Chapter 227: Conspiracy

Yang Ning, the essence of the sun, went missing, and all Karma pointed towards the Central Plains.

"How could this be!?" Shen Shuibi suddenly stood up, disbelieving.

The Shaman said with a stern face, "That's how it is. Yang Ning was preparing to pick you up personally, so she set off from the Grotto-Heaven towards Baiyue, but halfway through her journey, she disappeared without a trace."

He took a deep breath. "So, we're not going to Shaman God Mountain anymore. Grand Invoker has ordered us to immediately head to Tang Nation. The interior of Shaman God Mountain… needs to be rectified."

"The original envoy group has also been canceled and is now under my responsibility. Young Master Qi can call me Ji Ding. My Dao is at the Fifth Grade, which should be enough to protect you all on the journey."

"We'll discuss the specifics on the way. We must depart immediately. Someone in Tang Nation is already prepared to receive us."

Li Qi didn't delay and immediately nodded, "Alright, let's go then."

Since things had come to this, it was best not to waste any more time.

Shen Shuibi, however, seemed distraught, as if she had something to say.

"Senior, please wait a moment. I still have a horse grazing at the bottom of the valley. I'll go call him back, and then we'll depart." Li Qi ignored Shen Shuibi and instead cupped his hands and said.

"Go quickly and return quickly." The Shaman nodded.

Li Qi immediately turned around, thought for a moment, and then pulled Shen Shuibi, saying, "Shen Guniang, you come with me. The old horse listens to you more. If I go, I'm afraid it'll just waste time arguing."

Saying that, without waiting for Shen Shuibi's reply, he somewhat forcefully took her hand and rushed towards the valley.

He had already reached the Eighth Grade and now possessed the method of cloud-riding. He could cross dozens of zhang in a single step. Now, he was moving quickly, so he quickly ran to the old horse's side.

Then, suddenly! Two golden threads burst from Li Qi's fingers, brushing past Shen Shuibi's face and piercing directly towards Ji Ding on the mountain!

Their speed was four or five times faster than before!

These two streams of Jin Qi (Metal Energy) could now travel fifteen li in a single breath, having reached their limit. After reaching the Eighth Grade, Li Qi could already perfectly utilize Jin Qi (Metal Energy).

This place was only four or five li away from the previous spot, so it would only take one-third of a breath to directly reach the opponent.

The Jin Qi (Metal Energy) drew two dazzling golden lines in the air, carrying the killing intent from the Five Elements of Metal, transforming into two guillotines in mid-air, one on the left and one on the right, cutting down with a "clack"!

One could see the surrounding cliffs directly breaking in half from the middle, then sliding down, with surfaces as smooth as a mirror.

Just the aftermath of these two streams of Jin Qi (Metal Energy) cut the surrounding cliffs, hundreds of meters away, into two halves, as if cutting tofu.

One can imagine the kind of attack Ji Ding, located in the center of the Jin Qi (Metal Energy) guillotine, suffered.

As soon as he reached the bottom of the valley, Li Qi immediately unleashed his strongest killing move, which he could prepare in the shortest amount of time, on the opponent!

Ji Ding's expression changed. His pupils suddenly turned dark gold, and his gaze transformed into a sharp beam of light. A "clink" sound was heard, and he actually managed to forcefully block Li Qi's Jin Qi (Metal Energy) guillotine.

"Young Master Qi, what is the meaning of this?!" Ji Ding frowned and roared at Li Qi.

Li Qi, however, ignored him and immediately changed his move. The two streams of Jin Qi (Metal Energy) suddenly merged into one, forming a long blade, which he manipulated to strike down directly!

The Yin and Yang Jin Qi (Metal Energy) combined, erupting with extremely terrifying killing power!

The white-glowing blade, carrying a man-eating killing intent, was as swift as thunder. The blade light poured out, a mercury-like strong light shimmered, and the surrounding forests and rocks were all revealed in meticulous detail by this dazzling strike!

There was no technique; Li Qi had no skill in it. He knew nothing about blade techniques.

But this strike was simply powerful and heavy.

Li Qi used all his strength, and with the power unleashed by the combination of Yin and Yang, the speed and power of the Jin Qi (Metal Energy) increased several times, striking towards Ji Ding's head at a speed far exceeding that of sound.

Are you kidding? You said you were from Shaman God Mountain, and your Dao reached the Fifth Grade?

If I didn't have True Knowledge Dao Resonance, I would have really been fooled by you!

This person, Ji Ding, was covered by a layer of disguise. Li Qi couldn't detect any abnormality on his own.

But fortunately, he had already gotten used to maintaining the sixth sense provided by True Knowledge Dao Resonance at all times, constantly scrutinizing this world through two different perspectives.

In front of the new sense provided by True Knowledge Dao Resonance, he could perceive the Death Qi on the other party…

That's right, Ji Ding was indeed Fifth Grade.

This corpse was also Fifth Grade, and even the Shaman Qi emitted by the other party was real. No matter who looked at it, they would only think it was correct.

No matter how one investigated, perceiving the other party's Qi and characteristics, there would be no flaws.

According to the method practitioners use to verify identity, which is to verify the other party's human body's small world and sense their unique Qi, none of these methods would reveal any flaws.

This person was indeed a Fifth Grade Shaman, and Shaman God Mountain truly sent him to receive Li Qi.

It's estimated that even if Li Qi specifically went to confirm with Shaman God Mountain, he would get the corresponding result.

However, that was a dead person.

Ji Ding was dead.

His body was controlled by someone, and his Spirit Soul had long been extracted.

Could it be that the person sent by Shaman God Mountain to receive him actually died halfway?!

Li Qi was utterly horrified and immediately made a choice.

He unhesitatingly moved away from the opponent, then went all out to destroy the opponent!

Presumably, to cover their tracks, the opponent didn't dare to send a truly powerful expert. The core of this corpse was only Eighth Grade. They probably thought Li Qi would definitely not see through the disguise, and if it was too strong, it would be difficult to hide themselves, so they chose such a grade, which was just right.

But the opponent's decision gave Li Qi a chance to resist.

In the distance.

The blade struck down.

Suddenly, a bright light flashed! 'Ji Ding's' eyes could only see a cold gleam that seemed to swallow the sky and devour the earth, heading straight for his neck!

Eighth Grade Jin Qi (Metal Energy), and two streams of it.

Moreover, these two streams of Qi were perfectly complementary Yin and Yang Jin Qi (Metal Energy), one male and one female, fitting together to produce an effect where one plus one was far greater than two.

Therefore, this dead person couldn't block it.

The speed was too fast, so much so that he couldn't react at all.

The blade struck the Adam's apple squarely.

However, it wasn't the sound of a blade entering flesh, but more like cutting into thick leather armor, emitting a dull "thud" sound.

It only left a white mark on the neck.

But, 'Ji Ding's' body suddenly began to wither.

Before, he was full of Life Qi, looking like a normal, vibrant living person.

Now, his skin began to shrivel, his pupils dilated, his steps became unsteady, and the bones in his body gradually twisted.

Black Qi surged from his facial features: eyes, nose, and mouth!

Li Qi and Shen Shuibi both heard a piercing sound…!

The black Qi condensed into a ball! This malicious shadow churned in the air, and a void mouth, along with two claws, materialized from the darkness. Just being near it, one could almost hear eerie, incessant whispers.

His bony fingers stretched forward maliciously, letting out a hiss towards Li Qi and Shen Shuibi.

Since they had been discovered, it was time to show their true colors.

The corpse began to move, its deathly pale flesh stretched taut over its decaying body, and jagged ribs protruded from the corpse's chest cavity.

Inside his chest cavity, one could clearly see Spirit Souls that originally did not belong to these bodies, these Spirit Souls writhing painfully within, appearing and disappearing, sending shivers down one's spine.

These foul-smelling, terrifying, and repulsive corpses limped forward, rushing towards Li Qi and Shen Shuibi!

Along his path, rotting corpses dripping with cadaver fluid looked at the two of them with empty, dark eye sockets, making Li Qi feel a bone-chilling cold.

Indeed, he hadn't seen wrong; that was a fake.

However, that body was real.

This was Ji Ding's Fifth Grade corpse, occupied by a demon, then used to deceive him!

'Ji Ding's' corpse rushed towards Li Qi.

During the charge, he also spread one hand, and countless black smoke surged out, obscuring the sky until it was dim and one couldn't see their hand in front of their face.

Another dark, circular shroud encompassed the surroundings, like an iron wall, enclosing the area. Amidst the black smoke, many strange, long, short, large, and small monsters appeared, numbering in the thousands, all letting out terrifying howls and charging towards Li Qi and the others.

These demonic tides were like ten thousand maggots swarming, a thousand insects crawling, making one's skin crawl.

Li Qi had just unleashed a full-power strike and hadn't recovered his Qi. By the time he recovered, the corpse would probably have already reached his face.

Just as Yun Fang said, Li Qi's combat talent… was hard to describe.

However, Shen Shuibi took two steps forward at this moment and said to Li Qi, "The Qi of the Fifth Month Heavenly Time, lend it to me."

Li Qi immediately gave up on recovering his Qi and, without hesitation, activated his human body's small world. The Qi of the Fifth Month Heavenly Time fell into his hand and was handed to Shen Shuibi.

Shen Shuibi took it with one hand, and then the Three-Five Furnace appeared in her hand.

In the height of summer, the fifth month, forging it into Qi, one can obtain fire.

Jade mercury and lead are perfectly matched. The Five Elements and Three Flowers gather at the crown, blowing with natural True Fire. Inside the Three-Five Furnace, it was instantly refined to be as red as a pomegranate.

The True Fire surged, and from the furnace, a towering flame erupted, blazing red and soaring into the sky, forming a sea of fire!

The sea of fire was a single entity, constantly raising fire waves every minute and second. The waves pushed and covered each other, their crests forming sharp edges, then breaking and exploding. A violent roaring sound could be heard from afar, the sound of one wave after another exploding, collapsing, one wave striking another, constantly beating back the surging demons!

Heavenly fire burned downwards, irresistible to iron and stone. The pillar of fire was four or five li long and two or three li wide, with even the mountaintops showing slight signs of melting. It was as if a mighty torch was igniting it, vast and grand, even dyeing the sky red.

Fierce winds drove swift thunder, and flying lightning transformed into fire.

White clouds turned into red heavens, and crimson light connected to the Big Dipper.

Demons burned to ashes, leaving behind a clear, unpolluted expanse.

Those demons and ghosts, directly hit by the flames, were scorched and rotten, turning into flying ash.

Those who were merely grazed were terrified, flustered, and fled in a panic.

With just one strike, this True Fire swept away countless ghosts without a trace, and even 'Ji Ding' was stopped in his tracks.

After all, this was Pill-forming True Fire, a High Grade fire used in Alchemy, capable of commanding the Five Elements to create all things. That's why it could refine Five Elements materials in the Three-Five Furnace to produce Spirit Pills.

A Daoist master once said, "There is a natural True Fire, why need firewood or blowing?" This is what he meant by this True Fire.

While burning the demonic black smoke, the rabbit also came to its senses.

Clearly, this was what he had been worried about before.

Someone was targeting them.

It's just that Li Qi was still unknown, and the other party didn't seem to take him too seriously, believing Li Qi could never see through the disguise, so they didn't arrange too many contingencies.

However… that disguise was indeed powerful.

She only felt a bit strange and didn't realize it was fake at all, thinking this Shaman had cultivated some special method, and was only slightly conflicted.

But now, it was Li Qi who discovered the other party was fake.

It's no wonder the other party failed. Who would have thought Li Qi's eyesight would be stronger than her own? She had the discernment of a Fifth Grade, but even she didn't see through it, yet Li Qi did.

This was truly the opponent's bad luck; it was destined that he would be exposed.

Good news, this means the other party has revealed their flaws.

While Shen Shuibi was controlling the True Fire for defense, Li Qi also recovered his Qi.

He didn't hesitate at all and immediately manifested all eleven inner body spirits simultaneously.

The Mountain God was burly, as firm as gold and iron.

The Water God was gentle and pervasive.

The Sun and Moon Heavenly Gods shone above them, and the Qi of Grand Yin and Grand Yang diffused out.

The essence of all Yang gathers above to form the Sun.

The essence of Grand Yin gathers above to form the Moon.

With the appearance of the inner body spirits, Li Qi used the combined power of Mountain and Water Di Qi (Earthly Qi) to sacrifice to the Moon at Kan.

Shen Shuibi immediately reacted.

She was originally the manifestation of the essence of Grand Yin and immediately understood what Li Qi was preparing to do.

While maintaining the True Fire with one hand, Li Qi's Sun Heavenly God directly plunged into the True Fire.

The entire mountain then caught fire.

The fire of the sun combined with the True Fire, fire giving birth to fire, increasing its power several times over.

Thousands of large trees in the valley were all ablaze to their tops, and the valley floor thirty li below was reduced to ashes, as if a fierce torch had ignited it, vast and grand, even dyeing the sky red.

The corpse was forced back by the raging flames, circling around, simultaneously isolating the commotion here and waiting for an opportunity to act.

Originally, he was formed from a Fifth Grade corpse. Although his cultivation was only Eighth Grade, his body was a genuine Fifth Grade. These attacks should have been completely useless against him.

Just like Li Qi's Jin Qi (Metal Energy), which was already considered a powerful move among Eighth Grade, but when it encountered him, it couldn't even break his skin.

But Shen Shuibi knew the weakness of these dead bodies. Dead bodies fear flames and Yang Qi the most. They won't be harmed, but they also find it difficult to approach.

Now, this True Fire combined with the sun perfectly countered the corpse, preventing him from forcefully rushing in while enduring the attacks.

However, such a fire would certainly not last too long.

So, this dead body, while they couldn't spare their hands, used the Death Qi of the tomb to seal off the inside and outside, preventing messages from going out or coming in.

Then, when they could no longer maintain this fire, he would go in and, using the advantage of his body, devour them alive.

Since he couldn't deceive them away, he could only try to kill them here.

However, on the other side, Shen Shuibi was summoning the Moon Phase.

The essence of the Moon generates water, which is why when the Moon is full, the tides are great.

Li Qi's Grand Yin Heavenly God, plus Shen Shuibi's genuine essence of Grand Yin, combined.

"It's up to you, Shen Guniang!" Li Qi exerted all his strength, simultaneously raising the blazing sun and stirring the lunar Yin.

Shen Shuibi nodded.

Water and fire aiding each other, Yin and Yang united.

Yin and Yang and the Five Elements were originally the Daoist sect's most specialized direction for magical arts.

The sun rises, possessing the virtue of pure Yang; the moon descends, also assisting the degree of condensed Yin.

Then ghosts and gods will borrow this to form a 'Calamity'.

Shen Shuibi knew very well what could cause damage to a Fifth Grade Physical Body.