Chapter 225: Inner demon

This question made the atmosphere awkward for a moment; Li Qi, who was usually quick-witted, became speechless and found it difficult to articulate.

It was Shen Shuibi who reacted faster this time, immediately saying, “Grand Ritual… why do you ask this?”

“Nothing, just asking casually, don’t mind it.” Yun Fang smiled, “Moon Essence, please step back. I want to speak with Li Qi alone.”

The two looked at each other, but there was nothing they could do. Shen Shuibi bowed, then retreated and left the altar.

The moment she stepped off the altar, Li Qi and Yun Fang instantly vanished from their original spots.

Wang Baiyan, who was outside watching the Grand Ritual, was startled and looked strangely at the suddenly appearing Shen Shuibi: “Shen Guniang? You… teleported? What Divine Ability is this?”

From his perspective, Shen Shuibi had suddenly appeared there.

And where was Li Qi?

He was just on the altar, how did he disappear?

“Don’t ask.” Shen Shuibi turned her head and said, then turned to leave.

She needed to pack her bags.

Guangyang should be leaving soon.

However… was it to Tang Nation this time?

Also, the matter of the Celestial Pole Golden Elixir Method, no matter how she thought about it, seemed strange.

Such an important matter, and no one informed her?

How could that be…

Many things lingered in Shen Shuibi’s mind, making the usually dazed rabbit look troubled and at a loss.

And there was also…

That Grand Ritual.

He asked what her relationship with Li Qi was?

What did he mean?

Would she become Shaman God Mountain’s… bargaining chip to force the Empress to take a side?

— — — — — — — — — —

While Shen Shuibi was full of questions, Li Qi was not far behind.

He found himself and Yun Fang at a high mountain.

Misty, with rustling winds.

High cliffs and steep precipices, strange ravines and unique peaks.

Phoenixes chimed together, a lone鸞 danced by itself.

Leopards hid deep in the mountains, tigers roamed the rugged peaks.

Jade grass and exotic flowers, green pines and cypress trees.

Bright red Immortal peaches, lush green bamboo.

A stretch of clouds and mist connected to tree shadows, two streams flowed down to vine roots, a thousand mountains stood tall like pillars reaching the sky, ten thousand ravines cut across the earth.

The mountain range was majestic, extremely high and perilous. He found himself, for some unknown reason, suddenly standing on its summit.

He and Yun Fang stood there.

This… was this Senior’s personal small world?

Such dense energy.

Innumerable types of Qi, all of a quality unknown how many times higher than the outside world. Even a tiny bit here far surpassed refined Qi from outside.

Just the mountain beneath their feet, its earth Qi presented a pure dark gold color. A single wisp of it would be enough for a Ninth-Rank Mountain God in the outside world to use as a Dao foundation, laying an extremely solid base on the path to advancing to Eighth-Rank.

And such Qi was everywhere.

Li Qi was still observing his surroundings when, suddenly, a surge of Qi arose from the mountaintop.

Neither smoke nor mist, like clouds and mist, neither smoke nor mist, it billowed and swirled, filling the clear sky.

It billowed and steamed, filling the azure heavens, with fiery white flames swirling in clusters, reaching the sky, piercing the heavens, piercing the sun and covering the sky, incomparably bright, like a rainbow, truly this white Qi, upon closer inspection, clustered in the air.

However, just as Li Qi saw it, this mass of Qi suddenly uncontrollably surged directly into his body.

Yet, there was no feeling whatsoever…

Li Qi quickly reacted, bowed to Yun Fang, and asked, “Senior, this is…?”

Yun Fang found a smooth stone and sat down. The old man kindly said, “Your journey to Tang Nation will certainly be fraught with danger, but since it is your heart’s desire, and the best choice for the current overall situation, I cannot stop you.”

“However, I am somewhat worried that you might be harmed, so I have cast some spells on you.”

“That Qi has a concealing effect. Those with cultivation lower than mine will not be able to detect your cultivation, nor can they pinpoint you by any means. It can also obscure your Karma. This way, you will have some protection in Tang Nation. As long as you don’t violate the law, you should be fine.”

Li Qi understood after listening, but at the same time, more questions arose.

He was naturally moved by the other party’s thoughtfulness and kept the kindness in his heart, but why was this old man so proactive? It seemed like this was their first meeting, wasn’t it?

He wasn’t worried that the other party would harm him. After all, as a fellow Shaman God Mountain member, this old man, a dignified Third-Rank, wouldn’t stoop to that.

It was just this sudden goodwill, though not unwelcome, always felt somewhat strange.

As if seeing the doubt in Li Qi’s heart, Yun Fang smiled and said, “Keep that cloud Qi well. It has some other wonderful uses. You can study them yourself later. The main reason I brought you here is to show you a place and give you a reminder.”

“I will listen respectfully to the words of the elder and will not forget them.” Li Qi immediately bowed and replied.

Something that the other party specifically came to remind him of must be a major matter.

“Come with me.” Yun Fang stood up and said to Li Qi.

Li Qi immediately followed behind the other party with proper etiquette, silent and quietly following Yun Fang forward.

Yun Fang walked to the edge of the cliff, where a giant white crane flew from afar and hovered by his feet.

This white crane had a red crest and white wings, a round throat and slender toes, a thin head with exposed eyes, abundant feathers and lean flesh, Phoenix wings and a turtle back, a swallow’s chest and a turtle’s belly. One could tell at a glance that this was a transformed Immortal bird.

Just this bird alone was a Sixth-Rank.

Li Qi followed Yun Fang and stepped onto the white crane’s back.

The white crane then let out a high cry, its call piercing the heavens from the nine marshes, and then flew off, pecking high above the clouds, traveling through the auspicious clouds and mountains, displaying a truly Immortal demeanor.

It didn’t resemble a Shaman Sect, but rather an Immortal of the Dao Sect.

The Shaman Sect should have a solemn and strict image, after all, they manage the rites of nation-building and arrange the hierarchy of all parties, which is a very serious and authoritative matter.

However, Li Qi didn’t know why the other party’s personal small world looked like this, and he didn’t dare to ask, only observing his surroundings from behind.

However, after flying past Immortal mountains and observing all the auspicious clouds, when they crossed a certain line, the sky suddenly changed.

The sky became dark and gloomy, with thunder drums and frost bells, filled with a suppressive atmosphere.

The Peng’s cloud-wind was still black, the Dragon’s light and lightning drove it away, the mountains were ugly and poor, and evil insects bred in the wicked water.

But just by crossing a certain line, it was as if the world had changed. The surrounding scenery completely transformed, becoming oppressive and despairing. Evil insects and mosquitoes bred, auspicious clouds turned into black clouds, Immortal mountains turned into barren mountains, and clear springs turned into foul water.

The Auspicious Beasts that were originally in the mountains all disappeared, leaving only a few cunning beasts hiding their heads and tails.

Li Qi was stunned and couldn’t help but exclaim, “The five defilements mislead the mind, and the three evil paths lead to missteps. This is the scene after the collapse of the Dao Heart. Why is it here? Senior, you…?”

This old man, his Dao Heart seemed perfectly fine, so why would there be such an area in his personal small world?

Yun Fang stood on the crane’s back and shook his head: “This personal small world is not mine.”

“Then why?” Li Qi was surprised. This was clearly still within the other party’s personal small world, so how could he say it wasn’t his?

But before he could ask further, he saw the Immortal crane suddenly accelerate.

Although it accelerated, the surroundings remained stable, as if they were on flat ground, without any bumps, no acceleration, and even no sensation of inertia. The wind was completely blocked outside.

After accelerating for only two or three seconds, the Immortal crane landed on the ground.

Li Qi followed Yun Fang down and saw a formation.

Five Mountains stood here, arranged according to the four cardinal directions and the center.

The mountains were connected, forming a posture of Five Mountains suppressing something.

This was not a mountain, it was clearly a cage! And it was a top-grade cage!

“The Five Mountains suppress the mountains, the six yin of the Hai Earth, snow and ice cover the path, the earth here is not warm, the metal here gives birth to cold, when the season is full it withers, all things decline in form, like the decline of human Qi. This… this is clearly the scene of a land of great death. This is using a land of death to suppress something…”

“Heart Demon? Is this your Heart Demon, Senior? Why did you bring me here!?” Li Qi observed the surrounding formation, and after a moment of thought, recognized the purpose of this arrangement.

Yun Fang, however, shook his head and said, “This is not my Heart Demon, but you’re very knowledgeable about Demonic Overlords if you can recognize a Heart Demon.”

Li Qi quickly said, “This junior has dealt with Demonic Overlords quite a bit in the past few days… naturally—”

When he said the word ‘naturally’, Li Qi couldn’t continue.

His expression was horrified, his heart pounded, and blood instantly rushed to his brain.

Yes, in the past few days, he had been in contact with various Demonic Overlords and tried to find a way to overcome the One Hundred and Eight Demons. And he had found it, using it as a bargaining chip to turn the tables on Chan Zhi.

In the process of contacting the Demonic Overlords, he even found a wisp of Heavenly Demon’s Dao Resonance.

At that time, he risked using the Heavenly Demon’s Dao Resonance to kill Chan Zhi.

After that, he decided to keep the Heavenly Demon’s Dao Resonance hidden and then go back to tell his teacher, asking them how to deal with it.

But it wasn’t until now that he remembered this matter.

Li Qi was not someone who forgot things.

But he had forgotten the Heavenly Demon’s Dao Resonance.

During the preparation phase of the Grand Ritual, he had completely forgotten, not even telling Senior Le Ya to report back to Shaman God Mountain to find a solution.

Even after his teacher arrived, he hadn’t remembered.

When did his memories of the Heavenly Demon’s Dao Resonance gradually begin to recover?

It seemed to be… after he was covered by the Grand Ritual’s Qi, that the sealed memories gradually began to unlock, but he was still a bit muddled and didn’t have a clear impression at first.

It wasn’t until now, when he thought of the Heart Demon, that he suddenly recalled it.

It turned out that he was actually very familiar with demonic thoughts, and even possessed a wisp of Heavenly Demon’s Dao Resonance.

At this thought, Li Qi broke out in a cold sweat.

Unknowingly, to what extent had the Heavenly Demon’s Dao Resonance developed?

If this Grand Ritual hadn’t reminded him, what would the outcome have been?

Yun Fang saw Li Qi’s reaction and knew he understood.

So he smiled: “Remembered?”

He could directly hear others’ thoughts, but out of self-restraint and respect for others, he generally wouldn’t do so, so he still spoke and asked Li Qi.

Li Qi wiped his sweat, looked up, and said, “Thank you, Senior, for your saving grace. I hope you can also inform my teacher later.”

“That’s for sure, but tell me about the origin of this Dao Resonance.” Yun Fang nodded.

Since the other party asked, Li Qi naturally did not dare to hide anything. He immediately recounted the matter in full detail, without omitting anything.

He started from the time with Chan Zhi and continued until he used the power of the Heavenly Demon’s Dao Resonance to kill Chan Zhi.

He narrated for a full two quarters of an hour.

Finally, he demonstrated the Heavenly Demon’s Dao Resonance and then said, “After I used it last time, I kept forgetting about this thing. I’m sure there’s something wrong behind this. Senior, could you please enlighten me?”

Yun Fang, however, stared at the Heavenly Demon’s Dao Resonance, examining it repeatedly.

Then, he reached out and grabbed that wisp of Dao Resonance.

Li Qi immediately felt his vision blur.

It was like… a bone had been pulled from his body.

He collapsed directly onto the ground, his body devoid of strength.

Yun Fang didn’t bother with him, letting Li Qi lie there.

He just held that wisp of Dao Resonance and pondered, saying, “This thing… it’s not Heavenly Demon’s Dao Resonance. I’ve dealt with Desire Realm Heavenly Demons, and their Dao Resonance doesn’t look like this.”

“No, this thing isn’t even a product of the Demonic Dao; it doesn’t have that special Demonic Qi. Are you sure you got it suddenly, and you personally witnessed the Heavenly Demon’s true form, that sphere?” Yun Fang asked.

Li Qi immediately struggled to his feet from the ground, panting as he replied, “Indeed, junior’s words are not exaggerated in the slightest. To deceive Chan Zhi, I willingly allowed myself to be tainted by demonic thoughts. At that time, I came into contact with an existence that called itself a Heavenly Demon, and it even gave me this wisp of Dao Resonance.”

Yun Fang twirled that wisp of Dao Resonance, nodding slightly: “Heh, interesting. I’ll take this Dao Resonance. Afterwards, I’ll ask a Diviner to specifically divine its origin. I am a Ritual Patriarchs; although I know a little, I’m not specialized in it. It’s better to leave it to the professionals.”

“Thank you, Senior!” Li Qi bowed deeply, expressing his gratitude.

“No need. There was a selfish reason for bringing you here; this Dao Resonance was just a bonus.” Yun Fang smiled, “Since you’ve remembered, let’s go in.”

Li Qi was puzzled. The demonic thoughts wasn’t the reason the other party invited him?

Then this area of Heart Demon…

It wasn’t set up by the other party to remind him.

It was real.

Senior Yun Fang truly had such a Heart Demon.

The Heart Demon of a Grand Ritual…

Li Qi shuddered just thinking about it.

However, since the other party had invited him, he couldn’t refuse.

So he nodded and followed the other party in.

Upon entering this mountain-suppressing area, Li Qi immediately felt a deep demonic thoughts.

It was hard to describe, but it was like… it was alive.

He seemed to faintly perceive these demonic thoughtss whispering in his ear.

But this was not the Grand Ritual’s demonic thoughts.

“The level of these demonic thoughtss… is Seventh-Rank?” Li Qi looked around in confusion.

Chan Zhi was also Seventh-Rank, so he had some research on Seventh-Rank demonic thoughtss and could tell the actual rank of these demonic thoughtss at a glance.

If it were truly the Grand Ritual’s demonic thoughts, he would have already died.

“That’s right, it’s Seventh-Rank.” Yun Fang nodded: “These are not my demon thoughts; they are my Disciple’s.”

Li Qi understood the implied meaning.

This wasn’t a Heart Demon, this was… a Disciple?

Yun Fang continued, “My Disciple’s Dao Heart collapsed, he died without a burial place, his Spirit Soul completely extinguished. To preserve his life, I planted this wisp of Heart Demon in my heart.”

“I sealed all my memories of him here, and by doing so, I retrieved his Karma with me from the long river of time, planting him in my heart, turning him into my Heart Demon.”

“This way, he was Reborn in my heart. As long as my Heart Demon is not extinguished, he will not die. However, he will also forever become my Heart Demon, an obstacle on my Dao path.”

He said these things as if it were nothing.

Li Qi, however, immediately realized what immense power this was.

To make someone whose Spirit Soul had been completely extinguished… Reborn in one’s own heart?

Could that even be done?