Chapter 270: Conversation

On the streets of Tang Nation, a Shaman and Li Qi walked one after another.

Moreover, no one noticed them; Li Qi could even see many people passing through their bodies, no one could see him, and they couldn’t touch each other.

It was as if he wasn't in this world.

However, this should be the Shaman’s method, so he didn’t need to be overly surprised.

He should focus on the private conversation with the Shaman; this was an Opportunity.

Had Senior Yun Fang mentioned him to this Shaman?

Li Qi wondered, puzzled.

However, he was a smart person and quickly understood the underlying reason.

It was likely that Senior Yun Fang had learned that this Shaman would be leading this diplomatic mission, so he had approached the Shaman in advance to ask him to look after Li Qi.

The other party’s motive was not hard to guess; it was probably just as Senior Yun Fang claimed, that Li Qi truly resembled his Disciple.

To be honest, Li Qi always felt that this kind of care was quite heavy and uncomfortable.

Forget it… he would just keep it in mind.

Moreover, normally, this kind of thing should be done by his Master…

It was a pity that his Master, with her carefree demeanor, probably wouldn’t remember this, and in the end, Senior Yun Fang had to do it on her behalf.

So, Li Qi immediately asked, “Senior Yun Fang… what did he say?”

“Nothing much, just some things about you, to give me a basic understanding of you, so I wouldn’t be a stranger,” the Shaman said indifferently, his tone unwavering.

Indeed, such a matter was unlikely to cause any emotional fluctuations.

So Li Qi changed the topic: “Then, Shaman, since you call Senior Yun Fang ‘Senior,’ is it because he is very strong?”

“We Shaman do not determine seniority by strength; combat is secondary to us. How could we call someone ‘Senior’ just because they are strong? If you want to talk about strength, your Master Zhu Fengdan is an outstanding individual among those of the Third Grade; do you see me calling her ‘Senior’?”

Li Qi immediately said, “That’s right, but Shaman, could you tell me about my Master and Senior Yun Fang? You know my Master’s personality…”

Zhu Fengdan’s personality meant she definitely wouldn’t talk about useless trivial matters; one could even say that even if it was useful, she might not say it, which probably depended on her mood.

“About your Master… let her tell you herself. After all, it’s a matter between you and your Master, and I shouldn’t interfere. She’ll tell you when she’s in a good mood.” This Shaman seemed very unwilling to get involved with Zhu Fengdan.

But he immediately continued, “However, about Senior Yun Fang, it’s fine to tell you.”

Li Qi immediately straightened his body and listened attentively.

Such matters required basic respect.

“The reason I call him ‘Senior’ is actually very simple: because he truly is a Senior. Those who were of the same generation as Senior Yun Fang have either already reached the Second Grade or have already died. Only he has maintained his Third Grade cultivation and lived until now,” the Shaman said.

Li Qi remained silent, listening quietly.

The reason, he could guess himself.

Senior Yun Fang’s Disciple was also his Heart Demon, sealed within his body.

As long as the Heart Demon was not extinguished, his cultivation would never progress, remaining stuck at that point.

For such an existence, Demonic Overlords are easily destroyed; those Demonic Overlords claiming to be Heart Demons would turn to dust with a flick of their finger.

He only needed to wave his hand lightly to extinguish the ‘demon’ residing in the small Universe within a person’s body, freeing his cultivation from its confinement.

But this was the terrifying aspect of a Heart Demon.

The true Heart Demon is not in the Demonic Overlord itself… but in the fact that you simply cannot bring yourself to make that move.

To make that move would be to truly let his Disciple die, never to be saved.

Therefore, even if his cultivation stagnated, even if his Disciple was trapped within and already insane, Senior Yun Fang still never released him.

Nor did he release himself.

This made Li Qi sigh with some emotion.

Even the Third Grade mighty figures, who seemed omnipotent in his eyes, ultimately had things they couldn't resolve…

But that Shaman continued, “Senior Yun Fang is too old, so he knows too much. That’s why we all respect him. If we encounter something we don’t understand, we will ask him. Among the Third Grade, he is like everyone’s Master; everyone treats him with half the respect due to a Master, calling him ‘Senior’.”

“Because besides knowing a lot, he is also warm-hearted, kind, and always willing to help others, often proactively assisting without seeking anything in return. You should have experienced this, right?”

Li Qi deeply agreed with the Shaman’s words.

Just the matter of his current trip to Tang Nation, Senior Yun Fang actually remembered to find someone to give him a few words of advice, which truly made Li Qi feel somewhat overwhelmed by the unexpected favor.

The Shaman sighed, “Elderly, with popular support, and with character and virtue that can convince everyone, he can naturally be called ‘Senior.’ Moreover, Senior Yun Fang also accomplished another great deed that even the Shaman God praised unanimously.”

“What was it?” Li Qi asked.

The Shaman drew casually, and before Li Qi’s eyes, a ‘map-like’ image appeared.

But it wasn't a two-dimensional image, but a three-dimensional map, on which a part of the sky controlled by Shaman God Mountain was marked.

He pointed to one area and said, “There is an area outside the domain with 4.26 million worlds. It was previously ownerless because its indigenous people were fierce, and there were multiple Third Grade worlds residing there. But then, Senior Yun Fang integrated it by himself, forming a star region, replacing its Heavenly Dao with Shaman Dao. Now, that area has clear skies and peaceful lands, with a stable foundation. It stands opposite another region in the outer domain, curbing the advance of the Northern Pole Heavens, and drawing a line for Shaman God Mountain’s northern sky domain, so the Spirit Dao can no longer naturally spread there.”

“The most crucial thing is that Senior Yun Fang did not use force or coercion, but rather spent years lecturing and resolving doubts in that place, accomplishing this through pure personal charisma. He persuaded this star region without a single soldier, making it a part of Shaman Dao, which is why the Shaman God praised this highly.”

At this point, the Shaman sighed deeply: “Alas, it’s just a pity. After this matter was completed, he should have already advanced to the Second Grade. If not for that Heart Demon’s shackles, how could Senior Yun Fang have stopped here? But if he truly abandoned that Heart Demon, he probably wouldn’t be the Senior Yun Fang everyone knows.”

Li Qi deeply empathized.

Indeed.

If he truly abandoned that Heart Demon, gave up his Disciple, and only sought his own advancement… Senior Yun Fang probably couldn’t do such a thing.

Such is often the way of the world.

After sighing, Li Qi immediately asked another question he cared about deeply: “By the way, Shaman, you just mentioned the Northern Spirit Dao? What is that? Why did I see records of the Arctic Demon Clan in books? Is the book wrong? Or are there two forces in the North?”

He had heard of the Arctic Demon Clan before, but the southeastern part of the world also had demon race, and he had thought that the demon race was powerful, occupying both sides.

But then, how did a Northern Spirit Dao suddenly appear?

Upon mentioning this topic, the Shaman pondered for a moment: “Hmm… this is a bit of a secret, but it’s fine to tell you.”

“The Arctic Demon Clan and the Southeastern Demon Clan are different. Just like how we and the Human Race are both Human Race, even within the same race, the Dao of the two sides can be different.”

“Between the Arctic Demon Clan and the Southeastern Demon Clan, the Southeastern faction calls itself the ‘Demon Dao,’ and the Arctic faction calls itself the ‘Spirit Dao.’ Besides both being demon race, they essentially have no common ground.”

“The Southeastern Demon Dao, they advocate that all things are demons, and ‘demon’ is a composite entity, even including us humans. Their Great Sages are committed to transforming the entire Universe into a demon.”

“For this, they even developed the emperor fluid paste, using it as a means to continuously catalyze demonic creatures, intending to transform all unawakened beings into demons. They believe that these beings inherently possess wisdom and should naturally Awaken, but are hindered, and all other awakened beings have an obligation to help them Awaken.”

“Currently, their research progress has catalyzed many natural demonic creatures, including quite a few natural Fourth Grade, and even one natural Third Grade.”

“Wait, natural Third Grade? What kind of thing can be natural Third Grade?” Li Qi was astonished.

The limit for ordinary beings should be Seventh Grade at most, or Fifth Grade at the very most. How could there be natural Third Grade and Fourth Grade?

“Of course, ordinary things are impossible, but that time they demonized a Guixu,” the Shaman said.

Li Qi was horrified!

Guixu…

Which is a black hole!

They turned a black hole into a demon?!

Wait, that means they believe that all things have spirits, not just cats, dogs, lions, tigers, flowers, and plants.

Rocks, land, mineral veins, rivers are all part of the Awakening, and even various celestial bodies, comets are one thing, but even stars and black holes are included!?

Then… Li Qi suddenly realized something!

He subconsciously looked down at the ground.

Seeing this action, the Shaman smiled: “That’s right, they have always been committed to Awakening ‘the world’ itself, but now it seems unlikely.”

“What good does it do them… to do this?” Li Qi couldn’t understand.

Constantly turning other things into demons… what’s the necessity? What’s the motive?

Hearing Li Qi’s confusion, the Shaman shook his head and asked Li Qi in return: “What good does it do us Shaman to transform the world into a state of clear skies and peaceful lands, into a natural and harmonious state?”

This made Li Qi ponder.

Yes, upholding justice and righteousness, what good does it do me?

It doesn’t seem to have any benefit, so why should I do it?

Then, he heard the Shaman say: “I don’t know your answer, Young Master Qi, but for me, it’s simply because I want to do it.”

“I want to use my wisdom, my ability, my True Knowledge, to transform the world into the way I want it to be. If I were to use some people’s words, that would be, a worldview.”

“I want to shape this world to conform to my worldview, not just one world, but all worlds within sight. I like the world to be that way, so I will make it that way.”

“I feel that living in a place that conforms to my worldview is the most comfortable. This is my answer.”

“Young Master Qi, you will also have your own answer. Perhaps this answer is similar to mine, or perhaps it is different from mine, but this is your Dao, and no one can interfere. However, you must think carefully and act cautiously.”

“But you must know one thing: don’t be limited by your current perspective. Not everything needs to pursue ‘benefits.’ For many people, profit and benefit are not important; they are pursuing other things.”

After listening, Li Qi bowed respectfully: “Thank you, Shaman. Li Qi will remember.”

The Shaman saw Li Qi agree, nodded slightly, and then continued: “Hmm, let’s continue talking about the Arctic Demon Clan.”

“This branch of the demon race, to be precise, they do not consider themselves demon race.”

“They abandoned their original Physical Body, believing that this was a worthy pursuit.”

“This group of demon race lived in harsh, cold lands and were originally known for their Physical Body, but later they believed that the Physical Body was merely a confinement.”

“After reaching this consensus, they transformed themselves into a Spirit Race through the Great Sage’s secret method. Their originally terrifying Physical Body were all transformed into energy bodies, which completely freed them from hardship and all material desires.”

“Wait, if that’s the case, aren’t they similar to the Shamanes?” Li Qi realized something and asked.

Because Li Qi knew through books that this lifestyle of completely detaching from the Physical Body was actually achievable by Shaman Dao.

After reaching the High Grade in Shaman Dao, one’s body integrates with the world; the body can be formed or dispersed at will, and self-consciousness does not exist because of the body, but rather exists freely, constantly, and eternally.

The Shaman explained: “Yes, but that’s something that happens after the Third Grade. However, if you join the Spirit Dao, you can achieve this at the Ninth Grade.”

“After becoming a pure energy body, one can greatly extend lifespan, no longer be bound by a material body, and both destructive power and survivability are greatly improved. Moreover, one can truly possess ‘one’s own will’.”

“Think about it, after having no material desires, you won’t be affected by most desires. You’ll be able to think undisturbed about what you truly want, focus on your true will, and not be bothered by anything external.”

“Because of this, the Spirit Dao, apart from natural diffusion, is basically at peace with the world. They have no Dao conflict with other Dao Orthodoxy, they stay in their own corner, and they do not seek to change the material world. The Spirit Dao only focuses on the study of pure thought. The art of calculation is unparalleled in the world within the Spirit Dao. I heard that they and one branch of the Dao Sect are studying the mathematical Universe… but I don’t quite understand it, nor can I comprehend it, so I cannot explain it to you.”

As he spoke, he seemed to regret that he couldn’t delve deeper, as he himself didn’t understand much about the Spirit Dao.

Even a Third Grade couldn’t know everything.

“This junior has already benefited greatly, Shaman, there’s no need to blame yourself,” Li Qi quickly said.

“I’m not blaming myself,” the Shaman replied.

Li Qi felt awkward.

But the Shaman didn’t pay attention to these matters and led Li Qi through a large mountain.

“Alright, get ready, we’re almost there. This is where I’m going tonight. Remember, follow me, don’t speak, and don’t wander off. Stay by my side.”

As soon as his voice fell, Li Qi suddenly felt a bright hollow appear in the dark mountain.

Within it, countless threads stretched out.

Li Qi decisively activated his True Knowledge Dao Resonance.

“Wait, this is the aura of a Dragon Vein?!” Li Qi was astonished.