a backward roll, stood up again, created distance, and resumed its stance.

“What is this thing?” Bai Di frowned.

But at the same time, the sword-wielding shadow attacked again.

Bai Di could not ignore such an attack; though unwilling, he could only meet it.

Sword shadows flew, clanging and clashing, the sound of metal on metal echoing incessantly, the two sides fought in a chaotic melee, yet neither gained an advantage.

“A shadow? Ah, this Daoist Art is 'Jian'.” Shen Shuibi immediately recognized it.

“What is that?” Li Qi asked.

For now, Bai Di seemed to be in no danger, but the opponent’s methods were still unclear.

“Jian means mirror. Ancient texts say this is a Shaman Dao method of yours. The Si Xuan clan uses the Fusu to draw bright fire from the sun and the Jian to draw bright water from the moon to provide bright offerings for sacrifices.”

“His Daoist Art is derived from this object. It should be based on the idea of drawing the reflection of the bright moon to create a doppelganger identical to the opponent,” Shen Shuibi explained.

“Then how do we break it?” Li Qi asked after Shen Shuibi finished speaking.

Shen Shuibi leaned in and whispered the solution.

Li Qi nodded in satisfaction, then he extended his hand, and wood Qi surged out.

This wisp of wood Qi was drawn from the Azure Dragon Divine Qi of spring.

Then, it was ignited with a trace of Vermilion Bird Divine Qi.

A flourishing fire, cultivated with a wooden clapper.

The Dragon star is the essence of wood. It appears in the east in spring, and the heart is the peak of fire, hence it is forbidden to make fire.

The wood Qi of late spring appears in Chen and produces fire.

Such fire Qi could disrupt the bright mirror.

As Li Qi cast his Daoist Art, using wood Qi to draw fire Qi, bright light immediately spread all around. The shadow was instantly dispelled, and the bright mirror was also disrupted.

This was a battle of Daoist Art, where they each used their methods to break the other’s Daoist Art.

Because Li Qi and the other Diviner both knew that once one side’s Daoist Art took effect, the outcome of the battle would instantly become clear.

They both mastered Shaman God Mountain Daoist Art, which possessed immense power.

However, Li Qi glanced at the rabbit and smiled.

With Shen Shuibi, fighting Daoist Art was like having a cheat enabled. The rabbit was knowledgeable and had very keen eyesight, essentially making them invincible.

With the shadow dispelled, Bai Di was immediately freed up.

Then, he seized the opportunity and immediately rushed to the array’s core, marked by Shen Shuibi. His sword light shone brightly, like a needle directly piercing a balloon, shattering it.

The countless figures around them disintegrated.

The illusion array also vanished.

Seeing this, Li Qi loudly said, “Junior Brother, do you still want to fight? What other methods do you have? Why not use them all!”

“Don’t call me Junior Brother.” The Diviner walked out with a gloomy expression.

“Your ability is too weak; you’re not worthy of being my Senior Brother. I thought you were at least ninth-grade, but I didn’t expect you haven’t even entered the ranks, relying entirely on that woman to break the situation,” the Diviner walked out, looking exactly the same as before. “Why don’t you rely on your own strength to compete with me?”

Li Qi saw this and chuckled, “What, are you envious?”

After speaking, he even deliberately put his arm around Shen Shuibi, showing intimacy.

Shen Shuibi didn’t resist; she just looked at Li Qi with some concern.

That expression was genuinely worried.

But Li Qi didn't notice.

He then let go of Shen Shuibi and stepped forward: “So, Junior Brother, standing there talking, doesn’t your throat hurt? Why not take a few steps forward, and we can sit down and talk?”

“It’s still fake,” Shen Shuibi reminded again, “But this time, there’s a physical entity inside.”

“Bai Di,” Li Qi said to Bai Di.

Bai Di nodded, then swung his hand down sharply.

The sword was drawn.

This time, it was a Flying Sword.

The sword shot out directly, its Sword Qi like thunder, its Sword Intent sweeping forth, and it actually transformed into a giant beast in the air. The beast’s mouth held jade, and its body was armored, having even activated a trace of Divine Qi!

This sword was also a Spiritual Artifact, a ninth-grade Spiritual Artifact bestowed upon Bai Di by the Bai family, the Xiezhi Sword, containing a trace of Xiezhi Divine Qi.

The Xiezhi is a Divine Beast, with sharp, piercing eyes that can distinguish loyalty from treachery, hence called ‘Ming’ (bright/clear).

A horn grows on its forehead, unyielding and unbending, hence called ‘Zheng’ (upright/just).

This is a sword of brightness and uprightness. Once it identifies a target, it will surely strike, and if it misses, it will not return.

It seemed that after hearing Shen Shuibi say, “there’s a physical entity inside,” Bai Di also knew that it might not be simple, so he didn’t personally risk it but attacked with the giant beast transformed from his Sword Qi.

“Young Master, I can’t keep up the act!” The illusion shouted, breaking open, and a person emerged from within, imbued with the Luck of humanity, who pushed back the Xiezhi Sword with full force.

The Xiezhi Sword was pushed away but did not fall to the ground. Instead, it circled in an arc, turned, and stabbed towards the target again.

Bai Di also immediately stepped forward and fought with that person.

The surrounding buildings collapsed one after another, turning into a chaotic mess.

But at this moment, Li Qi began to take the initiative to attack.

He himself felt it too.

The location of that Diviner.

After the illusion broke, the progress bar clearly indicated the opponent’s position.

So, Li Qi took the initiative to attack.

“Tch…” The Diviner spat.

“Today, you won unfairly, thanks to that woman.” After he said that, he actually… ran away.

That’s right, he ran away.

Li Qi clearly saw a World Gate open, and the opponent decisively left this world.

Diviner was not good at direct combat. A Invoker pursuing him head-on, especially one who also Cultivated Martial Dao, would be foolish to fight him head-on. It was better to just run away.

Li Qi stood stunned.

Won?

Looking at the other side, that ninth-grade human was already slain by the sword.

Bai Di was far stronger than the opponent and also had a Spiritual Tool in hand, so this result was not surprising.

“Haha, indeed, I won without even using my trump card,” Li Qi said with a satisfied smile.

Even this Diviner was no match for him in a single encounter.

“Bai Di! Well done, go prepare the car, we’re going back!” Li Qi was very happy, he called Bai Di over and instructed him.

Bai Di naturally obeyed.

Soon, this world was in an uproar.

Extreme North Industrial Company was defeated and acquired by Zhang’s Industrial Company.

Li Qi and the others received great courtesy.

The president of Zhang’s Industrial Company advanced to the eighth-grade, and Li Qi was naturally treated as an honored guest.

The entire world knew the name ‘Li Qi’.

However, Li Qi didn’t care about Zhang Le, this eighth-grade, because the other party’s life would be like this, while he still had a vast future.

Even the Heavenly Dao of this world was being toyed with in his hands.

In this world, he was invincible.

A week later, Li Qi sat atop a tall building.

The scenery here was unique, the decorations luxurious, and there was even a rooftop pool.

Li Qi had just finished Cultivating and was relaxing here, sitting in a lounge chair, alone on the rooftop.

“Bai Di, pour me a glass of water.” Li Qi extended his hand.

But this time, Bai Di didn't hand it to him.

Li Qi was a little puzzled.

Normally, Bai Di would come whenever called. What was going on now?

So he was a bit displeased, stood up, and reprimanded, “Bai Di! What’s going on?!”

But still, no one paid attention to him.

Just as he stood up, Li Qi suddenly felt a bit dizzy.

Where was everyone? Even without Bai Di, there should have been others around him to serve him, right?

Where was Shen Shuibi? Why was the rabbit gone too?

Wait, why… was there no sun in the sky?

A series of questions arose.

Just then, a sigh seemed to come from the horizon.

Li Qi then saw a piece of paper suddenly appear on the table beside him.

He walked over, picked it up, and found a line of text written on it.

“From when did you start calling Bai Di directly, instead of Brother Bai?”

After reading this sentence, Li Qi was instantly drenched in a cold sweat.

That’s right, when did he start calling Bai Di by his first name directly?

When did he start becoming so arrogant?

Upon realizing this, Li Qi felt as if a basin of cold water had been poured over him.

From when?

Was it when he was taken in as an apprentice by Grand Invoker?

Was it after witnessing the battles between demon kings?

Also, when did he start asking Shen Shuibi for help whenever he encountered a problem? In that previous battle, he didn’t use his brain at all, only giving orders and asking questions.

No, this isn’t me!

And who gave this reminder?

Li Qi suddenly remembered all the unusual things he had encountered before.

Were they all because of… arrogance?

The arrogance in his heart was his flaw.

Arrogance had blinded his mind.

He seemed to have truly regarded himself as a high and mighty ‘Young Master,’ no longer treating those below him as people.

He even looked down on Shen Shuibi a little.

How dare he? What right did he have?

After breaking out in a cold sweat, Li Qi immediately sat cross-legged, closed his eyes, and reflected on himself.

These weren't real.

However, Shen Shuibi’s repeated glances and gestures in the illusion now came back to him.

The oddities within this place could absolutely not be the oddities of the illusion itself.

But no matter what, this Daoist Art should be rooted in the weakness of his Dao Heart.

That is, his recent sudden surge of arrogance.

Everything had been smooth sailing, he was praised by various great deities, had a beauty by his side, and the entire world had to revere him, everyone calling him ‘Young Master’.

It had been like this these past few days, right?

Even Li Qi, living such a life, couldn't help but get a little carried away.

“Is this my flaw… is it my recent arrogance?” Li Qi learned his lesson and began to reflect.

There was still time.