Chapter 230: Blocking the road

The speed suddenly increased, and the carriage headed directly towards Boundless Outer Domain.

As if sensing Li Qi's confusion, the Fifth Grade Cultivator explained, "In the world, speed is suppressed by the Heavenly Dao's limit. The closer one gets to the Heavenly Dao's limit, the more power is consumed."

"Moreover, this rate of increase is very large. One-tenth of the Heavenly Dao's limit and two-tenths of the Heavenly Dao's limit, seemingly only a doubling in speed, require dozens of times more energy."

"The further one goes, the greater the resistance becomes. After reaching ninety percent of the Heavenly Dao's limit, every inch of progress requires tens of millions of times more energy. Finally, if the speed reaches the Heavenly Dao's limit, then even a speck of dust would require 'infinite' energy, meaning it's simply impossible to achieve."

"The ethereal Qi is fine, as it has no physical form and is easy to accelerate. But if it's a Physical Body, the amount of energy required for acceleration is too great, so we generally don't accelerate too much in the world."

"Coming to Boundless Outer Domain, the rules here are much weaker than the Heavenly Dao of the world, and the constraints on the Heavenly Dao's limit are also weaker. Accelerating here for a while and then returning will be much more convenient and faster."

"Furthermore, speed is closely related to time. Accelerating to this extent will also change time, so the time we perceive will be shorter. Soon, we will reach the speed we need."

The Fifth Grade Cultivator explained, and at the same time, the surrounding speed became faster and faster.

After more than ten seconds, the carriage accelerated to an unbelievable speed. Li Qi was already enveloped when he saw the surrounding scenery begin to move.

Then, the surrounding space seemed to be stretched.

Li Qi looked around and found that the outside world seemed to have come to a standstill.

Time is relative; Li Qi knew this, as he had long heard of relativity.

But it was the first time he truly felt such a reality.

His time was "separated" from the outside world.

"This is… time dilation! Oh my god, it's actually happening in reality?!" Li Qi looked up at the sphere of light, dumbfounded!

He had already guessed what this thing was exactly.

In this world, there is no such concept as "true time." Time is merely a physical quantity used to describe the movement of objects.

In relativity, if Li Qi moved away from someone at the speed of light, then from his perspective, the entire world would slow down.

And from the perspective of others, his time would also slow down, becoming almost still.

Both sides would see the other as almost stationary.

It's strange, right? Everyone thinks they are normal, seeing others' actions stagnate, and yet this is true.

I think you've slowed down, you think I've slowed down, so whose time has actually slowed down?

No, when asking this question, the focus is wrong, because "there is no third party for time." "Whose time" is meaningless in this context.

The 'relative' in relativity means this.

Because time does not exist, it is merely a physical quantity describing the movement of objects. Time is not a judge; the true situation is that in each other's eyes, both parties slow down, and they cannot interfere with each other.

In other words, this carriage is now "exiled" beyond external time, separated from the outside world, and the time within it flows independently, unrelated to anyone.

To put it in a somewhat mystical way, he is now in a state of "jumping out of the river of time."

Although time does not have a river, or rather, everyone has their own river of time, this river is not interfered with by the outside world, nor does it interfere with the outside world.

If one views it from their own subjective perspective as a reference frame, then time will never change.

In other words, since it is now in a state of time dilation, the travel time will be greatly shortened for oneself.

What originally would have taken a very long time now only requires a small amount of time to reach.

Although external time will flow normally, this is equivalent to directly skipping a portion of time.

"Shen Guniang… is this how you all travel?" Li Qi sighed and turned to look at Shen Shuibi.

It was unbelievable that someone could actually achieve such a terrifying feat as "time dilation."

If this were on Earth, how much energy would it consume? Would blowing up the sun be enough?

This was beyond what human power could achieve, wasn't it?

Shen Shuibi glanced at Li Qi: "Traveling this way is faster… It's just that I don't have a Spiritual Artifact that can reach the Heavenly Dao's limit and jump out of the river of time."

Now Li Qi understood.

He had thought this thing was common, but it turned out to be very expensive.

However, Shen Shuibi then remained silent, and even moved further away from Li Qi.

Li Qi was puzzled; this situation seemed unprecedented, and he was momentarily at a loss.

But at this time, there was another Fifth Grade Cultivator nearby, so he couldn't show anything.

However, he began to ponder many things.

Why… ever since Guangyang, Shen Shuibi had spoken much less to him?

Was there a reason?

The three of them were silent, and the attendants outside naturally did not speak either.

Under the condition of time dilation, Li Qi felt that less than half an hour had passed before he heard a bang.

The expanded time around them suddenly contracted.

Under time dilation, the outside scenery cannot be seen; an invisible barrier appears, preventing even light from passing through.

And now, after this barrier disappeared, the outside could be seen.

Then, what appeared before Li Qi was… a large plain?

No, it couldn't be called a large plain; it should be… mountains.

Innumerable mountains, one by one, their earth veins intertwined like a ball of yarn.

It seemed very small.

However, this was what was seen from above the sky.

The further down one looked, the more one could see countless dozens of mountain ranges twisting, winding, and surrounding each other, forming a gigantic maze!

Each mountain range was at least ten thousand zhang high, with towering Spirit Peaks, and countless large rivers flowing through the mountain ranges.

The points where the great rivers converged were lakes, nestled within the mountains, like sapphires embedded in a green ball of yarn.

Containing cinnabar and shining with stars, condensing purple smoke and splendor.

Vast mountains and deep valleys, boundless thousands of lakes.

Vast accumulated flows, containing form within emptiness.

When the three lights are clear, heaven and earth are bright.

Lofty peaks rise high, heavy ridges reach into the sky.

Rivers across the land, standing out in isolation.

Giant peaks pierce the clouds, wooden manes stab the heavens.

Dividing into peaks, flowing springs form abysses.

Exhausting the hard rocks, where all spirits reside.

Clouds collapsing and rain scattering, gurgling and rushing.

Sheer cliffs and hanging springs, riding the wind and speeding.

Mountains encircling each other, clouds and mist nurturing each other.

Boundless wilderness, abundant grass and trees.

Winding rocky peaks, streams winding like belts.

Ascending and looking far, the vast plains are green.

Distant mountains converge, wind whispers through the pines.

When the wind blows, it is like a surging ripple, slightly moving like a hundred rivers flowing backward.

All waters end here, and all mountains reach their limit here.

This is truly the 'place where mountains end and waters run out.'

The extreme Southwest of the world, one of the Eight Extremes, the very edge of the world. As long as one crosses Shaman God Mountain, behind it is Boundless Outer Domain, and one step out leads to an endless abyss.

This is the southernmost corner of the world, the edge of the great disk known as the world.

Shaman God Mountain is not a single high mountain, but a collection of countless mountain ranges and water veins merged into one entity.

The Fifth Grade Cultivator lowered the carriage, landing on the cliff edge of the world.

"We've arrived at Shaman God Mountain, Young Master Qi, please get off the carriage. Flying is prohibited within Shaman God Mountain, so I trouble Young Master Qi to walk back yourself. You should be able to feel the summons, right?"

"Yes, Senior, take care." Li Qi got out of the carriage and respectfully watched the other party leave.

This Fifth Grade Cultivator was just tasked with picking him up, similar to picking up a child from kindergarten. He wasn't his servant, so it was normal for him to leave once his task was done.

As for himself… he indeed felt a summons.

It wasn't far, about a thousand li. With his current Eighth Grade Cultivator's pace, it would only take half a day to walk. As long as he followed this summons, he should be able to reach his Master's Immortal Cave.

After the Fifth Grade Cultivator who had picked him up left, the surroundings became a vast wilderness, empty of people, with only Li Qi and Shen Shuibi remaining.

"Shen Guniang, let's…" Li Qi was about to say something.

However, Shen Shuibi also spoke: "Li Qi…"

"You go first." Li Qi immediately stopped, saying so.

"En." Shen Shuibi nodded: "Li Qi, then I'll leave first. I also sensed the aura of Empress Luofu and Yang Ning. Let's part ways here."

Li Qi swallowed the rest of his words.

Why?

Could it be that Shen Shuibi had been quiet all this time because of this reason?

A surge of anger suddenly rose in Li Qi's heart, but he didn't know where to direct it, so he could only suppress it.

There was no reason to get angry.

Was she not allowed to go see Empress Luofu? That made no sense.

Shen Shuibi had accompanied him on his journey; now that they had arrived, wasn't she allowed to go see her family?

So Li Qi shook his head, smiled, and said, "En, then let's part ways here, but let's leave a mark so it'll be easier to contact each other later."

"Alright." Hearing this, Shen Shuibi's hand glowed with a piece of jade. A wisp of True Qi from her Human Body miniature heaven and earth attached to it, carving a crescent moon hook onto its surface.

"This object contains a wisp of my True Qi and records the location of Niangniang's Immortal Cave. You should be able to find it with this."

Li Qi took the jade, and he also took out a piece of rock, using the same method to carve his Master's Immortal Cave location onto it, and handed it to Shen Shuibi: "Then let's exchange addresses."

However, the rabbit did not take it immediately, but instead her gaze shifted, hesitant.

Li Qi's hand froze in mid-air, a little awkward.

Seeing this, the rabbit immediately reacted, took the rock, and replied, "En! Then I'll go first!"

Then, clutching the rock, she ran away as if fleeing.

But even in her escape, she appeared Immortal Qi-filled, like a celestial being flying from beyond the heavens, carried by the mountain wind.

No, she was already a celestial being flying from beyond the heavens.

Li Qi watched her back disappear, and the anger in his heart could no longer be suppressed.

He stomped his foot hard, feeling frustrated, but couldn't say a word. After a long sigh, he suppressed his anger and began to travel.

Shaman God Mountain is very large.

It's ridiculously large. From the sky, it's estimated to cover an area as big as a dozen Baiyue countries combined.

And this is just the outside.

In reality, each mountain peak here has its own use, and the interior is even more unique, usually leading to its own special miniature heaven and earth.

For beings above Fifth Grade, worlds are already units of transaction and currency; they generally choose to live in a miniature heaven and earth they prefer.

Therefore, there are actually not many people outside, only occasionally Disciples or servants who manage their own mountain peaks.

The entire Shaman God Mountain is not bustling; on the contrary, because of its immense size, a single mountain range easily occupies hundreds of miles, making it appear sparsely populated and overall quite natural.

However, it's not entirely so. Occasionally, when Li Qi passed by some mountain peaks, he would see quite magical scenes.

Some Spirit Peaks were entirely filled with Formations, and he wondered what their owners were thinking.

Some Spirit Peaks were filled with Spirit Beasts and Spiritual Plants, and not just free-range, but large-scale, industrialized farming, even with complete automated assembly lines. It was estimated that the owner of this mountain peak was in this kind of business.

Some were completely barren, with nothing, not even a patch of green, utterly desolate.

Others were filled with Mortals, a living, breathing small city, with the Mortals divided into several settlements living within it, a very strange sight.

During his journey, the most outrageous mountain Li Qi saw was completely mechanized. The entire mountain had been transformed into some kind of mechanism, completely mechanized, filled with gears, pulley systems, levers, and bearings, probably the mountain lord's personal hobby.

Each mountain was different, entirely depending on the mountain lord's mood.

However, it was also a good thing. At least in this environment, Li Qi's astonishment and curiosity gradually replaced his anger, making him less annoyed.

However, on these mountains, if there were people from Shaman God Mountain, upon seeing Li Qi, they would all bow to him.

Shaman God Mountain is composed of countless mountain ranges, but there are still only so many Great Shamanes.

What revealed Li Qi's identity seemed to be his unique cultivation method.

His cultivation method seemed to display his origin. The Human Body miniature heaven and earth cultivated through this cultivation method had an aura similar to an identity recognition for those from Shaman God Mountain.

Li Qi was also surprised to find that he seemed to be able to perceive their cultivation method levels.

These cultivation methods had no distinction of superiority or inferiority; they were essentially the same, with no difference in power. However, they had classifications, such as only being able to cultivate to Fifth Grade, or only to Third Grade.

It was probably necessary to cultivate to the very top to obtain the remaining cultivation methods.

But Li Qi was different.

The "Zhu" book in Li Qi's hand led directly to First Grade.

Although Li Qi couldn't understand the parts above Seventh Grade at all, not a single word, it was indeed possible to cultivate to First Grade.

Feeling the strange sights of Shaman God Mountain and his fellow Disciples around him.

However, suddenly, Li Qi stopped.

He felt it.

Ten li ahead, someone was blocking him.

Moreover, the other party's identity verification was the same as his.

Another Young Master?