Chapter 203: Outside forces

Honestly, Zhang Lan’s intentions were good, and Li Qi had considered this suggestion many times in his heart.

However, Li Qi ultimately decided to temporarily put this option aside and didn't bring it up.

Now that it was mentioned, Li Qi replied, “No, the Orthodox Sword Palace Master has important matters to attend to right now. If a major plan were ruined because of this matter, it would be undesirable, and all the responsibility would fall on me.”

Upon hearing this, Zhang Lan was confused. He scratched his head, “Major plan? Why don’t I know about it? Brother Li, you’re not from Orthodox Sword Palace, how do you know?”

Li Qi immediately understood that Zhang Lan was unaware of Orthodox Sword Palace’s major operation.

It was quite normal, actually.

The Orthodox Sword Palace Master was currently secretly plotting with their Elders to intercept and kill one of the Six Heavenly Filth Demon Kings when the Heaven-Devouring Demon Lord traveled to the outer domains, thereby severing an arm of the Heaven-Devouring Demon Lord.

The Six Heavenly Filth Demon Kings form their own formation, rooted in the six Qi of Heaven, and can gather into true ‘Heavenly Qi’, wielding considerable power when working together.

Before Li Qi came, the Green Mountain Kingdom Lord had told him that the Heaven-Devouring Demon Lord had gone to the outer domains for unknown reasons, and Orthodox Sword Palace was taking this opportunity to try and kill one of the Six Demon Kings, completely severing the Six Affliction Divine Ability that the Six Demon Kings jointly cast. (See Chapter 160)

That was a battle between Sixth Ranks. If a Sixth Rank were to be drawn away, causing the front-line battle to collapse, Li Qi would be committing a heinous crime.

However, such confidential information could not be told to Zhang Lan. If it leaked, the problem would be even greater.

It wasn’t that Li Qi didn’t trust Zhang Lan, but sometimes, your subjective will isn’t that strong. Some people, if they want to pry open your mouth, you can’t resist no matter what.

Therefore, not knowing anything at all was the best way to keep secrets.

So Li Qi instructed, “You don’t need to worry about this matter. Speaking of it would be bad for you. But you need to know, don’t go looking for your Palace Master for no reason, or it might ruin a major plan, and you wouldn't be able to compensate even if you sold yourself.”

Upon hearing this, Zhang Lan also understood Li Qi’s meaning.

Li Qi probably knew something he didn't, but couldn't tell him.

So, he asked, “Then, Brother Li, I have a question.”

After Zhang Lan finished speaking, he stared intently at Li Qi, “How do you know all this?”

Li Qi knew too much and acted too mysteriously. From their initial encounter to all the subsequent events, Zhang Lan himself hadn't even reacted, but Li Qi had been completely at ease throughout.

Not only did he arrange what Zhang Lan himself needed to do, but he had even subdued the underground forces in Guangyang, and personally investigated the background of Chan Zhi, the Monk.

How did he manage to do such incredible things? What was his background?

Li Qi, however, spread his hands and said very straightforwardly, “I come from Shaman God Mountain.”

Good, Zhang Lan's doubts vanished.

That name alone was enough to dispel all doubts and cover up everything abnormal about Li Qi.

“Shaman God Mountain, External Affairs Envoy?” Zhang Lan asked cautiously again.

Li Qi didn't hide it, since they had already laid their cards on the table, so he uttered two more words: “Young Master.”

Zhang Lan lost his footing, hitting the wall. His blood rushed, his eyes saw stars, and he stammered, wanting to say something, but couldn't utter a word.

Orthodox Sword Palace was also considered a large School. Although its main sect was in the Hundred Yue Area, it was actually a mid-tier sect within the Hundred Yue Area.

So, he was startled.

After a long while, he finally calmed down, a wry smile on his face: “Then I have indeed overstepped, Brother Li. It’s just, with such a background, why would you be entangled in these matters here?”

“Just consider it an exam…” Li Qi said helplessly.

He also found it difficult to explain, as he had no idea if his situation was normal.

Would a normal Grand Invoker Disciple be like him?

His teacher threw two books at him, then told him to trek three million li back to Shaman God Mountain.

He felt that a slightly more ordinary teacher wouldn't do such a thing.

But then again… back in the Earth Oil Realm, another Young Master of Shaman God Mountain, Bo Yue, told Li Qi that Li Qi’s teacher was notoriously abnormal.

So, it seemed quite normal for him to encounter these strange things?

Because it was abnormal, it was normal.

It was convoluted, but that was roughly the idea.

However, with Li Qi’s words, Zhang Lan understood all the reasons.

An exam.

Orthodox Sword Palace also had similar things.

Throwing elite Disciples into demon dens and having them fight their way out, and so on.

It’s just…

Orthodox Sword Palace usually threw them into demon dens of the same rank as the Disciple's ability, to temper the Disciple while slaying demons.

They wouldn't do something like making a Ninth Rank Disciple confront a Seventh Rank.

That wasn't an exam; that was suicide.

But considering the other party's identity.

Perhaps only challenges of this level were qualified to be his exam.

Zhang Lan took a deep breath, calming himself, yet remaining neither humble nor arrogant. His attitude didn't change due to Li Qi's identity. He simply said, “Then, Brother Li, why did you go to such great lengths to bring me back?”

Li Qi didn't put on airs either. He pulled Zhang Lan, and they sat in the courtyard. He said to him, “I naturally have an important matter to entrust to Brother Zhang.”

“Please speak. It concerns the lives and deaths of countless people in Guangyang. If I can help Brother Li, Zhang will spare no effort,” Zhang Lan also became serious, listening carefully to Li Qi.

“Brother Zhang, first listen to my analysis of the current situation in Guangyang.”

Li Qi dipped his finger in tea, using the teacups as markers, and began to draw on the stone table.

“First, we must realize that the reason Guangyang is so rotten is entirely because of Chan Zhi, the Monk.”

“This person’s objective has been thoroughly investigated. He came for Shaman Dao methods. His current state is one of demonic thoughts entanglement. It is estimated that a master told him that Shaman Dao methods could alleviate it, which is why he came.”

“But he faces a very awkward situation: for many orthodox Shaman Dao Legacies, the Legacy itself has protection. He doesn't have the ability to break through this protection.”

Zhang Lan nodded, indicating agreement.

Many Legacies are like this. Many cultivation methods have abilities such as mind-reading, even memory absorption, or directly devouring others' cultivation, but trying to obtain superior methods through such means is pure wishful thinking.

Almost all orthodox Legacies have means of protection. Some require a key catalyst to cultivate, making simply obtaining the cultivation method meaningless. Others are more brutal and will kill those who steal the techniques.

For example, Orthodox Sword Palace’s core method requires cultivation for initiation at the center of the mountain gate. If one learns the cultivation method elsewhere and cultivates it, the Sword Qi produced will directly go out of control. At best, it’s a waste of effort; at worst, it leads to self-detonation.

Furthermore, Zhang Lan had even heard of a miraculous cultivation method, a method from a large School with a Fifth Rank expert in charge, called “The Scripture of Ingestion.” This cultivation method couldn’t be memorized; it would automatically be forgotten every day and couldn’t be copied. After being copied, it would also disappear the next day, turning into blank paper.

Therefore, cultivation could only be done at the original scripture in the mountain gate, reading and cultivating for one day, then reading again the next day if forgotten, until it was mastered.

But even after mastering it, one only gained an additional Divine Ability; the method of cultivation itself still couldn't be remembered.

As for what means Shaman God Mountain had to protect its cultivation methods from being stolen, that was unknown, but after all, it was Shaman God Mountain… just thinking about it sent shivers down one's spine.

Li Qi, of course, didn't know Zhang Lan’s thoughts. He merely continued, “So, Chan Zhi, the Monk, couldn’t truly seek those profound Legacies. Thus, he set his sights on Guangyang. The Guangyang Prefect and Sima are both Seventh Rank Shaman Dao practitioners, and Chan Zhi, the Monk, is confident he can break the Restrictions on their Legacies.”

“This is the reason for the rotten situation in Guangyang. After Chan Zhi, the Monk, arrived, he first utilized the local human Qi of tens of thousands of families, then used Karma to build the framework of his Five-Tiered Pagoda. Following that, he fought one against three, killed Guangyang Sima, expelled the Prefect, and suppressed Minister of Labor underground, preventing him from showing his face.”

“As for Guangyang Situ, who was only an Eighth Rank, he was easily refined into a Puppet using the Heart-Eating method afterwards. Since then, Guangyang’s political situation has been his absolute rule. He hides behind the scenes, using the authority of Situ and Sima to slowly explore Shaman Dao Legacy methods for him.”

“However, Situ and Sima were both eaten by him, their memories devoured. After he deciphered the Shaman Dao methods within, he began to gradually experiment. This is our opportunity.”

Li Qi said.

Zhang Lan, who had been listening to the situation, was stunned when he heard this.

How did it suddenly become an opportunity? Weren't they still talking about Chan Zhi, the Monk's situation?

“Brother Zhang may not know, but I do: whether it’s Guangyang Sima or Situ, the Shaman Dao methods in their hands are all Gu Shaman Dao!” Li Qi said with certainty.

He was very sure of this. At the node of the Mountain and River Grand Formation, which was at Huangshan Lord's place, he clearly saw the construction method of the Mountain and River Grand Formation, which was entirely Gu Shaman Dao.

This was already confirmed.

“Gu Shaman Dao has completely gone astray, basically abandoning the method of Heavenly Dao balance, so it’s completely useless for him to remove the demonic thoughts in his heart. It’s precisely because of this that he set his sights on me.”

“All along my journey, I’ve done good deeds everywhere and left too many names through sacrificial methods, being too high-profile. So Chan Zhi, the Monk, discovered me early on. He placed his hopes on me, hoping to obtain the orthodox Shaman Dao method from me to balance his Buddhist and demonic heart. For this, he planned the scene at Zhenguan and step by step enticed me to actively create methods for him. Speaking of which, Brother Zhang was actually implicated because of me.”

Zhang Lan, however, shook his head, “This person, for his own selfish reasons, would put tens of thousands of lives to death. He truly deserves to die! As for implication or not, don’t say such things. Even without you, facing that situation, I would have gone up just the same. There’s no such thing as implication or not. It’s just that you still haven’t said where our opportunity lies.”

Li Qi then got to the point: “The opportunity lies in Gu Shaman Dao. Gu Shaman Dao has no sacrificial methods!”

“The sacrificial methods of Gu Shaman Dao have already mutated into means of raising Gu and feeding demons. They are no longer orthodox sacrifices. In other words, Chan Zhi, the Monk, himself is incapable of completing a sacrifice.”

When Li Qi said this, he looked at Zhang Lan, who had a bewildered expression, and began to explain:

“Brother Zhang, do you remember when we confronted the two Eighth Ranks who wanted to abduct the common people?”

Zhang Lan recalled for a moment and said, “Of course I remember. Afterwards, you seemed to have said that it was something called… Rat Soil Mound.”

Li Qi slapped the table, “Exactly! It’s the Rat Soil Mound!”

“Brother Zhang, do you know the legend of the Rat Soil Mound?”

Zhang Lan shook his head blankly, “Of course not. What is that?”

“The Rat Soil Mound is a strange beast of the Buddhist Kingdom, fond of sacrificial incense. According to my conjecture, it was brought by Chan Zhi, the Monk. However, the Rat King within the Rat Soil Mound is at least a Seventh Rank, so it’s impossible for it to be subordinate to Chan Zhi, the Monk. It’s more likely that they came to the place where Shaman Dao is located together.”

“In the legends of the Rat Soil Mound, it is extremely fond of being sacrificed to. The Records of the Western Regions state, ‘Therefore, from kings down to commoners, all perform sacrifices to seek blessings. When passing its burrow, they dismount and walk, bowing in reverence and sacrificing to pray for blessings. Whether it be clothes, bows and arrows, or incense, flowers, and delicacies, once sincerity is offered, many blessings are received. If there is no sacrifice, then disaster strikes.’ Its nature is clear from this!”

Sacrifice to pray for blessings, receive many benefits.

If there is no sacrifice, then disaster strikes.

These two sentences already clearly described the nature of the Rat Soil Mound.

All this knowledge was told to him by Shen Shuibi. Chan Zhi surely couldn’t have known beforehand that Li Qi would know this!

Upon hearing Li Qi's words, Zhang Lan suddenly realized!

He stood up in surprise, clapped his hands with delight, “Chan Zhi, the Monk, has no power to perform sacrifices, but Brother Li does! You intend to use the power of the Rat Soil Mound to make that demon monk suffer his own consequences?! Brilliant plan, brilliant plan! But how does Brother Li plan to implement this?”

Li Qi waved his hand, signaling him to calm down and listen.

Zhang Lan suppressed the excitement and doubt in his heart, sat down, and continued to listen to Li Qi.

He had come to realize that this Young Master of Shaman God Mountain might not be skilled in martial prowess, but in intelligence and strategy, he was ten times stronger than him!

He had gone to Guangyang, and on the way back, he had even written him a letter, which showed that Chan Zhi, the Monk's reaction had been within his calculations all along.

Now, he had effortlessly taken down two major forces in Guangyang City, a Grain Alliance and the Xi Jiu Men, basically encompassing over eighty percent of Guangyang's underground forces.

Although the officials on the surface seemed to have no connection with him, who knew if someone else would suddenly appear who was also his person?

And all of this, he had achieved so easily in just ten days since his arrival, without using any resources from Shaman God Mountain.

Furthermore, his goal was to entangle with, and even kill, a terrifying Seventh Rank.

Were all the Young Masters of Shaman God Mountain like this?

Only such people could be chosen?

While Zhang Lan was excited, he also found Li Qi, who had always called him brother and had no airs, somewhat unfathomable.

However, Li Qi seemed not to have noticed this change and simply continued, “This is why I called Brother Zhang here. Let’s continue discussing the situation in Guangyang.”

“Currently, Guangyang Sima and Guangyang Situ are still official figures. I strongly suspect that these two identities are still monitoring the situation in Guangyang, so recently, most actions have been carried out by underground forces, unnoticed by the official side.”

“Therefore, I need an official figure, someone who has a say on the surface in Guangyang. That would be you, Brother Zhang. You are the Sword Master of Orthodox Sword Palace, chivalrous and upright, with a respectable identity, perfect for this task.”

“Take some Jianghu people, and also some official forces, preferably the army, and go to the Swallowing Heaven Demon Nest!”

“I want you to help me—”

“Contact the Rat Soil Mound! Just tell them that the person who truly understands sacrifice is not Chan Zhi, the Monk, but me.”