Chapter 194: Coolie

This is bad.

As that Demonic Overlord stared at him, Li Qi shivered, his hair stood on end, and his entire body mobilized!

He knew that life and death hung in the balance at this very moment!

Li Qi had never expected Chan Zhi to be in such a dire state; he had lost control and his demonic thoughts had erupted after Li Qi had merely slept for a while!

If he couldn’t think of a solution in the next second, he would be gone!

His Nascent Soul and brain began to spin wildly, countless pieces of information flashing through Li Qi’s mind!

Then, in the next second, just before the Demonic Overlord moved, Li Qi immediately sat down cross-legged and shouted, “The profound principles of the four seasons are fully understood, and within the Five Elements, prosperity and decay naturally manifest. With a pure body, speech, and mind, I pervade all Dharmas without remainder.”

“Great Master Chan Zhi, please observe my performance of the Dharma!”

After sitting cross-legged, Li Qi stopped thinking about anything else and focused on performing the Dharma.

Performing the Dharma means displaying one’s Dharma to others through demonstration.

This is like a Martial Artist performing martial arts; it allows others to understand one’s Dharma, perhaps giving them some inspiration, or even deterrence.

There is an even higher level called performing the Dao, but Li Qi doesn't have that level; his Dao, currently, can be summed up in one word, and he doesn't have the qualifications to display it.

This was not Li Qi’s Shaman Dao method, but the Buddha-Dharma he had just learned by analyzing the True Knowledge Dao Resonance from the Heart Demon of desire.

“All Dharmas are without self-nature, without birth or death, originally tranquil, and self-natured Nirvana.”

As Li Qi finished reciting, the performance of the Dharma officially began, and strange phenomena suddenly appeared all around.

First, a Bodhi Tree emerged from beside Li Qi, initially just a tender sprout, but it quickly grew, its branches spreading wide and its dense leaves obscuring the sky.

Li Qi sat cross-legged beneath the tree, reciting the Dharma, in harmony with the Bodhi.

After the Bodhi Tree matured, it shimmered with golden light, manifesting a full moon, its pearl ornaments dazzling.

Beneath the Bodhi Tree, all things grew; butterflies danced among them, bees swam through flowers, does grazed, and wild rabbits frolicked.

Patches of sunlight scattered on the ground, everything like a dream; Li Qi sat on a tree root, surrounded by the sweet scent of flowers and plants, and the fragrance of earth in the air.

This was a Pure Land.

What is a Pure Land?

Externally, it is not defiled by the six dusts; internally, there is no self or others, and it does not cling to annihilation, hence it is called a Pure Land.

This place seemed like a paradise untouched by worldly dust, pure and flawless, exceedingly beautiful, like a spring day’s scenery.

However, the next moment, the trees grew larger and larger, almost reaching the top of the Five-Tiered Pagoda.

But soon, the tree's growth reached its limit.

The Demonic Overlord, into which Chan Zhi had transformed, stared blankly at the Pure Land, as if hypnotized.

Suddenly, the earth moved in eighteen phases, and the sound of heavenly drums was heard in the sky, causing alarm and fear in the heart.

A fierce wind arose in the sky, blowing the wind wheel; as the wind wheel moved, the water moved; and as the water moved, the earth moved.

A Demonic Overlord emerged from the turmoil, its appearance familiar—it was the Heart Demon of desire that Li Qi had seen.

At this moment, the Heart Demon wreaked havoc beneath the Bodhi Tree.

It first burrowed into the belly of a doe, causing the doe to become pregnant, and soon after, she gave birth to a fawn.

The fawn was born with sharp teeth, its deer skin patterned in black, exuding an evil aura.

The fawn first sucked the doe’s milk, but then bit with its teeth, mixing blood and milk together.

The doe felt pain, but out of maternal love, she merely trembled and did not leave.

The fawn escalated, not only sucking blood but also eating flesh, yet the doe did not leave.

It tore through the skin, then gnawed at the flesh, broke through the internal organs, and then devoured the heart.

The doe suffered immense pain in her heart, tears streaming down, her body covered in blood, yet she still did not leave, and was bitten to death alive.

The fawn continued to gnaw until its belly was round and its stomach burst, then it collapsed and died.

From within the fawn’s body, two Heart Demon Demonic Overlords emerged.

The Demonic Overlords grinned hideously and burrowed into the bees; then, the bees suddenly raised their stingers, piercing them into the nearby butterflies, and then pulling them out.

The bee’s stinger itself was connected to its internal organs, and this action directly pulled them out.

Both bee and butterfly died.

The Demonic Overlords transformed into four.

The Demonic Overlords scurried about, sentient beings drank their filth, common people became their pawns, foulness steamed, and plagues spread everywhere; the original Pure Land was disturbed by demons and transformed.

The sentient beings of the Pure Land wept and lingered, fainted in anguish, beat their chests and cried out, “Oh, how bitter!”

The Demonic Overlord outside, seeing this, laughed heartily, overjoyed, its clear eyes gradually dimming, and its tyranny expanding, about to occupy its entire body.

But at this moment, the seasons cycled; spring was no more, transforming into summer.

Within the Pure Land, the four seasons revolved.

However, the Demonic Overlord did not care much and continued to follow its demonic nature, carrying out destruction.

The weather cycled, and it was autumn again.

The Demonic Overlords ran rampant, and sentient beings had no refuge; all sentient beings fainted and fell to the ground.

Yet, Li Qi, beneath the Bodhi Tree, recited a箴言 at this moment: “Though Sumeru is high and vast, it will eventually wear away; though the great ocean is deep and wide, it will also dry up; though the sun and moon are bright, they will soon set in the west; though adorned with garlands and fragrant flowers, impurity is hidden within, like fire covered by ash, and the foolish tread upon it.”

As the箴言 was recited, no sentient beings heard it.

Only the Demonic Overlords spread their evil voices, sentient beings feared death, their tears fell like rain, all filled with great terror.

But the Demonic Overlords did not heed the words, even surging towards Li Qi.

However, at this time, the season turned to winter.

Winter brought desolation, and all sentient beings and Demonic Overlords perished.

The Demonic Overlord observing the performance of the Dharma outside was stunned.

After perishing, it was spring again.

After the beauty of spring, the Demonic Overlords regenerated.

Then came summer, autumn, and winter.

This cycle continued.

After ten cycles, Li Qi recited again: “To purify one’s land, first purify one’s mind; the suffering of impermanence in the world is all the Heart Demon of the mind.”

“When the mind is pure, then it is the Pure Land. To say that a splendid and pure Buddha-Land is not a true statement, that beauty is not true beauty, that a beautiful Pure Land is not beautiful, is to say that in true nature, there is no such beauty. Therefore, this splendor is merely a false name, not reality; only true nature is reality!”

Upon hearing this, the Demonic Overlord’s body trembled greatly.

What Li Qi said was the method to break the Heart Demon of desire; the Heart Demon of desire does not only exist in darkness, but also in beauty.

The essence of the Heart Demon of desire is not merely a Demonic Overlord, but a ‘trend’ that drives the human heart downwards and drives beauty to degenerate.

This is the terrifying aspect of the ‘Devil’.

It exists in all beauty; the more beautiful something is, the stronger the Heart Demon of desire becomes.

Because beauty is bound to degenerate, just as a young person will inevitably become an old person, and an artwork is most radiant at the moment it is newly created; every second after that moment is a decline.

The Heart Demon of desire is the ‘trend’ of degeneration.

If this trend is not eliminated, then the Demonic Overlord will not be eliminated.

Therefore, this was the focus of Li Qi’s performance of the Dharma: the trend of decay cannot be erased; if it could, then all Heart Demons of desire in the world could be annihilated.

Only resistance is possible, and the method of resistance is the method of the rotation of heavenly time within Shaman Dao.

The principle is very simple: adapt to the heavenly time, transform anew, to curb the birth of the Heart Demon of desire; as long as there is decay, then rotate and renew, restoring it to a fresh state.

This is the Dao of Reincarnation.

This cannot eradicate the Heart Demon of desire, but it can temporarily resist it. If the rotation is done properly, then the Heart Demon of desire can be treated as if it doesn’t exist at all.

The principle sounds very simple.

The Dao, once discovered, is usually very simple to explain.

But what’s truly important is the method.

This is like… everyone knows about pulleys, and everyone knows the principle of pulleys.

But when it comes to the method, one needs to construct a complex multi-stage pulley system to apply this principle.

This is not something everyone can do.

The same principle, the same Dao, can evolve into thousands of methods, and then extend into countless strategies for applying those methods.

This was also the purpose of Li Qi’s performance of the Dharma.

He was demonstrating to the Demonic Overlord, into which Chan Zhi had transformed, the method to resist the Heart Demon of desire. All the strange phenomena were merely to demonstrate the method he had just created.

To be honest, Li Qi himself was skeptical about this method.

But there was no other way.

If he didn’t use it now, he wouldn’t have a chance to use it, and he would become a bowl.

However, unexpectedly, the clarity in the Demonic Overlord’s eyes suddenly increased greatly.

Immediately after, the Demonic Overlord clasped its hands together, and the four seasons suddenly appeared in rotation, blooming a hundred flowers in an instant, gathering the four seasons at once, exerting the power of desolation during periods of warmth, and issuing commands of severity during times of ease.

The four seasons existed simultaneously, and heavenly time was in chaos!

Li Qi was terrified by what he saw; this demonic monk was not a Shaman, and even if he was a seventh-rank, he couldn’t control the operation of his own heavenly time at all! He was about to become a Demonic Overlord!

Frightened, he quickly went up, set up an altar, and immediately offered guidance: “Spring’s birth resides in Jia and Yi in Yin and Mao, only then can one not fear Geng and Xin!”

“Summer’s growth rides Bing and Ding in Si and Wu, thus one can avoid Ren and Gui!”

“Earth gives birth in all four seasons, obtaining its time; its harm is harmless. Do not use your magical power, use Earth Qi!”

“Heavenly time must transform into phenomena, distinguishing between decline and prosperity, balancing them. The coordination must be strict; don’t let it run wild!”

While giving key pointers, he also used sacrifices to intervene in the division of the four seasons, improving the rotation.

With Li Qi’s help, a Arhat statue on the floor below suddenly emitted golden light, breaking free from the Demonic Overlord’s suppression and taking control, pushing the Demonic Overlord back!

However, there were One Hundred and Eight Arhat statues, corresponding to the One Hundred and Eight Demons, and now, only one had regained its light.

But with that one Arhat statue restored, all four floors of the Five-Tiered Pagoda trembled, Buddha-light shone brightly, pure as琉璃, and all phenomena appeared in myriad forms, clearly manifest.

Strange phenomena suddenly arose: purple bamboo and sandalwood formed forests, peacocks and kalavinkas sang Buddhist chants, ten empty shadows appeared in countless worlds, and myriad forms contained the Buddha-body within their light.

All those Bodhisattva statues and Buddha statues gathered their power onto the liberated Arhat statue, using it as a foundation. One Arhat statue after another regained the initiative with such support.

It was like a person trying to lift a smooth iron ball; if the ball was just sitting on the ground, it would be very difficult to exert force, impossible to lift.

But if the iron ball was given a handle, a point to exert force, then it would be much easier.

The Arhat statue that Li Qi helped liberate was like giving Chan Zhi a handle.

So, Chan Zhi exerted force fiercely, forcefully lifting the iron ball, and once again suppressed the demonic thoughts!

The Demonic Overlord’s body gradually shrank, withered, and faded, and then, the appearance of Chan Zhi emerged from within.

He took a deep breath and recited a Buddha-name: “Om Ah Hum, Mahakala Ye, Hum Phat.”

Li Qi trembled upon hearing it.

This demonic monk was not reciting the Buddha-name of Amitabha or Vairocana, but the revered name of Mahakala!

Venerable Mahakala is Mahakala.

Chan Zhi clasped his hands together and nodded to Li Qi: “Thank you, young friend, for your assistance. Normally, when my demonic thoughts erupts, it takes me two or three months to recover, but with your help this time, I recovered in just one night. It seems what you said is true; the orthodox method of Shaman Dao can indeed help me balance the thoughts of Buddha and Demonic Overlord.”

His address to Li Qi had changed from ‘benefactor’ to ‘young friend’.

However, before Li Qi could speak, he continued: “It’s just that, young friend, you have only comprehended the method to break one Demonic Overlord, but there are still One Hundred and Seven more. You still need to work hard.”

Li Qi’s eye twitched.

Listening to this tone? Are you planning to make me work for free?

For one Demonic Overlord, Li Qi spent eight hours, which is almost a full day.

One Hundred and Eight would require One Hundred and Eight days.

This doesn't even account for subsequent difficulties, such as conflicts between methods, and solving the chain reactions that arise, and so on and so forth.

Seeing Li Qi’s expression, Chan Zhi revealed a benevolent smile: “Young friend previously said you wished to offer me the profound methods of Shaman Dao to resolve the conflict between Buddha and Demonic Overlord. Are you planning to go back on your word?”

Looking at Chan Zhi’s smile, Li Qi immediately felt calm and replied with a smile: “How could I? What Great Master entrusts to me, this junior will do his utmost. It’s only half a year; to be able to resolve Great Master’s great hidden trouble is truly this junior’s good fortune.”

Then, Li Qi became animated, raising his arms: “When traveling outside, isn’t mutual help the most important thing? Today I help Great Master, tomorrow Great Master helps me. The friendship between Mahakala and the Di Qi (Earthly Qi) lineage of Invoker begins with the two of us!”

“Hahahaha!” Chan Zhi burst into hearty laughter.

“Hahahahaha!” Li Qi also echoed with a hearty laugh.

After laughing, Li Qi turned and quickly went downstairs.

Staying with this demonic monk made him feel numb all over.

This person’s Demonic Overlord form was definitely not something he only acquired after becoming a Demonic Overlord now.

He was originally a Demonic Overlord! That form was just something he couldn’t control and transformed into, similar to how a snake demon, after eating realgar, uncontrollably transforms back into its original form.

This demonic monk’s cultivation method and Dao path were originally gradually leaning towards Mahakala. Now he was still useful, and they could still laugh together.

If he became useless, then he would become a bowl.

But just as Li Qi turned around, he heard Chan Zhi say from behind: “Young friend, you can tell me anything you need. You are also a practitioner, so don’t worry about two or three years. Whatever you need, just say it.”

“For now, I don’t need anything else, Great Master. Just prepare some food for me, and if possible, a bed,” Li Qi stopped, turned back, and said.

Chan Zhi smiled gently and nodded.

However, Li Qi vaguely saw a dark cloud lurking behind him.

It was as if a malicious ocean reeking of blood was churning, with towering waves of blood, and a Demonic Overlord stood behind it, staring at Li Qi.

He couldn’t see it before; Li Qi wasn’t qualified enough to perceive the other party’s aura.

But the True Knowledge Dao Resonance gave him senses beyond the five senses, and it was this sense that detected this scene.

Li Qi shivered.

But he said nothing and silently went downstairs.

A seventh-rank strong practitioner, with infinite Lifespan, is already a strong practitioner who has attained Buddhahood or become an ancestor in many worlds.

He couldn't afford to provoke him for now.

However, the other party was currently concentrating on trying out the method he had just given him.

This was his opportunity.