Chapter 308: Witchcraft Silkworm

While chatting, Li Qi finally arrived at the Liu family.

Li Qi gazed at the Liu family residence from afar.

It looked… uh…

Very ordinary.

Plain and unadorned, with no impressive scenery.

Ordinary rooms, ordinary decorations, covering an area about ten times larger than Li Qi's small courtyard, looking like… a wooden house within a small courtyard.

Seemingly noticing Li Qi's subtle expression, Liu Junyi immediately said, “Uncle values thrift and simplicity, disliking extravagance and enjoyment. This is truly the conduct of a gentleman.”

Li Qi nodded. “Precisely.”

However, Liu Canzhi seemed to dislike this. He pouted, “That’s why I said there’s no need to pretend. Honestly, the cost difference for decoration isn’t that big. Just don’t use high-grade Spiritual Artifacts, and it’s fine. He just had to make it look like this. Father must be a bit—”

At this point, he quickly shut his mouth and looked around.

Li Qi blinked, knowing it wasn't his turn to speak.

Although what Liu Canzhi said was pretty much correct.

For modern society, between a elaborately decorated glass cup and a medieval wooden beer mug, which is more expensive?

The answer is no difference. As long as they come off an assembly line, the price difference won't be too great, depending only on which assembly line has lower production costs.

It's the same here.

Making it look resplendent or simple actually makes no difference in cost. As long as a lot of high-grade Spiritual Artifacts aren't used, it simply doesn't matter.

Decorating it this way is purely an aesthetic choice.

Moreover, Li Qi felt that although the courtyard was simple and elegant, it was still very unique.

Li Qi followed the two into the courtyard, where he saw artificial mountains, playthings, blooming flowers, and ornamental objects arrayed before them. Some were intricately carved wood, others were stacked stones. Though not valuable, they were crafted with great care.

It was evident that while the owner of this place didn't use precious items, it was regularly maintained.

As Liu Junyi walked, he introduced, “Brother Li, don’t let the simplicity here deceive you. A wise man once said: ‘Immersed in great harmony, clothed in Dao and virtue, revealed in simplicity.’ Although there are no heavenly steeds or Dragon-like mounts, no soft saddles or precious bridles, nor seven-treasure pearls and jade, or colorful flags and drums, it possesses a unique charm that calms the Heart-Nature of those who reside here.”

Li Qi knew that the other party was using the opportunity to introduce it to him as a way to speak to Liu Canzhi, so he echoed, “Hollow grass silk, carved pavilions, adorned with pearls and jade, appear extremely exquisite. A single plate can be worth hundreds of thousands, yet all are frivolous and useless, merely for amusement. They are not as thoughtful as this place.”

“To be one with desirelessness is called simplicity; to be of pure essence is called sincerity. This is Uncle’s teaching, Canzhi, do not forget it,” Liu Junyi said to Liu Canzhi again.

Liu Canzhi’s expression seemed a bit impatient. He replied, “Anything without adornment is called simple. Splendor means colorful patterns. I like colorful patterns, and I prefer songs, flutes, and drums, and gilded silk. It’s just a style, and I’m not being extravagant. What’s wrong with that?”

Li Qi nodded, which was an agreement but not support, just to show his stance.

Actually, it was nothing. Given the current situation, as long as one didn't play with rare beasts or high-grade Spiritual Artifacts, then for decoration style and personal dressing preferences, one could certainly do whatever they liked.

But he also saw that regardless of the children's temperaments in the Liu family, their conversations were certainly full of classical allusions and well-reasoned arguments. Coupled with the fact that they were all Imperial Academy students, it already demonstrated their level.

This Elder Liu, he was very good at raising children. He truly had something.

He wondered how he compared to Imperial Academy’s Chancellor, or to his own teacher…

Forget it, no need to compare with that one.

Liu Junyi, however, continued, “It’s not that you are wrong, but that you should not overly indulge in such ostentation. Your Heart-Nature is naturally volatile. Simplicity calms the heart, while colorful patterns make the heart restless. You are too impulsive; you should cultivate your temperament.”

“Alright, I know. I haven’t moved out recently, have I? Even entertaining friends is done here. I’m already very calm,” Liu Canzhi impatiently waved his hand, then walked over to Li Qi. “Brother Li, let’s not talk about this anymore. Once we go inside, come with me to a place. I’ll show you my results.”

Li Qi naturally didn't want to get involved in other people's family education issues, so he immediately changed the subject and said, “What results?”

“You’ll know when you get there. My father and the others are probably still busy. Let Elder Brother go in first and inform them, so we don’t disturb the elders,” Liu Canzhi said.

Liu Junyi smiled wryly and shook his head. Although he knew Liu Canzhi just wanted to quickly pull Li Qi away and avoid listening to his nagging, informing Uncle beforehand was indeed very important…

There were no servants in the house, as Uncle didn't wish for it. But bringing a guest directly to visit the master of the house was also against etiquette.

If Uncle was doing something private and was seen by a guest, it would be awkward for both parties.

Although the probability of such a thing was very low, etiquette existed precisely for such situations, and Liu Junyi naturally wouldn't object.

So, he nodded and said to Liu Canzhi, “Then you can take Li Qi to your room to rest for a while. I will go and inform Uncle.”

“Okay, then Brother Li, let’s go.” Impatient, Liu Canzhi eagerly led Li Qi to admire his masterpiece.

Li Qi was also curious about what made Liu Canzhi so engrossed, so he bid farewell to Liu Junyi and followed along.

Passing through the small courtyard, they didn't actually walk far, only a few dozen steps, but although the courtyard wasn't large and its materials weren't Heaven And Earth Treasure, the garden was arranged with a certain technique, creating the wonder of changing scenery with every step.

Li Qi was merely led in two turns, and although it was only a few dozen steps, he felt as if he had entered a different place. Amidst the winding caves and ravines, the surrounding scenery abruptly changed.

Li Qi looked at the changing scenery around him with some surprise.

Even… True Knowledge didn't react.

Moreover, it wasn't because the grade was too high, because Li Qi clearly knew that everything around him was ordinary, with few graded items. Just as it appeared, these were very simple things.

Without extraordinary power, without the involvement of sorcery, this was achieved purely by the arrangement of stones and paths.

Truly… miraculous.

Seeing Li Qi’s expression, Liu Canzhi said proudly, “My father says this is called the method of ‘a single leaf obscuring the eye.’ As the saying goes, ‘a single leaf obscures the eye, blocking Mount Tai.’ Even a Utmost Person, if their eyes are covered, will lose their sight. Although he has other senses, if he can’t see, he just can’t see.”

“So, as long as you use a single leaf to cover your eyes, you can openly block Mount Tai. When arranging a garden with this technique, it’s merely obscuring the light, yet it can give people the feeling of a complete transformation. To put it plainly, it’s just that the stone over there blocked the previous path,” Liu Canzhi said, pointing to the other side.

Li Qi saw an artificial mountain. He walked over curiously, adjusted his line of sight, and then jumped up.

With that jump, his field of vision expanded, and suddenly everything before him became clear. All the scenes that had disappeared before reappeared.

It turned out they were just blocked by this artificial mountain.

In fact, there was nothing extraordinary. It was just blocked, preventing one from seeing the previous scenery, thus creating the illusion of changing scenery with every step.

“I don’t know the true face of Mount Lu, only because I am in this mountain.”

But this still made Li Qi marvel.

Such an accomplishment, though simple to explain, was incredibly difficult to achieve.

“Your esteemed father’s skill is truly astonishing,” Li Qi praised, feeling immense interest and reverence for this elder he had yet to meet.

Because Li Qi knew that such an arrangement… indicated the other party’s Formation skill.

Using a few stones, with nothing else, and relying solely on their placement to achieve such a degree—if the other party used Heaven And Earth Treasure, or even Formation Flags, Formation Plates, or numerous wondrous Spiritual Artifacts as Formation eyes, then one might never be able to leave this place in their lifetime.

“Alright, don’t look at these. They’re just a pile of stones. It’s only interesting at first glance. After walking through it twice, you can even walk out with your eyes closed. No need to bother. Let’s quickly go to my courtyard. I’ll show you the good stuff I’ve made recently.” After Liu Canzhi finished his introduction, he paid little attention to the courtyard, pulling Li Qi towards his backyard.

Indeed, as he said, no matter how well the courtyard was arranged, it ultimately had no supernatural properties and wouldn't change.

Things that don't change, no matter how miraculous, are useless. After walking through it a few times and memorizing the route, one can indeed walk out with their eyes closed.

Liu Canzhi, having lived here for many years, had probably long grown accustomed to it.

But Li Qi was someone who hadn't seen much of the world. He clicked his tongue in wonder, taking a few extra glances, trying to remember the layout and arrangement to see if he could learn anything from it.

Learning had become Li Qi's subconscious habit. Even when drinking a sip of sugar water, he would use True Knowledge to analyze the proportions and see if he could replicate it.

Perhaps a bit obsessive, but that was the reality.

Along the way, admiring the many changing and wondrous scenes in the path, Li Qi was soon pulled into the small courtyard where Liu Canzhi resided.

However, even before arriving, Li Qi heard chirping sounds like birds.

It sounded as if he kept many birds; the sounds were crisp and pleasant to the ear.

Li Qi was a little curious about what it was.

But upon walking in, Li Qi saw the source of the sound.

It wasn’t birds or anything of the sort, but countless… insects.

A square bamboo cage, holding hundreds of insects, shaped like large flies, with their lower bodies wriggling like large maggots, continuously chirping like yellow warblers.

Those chirping sounds just now were made by these insects!

However, Li Qi didn't find it disgusting. Instead, he approached with some curiosity, examined them, and said, “These are… Gu worms? But I’ve never seen them. Is this what you meant by your research results?”

“Exactly! These are them. Don’t mind how disgusting they look, but these things, I’ve named them Shamanic Silkworm Artifacts. Look at what they can do.” Liu Canzhi, like a child showing off a toy, picked up a piece of armor from the nearby clutter.

Li Qi could tell that it was a Spiritual Artifact, appearing to be Ninth-grade, likely handcrafted, and looking… somewhat like something Liu Canzhi had made himself.

Its quality among Ninth-grade items was decent, but it clearly had many flaws, probably hastily crafted without time for meticulous carving and refinement, or to fix these small imperfections.

Then, Liu Canzhi lifted the armor and tossed it into the bamboo cage where the Shamanic Silkworm Artifacts were kept.

As soon as the armor fell in, the Shamanic Silkworm Artifacts, which had been lazily chirping moments before, suddenly went wild, quickly clambering onto the armor and beginning to gnaw!

Even though the armor was metal and made a grating, piercing sound when bitten, it couldn't withstand the gnawing of these Shamanic Silkworm Artifacts!

Although not visible to the naked eye, the armor was indeed being gnawed by these Shamanic Silkworm Artifacts.

Along with the runes and the constructed Qi on it, everything was eaten, with only very little left behind.

“This thing will probably take two quarter-hours to eat. Brother Li, please wait. You’ll see its power soon. As for my father, there’s no rush. He’s probably still busy with his own matters, and even my elder brother will need at least a quarter-hour to see him. We’ll just rest here,” Liu Canzhi said, encouraging Li Qi to carefully observe this wondrous sight.

Li Qi was also very curious about the scene that Liu Canzhi valued so much, so he stayed, waiting to see what these so-called Shamanic Silkworm Artifacts could do.

After all, these were Gu worms! Liu Canzhi had actually learned to cultivate Gu worms?

Was it the Shaman Dao Spiritual Artifact he gave him that inspired him? It sounded very much like it, but how did he reverse-engineer it? And these Gu worms didn't have the characteristics of Gu worms Li Qi was familiar with…

Rather than Gu worms, they were more like… another type of Spiritual Artifact?

They didn't seem like living beings cultivated by Shamanes, but rather something akin to machines. Yet, these insects truly possessed vitality, could move, and even reproduce.

Only… they were all very mechanical.

It was as if someone had programmed them to reproduce and eat, rather than making choices based on self-awareness like living beings.

This difference, while not very obvious in insects, as insects inherently don't have much of a brain and instinct is sufficient, would become apparent when scaled up.

However, if the number were magnified, one would find that some of the Gu worms cultivated by Shaman Dao could transform into demons, and those with extremely high talent could shed their animality, make choices based on self-awareness, and ultimately transform into demons and attain a grade.

But Liu Canzhi's so-called Gu worms, no matter how numerous, could not transform into demons. They could not do anything 'outside of their programming'; they could only act according to predetermined logic.

This difference was far too great, equivalent to the difference between weak AI and strong AI, a fundamental distinction.

Time quickly passed. Li Qi noticed that these Shamanic Silkworm Artifacts had slowly eaten a third of the armor. They seemed a bit tired, and their efficiency began to drop rapidly.

Seeing this, Liu Canzhi took out some shattered demon souls and threw them among the Gu worms.

He looked pained when he threw them, suggesting they weren't cheap.

These Gu worms absorbed the demon souls and quickly regained their vigor, accelerating their gnawing speed.

Seeing this, Li Qi guessed that these shattered demon souls… were the energy source for these Gu worms?

After a while longer, the armor had been completely eaten.

After eating, these Shamanic Silkworm Artifacts began to spin silk.

They weren't just spinning haphazardly, but following a certain pattern, spinning silk in specific places.

The spun silk actually combined to form the shape of a piece of clothing.