Chapter 131: Alliance

In the distance, it was raining.

Li Qi, on the other hand, was presiding over a ceremony about ten li away on the other side.

The book says: When the winter solstice arrives, water follows; when the summer solstice arrives, fire follows. Therefore, in the fifth month, the Fire Master is strong and water leaks, so at the summer solstice, yellow sap flows and stone essence emerges.

What does it mean?

At the summer solstice, although the Yang fire is flourishing, Yin water also accompanies it. Therefore, in the fifth month, the fire Qi is strong and water Qi seeps out, at which time yellow sap flows from the ground and stone essence also emits water vapor.

Thus, it is: “Water is abundant and prosperous, the earth is moist and humid, heavy rains occur, burning and cutting are done with water, which is beneficial for killing weeds, like hot soup, doing so is the command, and in this month, sweet rain falls three times.”

This means that at this time of year, when the land is naturally moist and the weather is warm and humid, one only needs to burn the cut and dried weeds, sprinkle water on the ground, and scorch it with the Vermilion Bird’s fire Qi, like boiling water. By doing so, timely rain will fall, removing the old and bringing in the new.

This is the rain ceremony.

It is not praying for rain, but rather using the circulation of Qi to artificially create rain.

This is the ‘clear water’ that Li Qi promised this convoy.

It’s just that… Li Qi knew this was merely a drop in the bucket.

The book also records: “All life is not transformed by a single Qi. If Qi is not harmonious, then the wind and rain will be inappropriate, the sweet rain will not fall, the frost and snow will be untimely, the cold and heat will be improper, Yin and Yang will be out of order, the Four Seasons will reverse, people will be dissolute and unstable, animals will miscarry and not reproduce, plants will be stunted and not grow, five grains will wither and not ripen, people will suffer from many diseases, there will be many abandoned infants on the roads, and all kinds of strange phenomena will arise.”

This means that the existence of life is not something that can be sustained by a single Qi. When Qi is out of balance, just like the Earth Oil Realm now, it leads to untimely wind and rain, no rain, no water production, untimely frost and thunder, improper cold and heat, Yin and Yang losing their regularity, the Four Seasons reversing, people unable to produce, animals unable to reproduce, plants stunted and unable to grow, five grains withering and unable to bear fruit, many people suffering from diseases, abandoned infants on the roads, and various strange phenomena arising.

The book has explained this phenomenon in the Earth Oil Realm very clearly.

Li Qi, using the Vermilion Bird’s Qi, stirred the water vapor from the nearby city, and with such a ceremony, brought about a small rain, which could only temporarily alleviate the hardship.

He could only say that he had fulfilled his promise and given them clear water.

However, the situation they described, combined with the desert he saw, was enough to prove what Great Deer Kingdom had done here.

It’s just… was he qualified to save them?

To the Great Deer Kingdom Lord, the Earth Oil Realm is an important resource world. The earth oil produced here is transported to many worlds, and even to the Nine Heavens.

Such an important resource world, could he just make it stop? He was a Disciple of Grand Invoker, not Grand Invoker himself. How could he have such influence?

But if he didn't stop it, how could he change this world?

If he forced Zhang’s company to take in these refugees from outside, would the people in those satellite cities agree? Even if they were forced to agree, could they truly accept them?

At that time, would these refugees accept those ‘city dwellers’?

Forced Fusion would only bring more harm.

Even such a rain ceremony is not conjured out of thin air; it still relies on the world’s own water vapor.

The water did not come out of nowhere; he used the water vapor within the city to make it rain.

If he were deeper in the desert, he would not be able to make it rain.

This world simply cannot support so many people.

After much thought, there was no solution.

“Alas, I am still too weak. If I could use great Divine Ability to transport earth Qi and water Qi from the Void Realm to fill the emptiness here, then the current situation would not exist,” Li Qi said with some emotion.

However, as soon as he finished speaking, he shuddered, his body tensing, and his heart filled with dread!

Li Qi looked up at the sky, at the stars that filled the heavens, at the myriad stars and the Four Symbols Heavenly Gods!

One must know that the celestial phenomena of all worlds are the same!

And celestial phenomena can guide the circulation of the world’s Qi, and also bring additional Qi.

Oh my god? It can’t be what I’m thinking, right!

Although he had some vague suspicions in his heart, there was no evidence, and it wasn’t written in the book, so Li Qi merely kept his speculation in mind.

After he finished all this, he tidied up the rain altar and prepared to leave.

Just then, he suddenly frowned.

Ancient texts say: Heaven and earth sense each other, Yin and Yang interact, which is called Qi. All things take shape below and their Qi responds above. Therefore, when a strong man enters the court, a white rainbow pierces the sun; when a king is about to emerge, crimson clouds cover above. Thus it is said: One knows affairs by observing Qi, and one knows people by observing clouds.

This means that Qi is something that interacts with Heaven, Earth, Yin, and Yang. Every type of Qi corresponds to something real existing in the material world, just as earth oil is formed by the combination of earth Qi and water Qi through certain rules.

Living beings are also like this. Therefore, when a strong man enters the great hall with intense emotions, outside there will be a corresponding Qi manifesting as the auspicious sign of a white rainbow piercing the sun. When a person with the Qi of a king appears, red clouds will cover his head.

Therefore, by observing the corresponding Qi, one can deduce the corresponding events, and by observing the Qi emanating from a person, one can know their true ability.

This method of observing Qi is considered a signature skill of a Shaman, and a significant part of the Diviner’s divination Dao is based on it.

Although Invoker are not skilled in this aspect, they also understand some basic principles. For example, Li Qi once observed the existence of military Qi to predict the military disaster he was about to suffer.

And now, he observed the same phenomenon.

In the sky, earth offends the Di star, fire offends the Southern Dipper, and the Po Jun star kills Dao Resonances, signifying great famine and great plague.

There are also flying stars turning into clouds, an omen of spilled blood and piled bones.

But around all this, there is clear Qi, without any impurities, and the Qi is yellow-white and moist, possessing power and virtue, indicating the emergence of a hero.

This is not the result of divination, but rather… a premonition.

It is a natural manifestation of this world.

“Is it an internal conflict born because of us Young Masters?” Li Qi murmured to himself.

For these worlds, it seems to be so.

From the perspective of this world, the existence of himself and others, and Great Deer Kingdom, is a complete disaster, bringing no benefit whatsoever.

Li Qi sighed.

Suddenly, the desire to compete with that Diviner Young Master weakened considerably.

This time, when he goes, he won’t try to strike first, will he?

Oh, right. Since the other party could attack him remotely, even almost causing him to lose by exploiting a flaw in his Dao Heart… then, they should be able to communicate now, right?

For a Diviner, remote communication should not be difficult.

No sooner said than done, Li Qi immediately began to set up the ritual and altar.

“An alliance is a declaration made under the bright light, a prayer to the gods. In that case… he should notice, right?” Li Qi muttered to himself as he arranged the altar.

The passage Li Qi chanted meant: The words prayed before a divine image are called “alliance.”

The so-called alliance refers to an agreement reached by both parties under the gaze of a Invoker and witnessed by a Heavenly God.

Only such an agreement can be called an ‘alliance,’ and the two parties who reach the agreement are called ‘allies.’

In rituals, such agreements are divided into two types: oaths and covenants.

An oath is a vow, formed by self-restraint.

A covenant, however, must be formed jointly by both parties under the witness of a Invoker.

Therefore, the binding force is also different.

By using the ‘alliance’ ritual to send a remote invitation, the other party, as a Diviner, should be able to perceive it, right?

Li Qi pondered as he completed the ritual.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the vast land, atop the extreme polar snow mountains.

The Diviner, who was resting, suddenly opened his eyes.

“An alliance witnessed by the Heavenly Dao? The invitation is… for me?” His expression changed, and his eyes immediately became subtle.

“Is it a trick? Or simply a conversation?” he muttered to himself.

However, he immediately shook his head, denying his own statement: “Impossible, an alliance is a great ritual, it cannot be used so easily! Unless he wants to be reprimanded by his Master.”

Even this Diviner knew that the book recorded: “The Dao Resonance principle of an alliance is that it must be used in times of crisis, with the Nine Heavens as witness. It requires solemn sacrifice and reverence, with the Zhu Shi speaking truthfully, and sincerity established through solemnity.”

This means, the main characteristic of the ‘alliance’ ritual is that it must be used in times of crisis, with the Heavenly Dao as witness. This is a solemn sacrifice, which must be based on the sacrificer’s own morality, and the sincerity of morality lies in seriousness and earnestness, which is the duty of a Invoker.

As a Invoker, it is impossible to use such an important ritual lightly.

Therefore, he only thought for a moment and decisively used his own power to accept the invitation of the ‘alliance.’

At this point, one can see the diverse methods of Shaman Dao. Through various rituals, the Divine Abilities and spells of a Shaman are incredibly bizarre and completely defy logic.

A Martial Artist of the same rank would absolutely not be able to communicate across half a world like this.

However, at the same rank, it’s not uncommon for a Martial Artist to kill two Shamanes in close combat.

Every Dao path has its own characteristics, and the unpredictable and resourceful nature of a Shaman is their distinguishing feature.

The alliance entered the coordination phase.

The function of the Invoker began to take effect.

As mentioned many times before, the duty of a Zhu is ‘communication.’

It was that familiar Chaos space again.

The two Disciples of Shaman God Mountain met for the first time.

To outsiders, they were the exalted Young Masters of Shaman God Mountain, but Li Qi, having comprehended the clarity of the Dao Heart, was no longer affected by this title.

And this Diviner also didn't take it seriously. It seemed his own Dao Heart had also undergone much tempering.

“Greetings, greetings.” The Diviner looked very frivolous. He walked over, casually cupped his hands as a form of greeting, and said, “Junior Brother, why did you suddenly summon me with the alliance ritual?”

Li Qi, however, was very serious and did not get angry at the address of Junior Brother. Instead, he simply acknowledged it: “Senior Brother, you are a Diviner. I wonder if you have sensed the phenomena that appeared tonight: earth offending the Di star, fire offending the Southern Dipper, and flying stars turning into clouds.”

Even he, a Invoker, had sensed something. As a Diviner, who specializes in this area, he must have sensed it even more strongly and known more than himself.

“That’s natural, but isn’t the reason also very simple? The conflict between you and me, for this world, is a catastrophe. Aren’t both of us trying to push this Heavenly Dao into a degraded state?” the Diviner said indifferently.

Yes, both of them were trying to push the Heavenly Dao into a degraded state, then blame the other side, and finally save this Heavenly Dao themselves. This way, they could observe a part of the Dao Resonance of the Heavenly Dao’s degradation and also receive the Heavenly Dao’s reward.

It could be said to be a classic case of ‘I want it all.’

And the loser would not only get nothing but also offend the Great Deer Kingdom Lord, and the consequences of offending the Great Deer Kingdom Lord would likely not be good.

Both of them were people who had already shed their arrogance. They naturally understood how great the gap was between them and a Country Lord after shedding their identity as Disciples of Shaman God Mountain.

Not to mention a Country Lord, even the Sixth-Rank Governors of various prefectures were like gods to them.

They were respectfully called Young Masters not because they were strong, but because of their excellent background. However, background is merely an external thing, and an identity without the support of strength is not long-lasting.

Li Qi earnestly said to the Diviner in front of him: “Senior Brother’s cultivation is superior to mine, your age is greater than mine, and your experience must also be deeper than mine. You know that these signs indicate that this world is about to be plunged into misery, and all of this is because of the two of us. I truly cannot bear it in my heart, so I have come specifically to ask Senior Brother: the conflict between Bu and Zhu is one thing, but involving the lives and deaths of millions of people is another. We really don’t need to make things so big.”

“Hmph, womanly compassion. Do you think Great Deer Kingdom only has one such world? How many are there in the entire Nine Heavens? How many can you save?” The Diviner scoffed upon hearing this, and his gaze towards Li Qi became a bit more contemptuous.

They possessed Innate Dao Resonance and were guided by their Master. In the future, they were bound to hold high positions, above countless others.

This was not arrogance, but a clear understanding of themselves.

Even at the Ninth-Rank, they could easily stir up the winds and clouds of a world. After advancing in the future, traveling through the heavens, plucking stars and seizing the moon, and establishing their own merits would be effortless.

At this moment, to show womanly compassion for a miniature heaven and earth was truly foolish and cowardly.

“It’s not about how many to save, but about not actively inflicting such destruction,” Li Qi said, cupping his hands. “And I do this not out of kindness or benevolence, but out of righteousness and justice.”

“Oh? How so?” The Diviner looked at Li Qi, wanting to hear what he had to say.

“When a Zhu offers sacrifices and speaks to the gods, no god fails to respond. Why is this?” Li Qi asked the Diviner.

The Diviner naturally understood what he was saying. The meaning of these words was, “Whenever a Zhu performs a sacrificial ritual and speaks to the gods, no god fails to respond. Why is this?”

“Of course, it’s because the power of Grand Invoker overwhelms the heavens, and above all, the Shaman God presides over the Southwest of the world, so no god dares to disobey,” the Diviner said proudly.

Although it was the power of a Invoker, it was also a part of Shaman God Mountain. No matter how intense the conflict between Bu and Zhu was, it was merely an internal dispute within Shaman God Mountain and would not affect the outside, so he was still proud of it.

But Li Qi shook his head: “I think, no. I believe that when a Zhu Shi speaks truthfully, it is to reward loyalty and filial piety, to share life and death, and to unite their hearts and efforts. And the words truly inform the gods, and the sacrifices are fragrant and pure, based on clear virtue. That is why all gods obey.”

The Diviner frowned upon hearing this, remaining silent and not refuting.

Because he didn't know how to refute it.