Chapter 156: Smooth flowing

Jin Buhuan no longer hesitated, nor did he care about any losses; two Grade 8 Jin Qi surrounded his body, stabbing towards Li Qi.

One Yin and one Yang, one in front and one behind.

The front probed for weaknesses, while the back bore the brunt of the attack.

Yang shifted to seven, Yin remained at three, no longer a straightforward thrust with no reservations. Because Yin and Yang were intertwined, many changes emerged, making it much more difficult to deal with.

However, Li Qi, being in front, had only sought to spar with Jin Buhuan for this very moment.

In his eyes, Si Lao was illiterate.

Wasn't Jin Buhuan the same?

Li Qi swung his willow branch, using it to temporarily entangle the two streams of Jin Qi, setting up a defense.

This defense wouldn't last long; after all, the willow branch wasn't specifically made for this, but it could buy ten seconds or so.

In these ten seconds, Li Qi began his ritual, cupping his hands, performing it with the rites of sacrificing to the West.

Then, he opened his mouth and reprimanded Jin Buhuan, saying, "Jin, the West, where all things are perfected, and the beginning of Killing Intent! Ancient kings, when raising armies and mobilizing the masses, established banners and drums to punish the wicked, suppress tyranny, and bring peace to the world. Their killing must accord with righteousness, in harmony with the Jin Qi!"

"Jin represents punishment and weaponry. If punishment is inflicted on the innocent, and weapons are not sheathed, if propriety is lost and arrogance runs rampant, then the Jin Qi will be destroyed!"

He directly reprimanded him, using the spirit of words, rebuking him with reason.

Why do a Shaman's sacrificial rites require preparation, various allusions to classics, and specially derived sacrificial verses?

That's because the lengthy chanting, magnificent sacrificial verses, and solemn sacrificial rites themselves possess power.

This is the power of 'words' and 'language'.

In ancient times, when Cangjie created characters, grain rained from the sky, and ghosts cried at night.

Even the heavens were startled by these characters, raining grain, while countless ghosts cried all night on earth, utterly terrified.

Because characters and language themselves possess astonishing power, various incantations and Talismans all require characters to carry them.

The saying, "The brush descends, startling wind and rain; the poem is completed, making ghosts and gods weep," these matters are actually applications of the power of characters. It is said that within the Human Dao, there are also a few factions specializing in this Dao, named Calligraphy and Confucianism.

However, their utilization of characters and language was actually learned from the Shaman Dao side.

Regarding the right to interpret sacrifices, Confucianism even fought many battles with Shaman Dao, with both sides believing that sacrifices should belong to them, but no conclusion was reached.

But ultimately, the ones who first utilized these were the Shamanes. In the earliest sacrifices, Shamanes would loudly chant sacrificial verses to summon the Di Qi (Earthly Qi) they wished to communicate with.

Li Qi was now using the power of sacrificial verses to condemn the tyrannical Jin Qi. In this way, the Jin Qi itself, sensing this, would naturally begin to resist Jin Buhuan's unrighteous and unrestrained actions.

Invoker are adept at communicating with all things, and this doesn't just refer to Heavenly God, Di Qi (Earthly Qi), or Human-Ghost entities, but truly 'all things'. Anything with a spirit, even the Heavenly Dao or a Mountain Spirit, as long as it has a spirit, can be communicated with by a Invoker.

Even Li Qi's seeking out people to discuss with, running around to various major forces in Qingwu City for an entire night, counts as communication.

However, such communication requires the Invoker themselves to possess virtue as a guarantee.

If the Invoker themselves go back on their word, saying one thing and doing another, how can all things trust their statements?

Therefore, a Invoker can be evil, but they must never break faith with all things. Even when being a bad person, they must treat sacrificial rites seriously and solemnly, and not be untrustworthy.

Li Qi's Invoker power, along with the righteous words of the sacrificial rite, permeated the two streams of Jin Qi.

Upon hearing this, though the Jin Qi had no consciousness, its spirit began to waver.

Jin Buhuan was enraged, forcefully driving the Jin Qi.

Fortunately, a Shaman's words aren't 'what is said, is done', and cannot forcibly manipulate. So the Jin Qi merely hesitated somewhat, its power no longer as sharp, but it still retained over eighty percent of its Killing Intent.

Sharp keenness mixed with tyrannical Killing Intent, Jin Buhuan controlled the Jin Qi with no reservations, directly exploding it, causing a resounding boom in front of Li Qi.

The willow branch, which had never been damaged before, actually broke in part under the combined attack of the two Grade 8 Jin Qi.

This caused a portion of the Jin Qi to leak out.

The violent friction between the Jin Qi and the air sparked in the sky. Because it was entangled by the willow branch, it hadn't yet hit Li Qi, but the mere airwave from the forward thrust had already pierced through Li Qi!

Li Qi didn't even have time to dodge and was directly pierced through the chest by the Qi.

The Jin Qi pierced through his chest, even injuring his heart meridian, severely wounding Li Qi!

But at this moment, although Li Qi was grimacing in pain, his eyes gleamed with triumphant light.

Heart blood flowed out, enveloping the Jin Qi.

The heart is fire, the flourishing Yang of fire, and Yang Qi is powerful. Li Qi used his heart blood as a guide, leading the flourishing Yang. When fire triumphs, Jin declines. Within Li Qi's Human-Body Microcosm, the Five Mountains formed by his Five Organs, specifically the heart of the Southern Mountain, suddenly erupted with power beyond its limits!

At the same time, the four seasons of Li Qi's Human-Body Microcosm naturally began to lose balance.

It's normal; only when the Five Elements operate normally can the four seasons operate normally.

At this moment, Li Qi's heart meridian was severely wounded, and the Fire Element among the Five Elements erupted in large quantities. Although it temporarily enveloped the Jin Qi, how could a Grade 9 Human-Body Microcosm suppress a Grade 8 Jin Qi?

What's more, Jin Buhuan was on the side, fully controlling the Jin Qi, wanting it to quickly recover and then directly tear Li Qi apart from the inside.

The two sides were locked in a struggle.

So the suppression was only temporary and would also lead to a large amount of internal fire Qi being absorbed.

However, at the same time, Li Qi suddenly pulled back his willow branch.

The willow branch, without a doubt, belongs to wood.

The damaged willow branch released a large amount of Wood Qi and scattered Great Blessing Divine Qi.

Li Qi absorbed a large amount of Wood Qi into his body without hesitation.

Originally, fire and wood counteract and generate each other. Under the condition of balanced Five Elements in the body, excessive Wood Qi would be burned by Fire Qi, maintaining stability within the body.

But now, almost all of Li Qi's internal Fire Qi was being used to suppress Jin Buhuan's Jin Qi.

Wood Qi was greatly generated, Fire Qi was almost nonexistent, and even the Fire Qi of the heart was completely absorbed.

The Human-Body Microcosm was originally only missing one element, but now, having lost one element, another element's quantity overwhelmed the others, causing it to completely lose control and balance.

The Qi and blood of the internal organs, the rise and fall and waxing and waning of the sun and moon within the body, which correspond and align with the righteous Qi of heaven and earth—such changes caused the heavenly timing of the Human-Body Microcosm to become chaotic.

Jin Buhuan also saw all of this, and he sneered. Indeed, although the opponent had a Grade 8 Spiritual Artifact, he had two. At this moment, he was forcefully activating two Grade 8 Divine Weapons regardless of the consequences. How could Li Qi possibly contend?

Once the heavenly timing of the Human-Body Microcosm lost balance and collapsed, Li Qi would surely die, with no chance of survival.

Therefore, he directly forced up a breath, his veins bulging, disregarding self-damage to his liver and lungs, and once again activated the Jin Qi, making it emit a buzzing, resonant sound, attempting to shatter Li Qi from within.

It had only been twenty-some seconds since they met and began fighting, and both sides were already fighting to the death.

But Jin Buhuan suddenly felt—

What's going on?

The Jin Qi, it's out of control?

Impossible! Why would it be out of control, why isn't it obeying orders?!

He didn't understand.

But Li Qi did.

Because, at this moment, his Human-Body Microcosm's heavenly timing was out of balance, having shifted from a normal alignment with the outside world's early spring days to the end of deep summer, the beginning of golden autumn.

Which is what people commonly call, the Dog Days of Summer.

What are the Dog Days of Summer?

Fú (伏), the days when Jin Qi is hidden.

The four seasons alternate, all by mutual generation: Spring Wood replaces Water, Water generates Wood; Summer Fire replaces Wood, Wood generates Fire; Winter Water replaces Jin, Jin generates Water. As for Autumn, Jin replaces Fire, and Jin fears Fire, so it must hide on the Geng Jin days.

That is to say, towards the end of summer, the Jin Qi of autumn begins to rise, but the Fire Qi still has its last, strongest momentum. At this time, fire will burn itself out, finally suppressing the Jin Qi, and only after that will it enter autumn, which is dominated by Jin Qi.

This is why, after the summer solstice, the third Geng day is the first Fú, the fourth Geng day is the middle Fú, and the first Geng day after the beginning of autumn is the last Fú, collectively known as the Three Fú, hence called the Dog Days of Summer.

During the Dog Days of Summer, the Fire Qi of heaven and earth is at its most vigorous, and it is the hottest time of the year. Only in this way can the Three Fú suppress the Jin Qi of autumn.

Li Qi's heart blood and Fire Qi had just erupted in large quantities, and a large amount of Wood Qi was poured in to generate Fire Qi, precisely matching the final explosive burning Fire Qi of the Dog Days of Summer. His Human-Body Microcosm lost balance, and its heavenly timing became chaotic, coincidentally aligning with the Dog Days of Summer.

During the Dog Days of Summer, Jin Qi is hidden; it is the time when heavenly timing is most restrictive.

Fire overcomes Jin, for three consecutive Fú.

As a result, Jin Buhuan's three Jin Qi were suppressed by Li Qi four or five times in a row!

First, he reprimanded them with reason, weakening them by three parts. Then, he watered them with heart blood, weakening them by another three parts. Finally, his Human-Body Microcosm, leveraging the heavenly timing, suppressed them by another three parts.

That left only the last one part.

Li Qi gripped the Jin Qi and directly thrust it into his body.

Using his Human-Body Microcosm, he suppressed it!

Every step was just right.

Smooth as flowing water, from planning to execution, there were no flaws.

Li Qi had said before that Jin Buhuan's cultivation method required implements as carriers.

By suppressing the two Jin Qi with his own body, he left Jin Buhuan with no implements to use.

Then, he charged towards Jin Buhuan.

Even with severe injuries, his physical fitness and combat skills were stronger than Jin Buhuan's.

Seeing the Jin Qi temporarily suppressed, Jin Buhuan's heart tightened, and he immediately took out two small bells from his belt.

He calculated the time Li Qi would take to charge over, preparing to shake the small bells to produce a killing sound that would affect Li Qi's footwork.

But Li Qi was far beyond his expectations.

Because Li Qi suddenly inflated all over, as if he had been pumped full of air.

Large amounts of white smoke gushed from his mouth and nose, his muscles bulged, his skin turned blood-red, and he grew a head taller.

It was Ox Strength Technique.

After entering Grade 9, Li Qi rarely used this technique anymore, as it was originally used by unranked Invoker for practice, a tentative attempt to communicate with Di Qi (Earthly Qi), basically used for practice.

But now, this sudden increase of six thousand catties of immense strength made Li Qi's speed a touch faster.

Jin Buhuan couldn't react in time and was directly struck in the face by Li Qi's punch.

The Young Master's handsome face immediately caved in, his nasal bridge sunken.

Without his implements, Jin Buhuan's cultivation was directly reduced by ninety percent.

He was no match at all.

Still, the same saying.

Shaman Dao gave Li Qi knowledge.

Martial Dao, however, is invincible in close combat at the same rank in most situations.

To deal with Jin Buhuan, who had lost ninety percent of his cultivation, even an injured Li Qi was more than enough.

With a thud, a punch landed squarely on his nose, causing blood to gush out, and Jin Buhuan's nose was twisted to one side.

Li Qi's physical strength flowed, and his combat skills were used like water. Although he didn't have any battle instincts honed through countless trials, it was easy to smash someone who couldn't resist.

To be honest, if it weren't for the forces behind Jin Buhuan, killing him would only take a few minutes, completely negating the need for all the previous planning.

This was the advantage of a complete Legacy.

Clang, another punch, directly shattering even the skull.

Jin Buhuan immediately fainted, losing the ability to move.

Li Qi didn't stop, delivering another punch.

However, by the fourth punch, a bell sound suddenly surged from within Jin Buhuan's body.

The bell sound carried a rumbling resonance, its tone clear, melodious, and grand, rich in rhythm.

Accompanying the bell sound from within Jin Buhuan's body, a bell sound seemed to echo from afar.

Li Qi's heart skipped a beat!

A strong sense of oppression swept over him!

He saw a visible wave coming from where the Green Mountain was located!

A bell sound, a resounding bell sound!

It was clearly a sound, yet it swept over at a speed exceeding the speed of sound.

Even though Li Qi was two thousand li away, he could still clearly see the surging power.

It struck the earth, shattering airwaves, wild and fierce. A shockwave shot up from the direction of the Green Mountain, its light illuminating the entire firmament, outshining even the sun and moon!

Though it sounded terrifying, the scene was incredibly beautiful. Golden light traces constantly ripped through the sky, as if the firmament itself was expanding and shattering.

Li Qi witnessed all of this, his heart filled with shock.

This was a casual strike from the Grade 6 Lu Mountain God, passively triggered only by the call of the protective Jin Qi within Jin Buhuan's body.

But even so, it appeared so terrifying, so magnificent.

Can a Grade 6 Divine Dao achieve this level?

Then what about his own Grade 6?

Li Qi closed his eyes, clearly recalling his first time in Great Deer Kingdom, when he first used the 'Qi Observation' perspective and personally witnessed the awakening of the entire city's human Qi.

That shock seemed to reappear at this moment.

Yes, isn't this magnificent sight what he cultivates for?

To climb to the Peak, to personally see more, more grand scenes, preferably to survey the entire world, all things.

This scene was far more spectacular than that initial Human Dao county town.

Li Qi didn't even try to resist, because he knew that under such immense power, he was utterly defenseless, and resistance would be futile.

He just wondered, how much more spectacular would it be later?

Li Qi, filled with anticipation, simultaneously raised his hand.

The battlefield trembled.

A power that seemed to disorient and reverse time and space descended. Countless substances disintegrated upon collision, pulverizing into their most basic particles, revealing their most subtle structures within space, even to the point where spacetime itself was disintegrating.

Li Qi felt a power that decomposed and pulverized everything surge from his fingertips.

But wherever it passed, nothing was destroyed; everything remained so calm, as if the power that had just surged forth was an illusion.

In reality, apart from him, no one else noticed anything.

However, some distant power, suspended above time, appeared here.

It seemed as if the past and future had merged into one.

No energy was released, not even a gust of wind.

Yet, Li Qi saw clearly.

The event of 'Lu Mountain God taking action' was erased.

Within the flow of time, the event of 'Lu Mountain God taking action' no longer existed.

The event of 'Lu Mountain God taking action' collided with its own self at different time nodes.

This event collided with its 'another possibility' at other times, and they evaporated each other.

Time did not rewind, but the event itself was interfered with, causing its existence in the flow of time to be erased.

Is this the power of 'Chen'?