Chapter 327: Unreliable memory

“Is that so? Do I have the influence of a Heavenly Demon within me?”

After his initial bewilderment, Li Qi immediately realized something. At the same time, he grew wary and asked Wan Wuheng, “How should this thing be dealt with? Are you taking me somewhere?”

Regardless of whether he was influenced by a Heavenly Demon, even if he was, Li Qi could not trust the people of Tang Nation.

Who knew if the place he was taken to would investigate his body’s condition? At that time, it might cause even more trouble.

If the Heavenly Demon was gone, but the human Dao entered, then the problem would be even greater.

“To White Horse Temple, the source of Buddha-Dharma in the Central Plains. We will ask the Monks there to help Young Master expel the demonic thoughts,” Wan Wuheng immediately told Li Qi.

Li Qi, of course, knew this term.

He had learned about it earlier when he was with the three lives ancient mirror.

There was a Monk in the Western Buddhist Kingdom named Kasyapa Matanga, who, with great perseverance, transported scriptures and, step by step, preached the Dao from the Central Plains, translating twenty million scriptures of the Shamen. With a vast amount of offerings and insightful debates, he convinced the Human Emperor of that generation to allow the construction of temples, thus spreading the Dao.

After that, he built the White Horse Temple in Luoyang, another major city of the human Dao, where he widely propagated the Buddha-Dharma, earning it the title of 'Source of Buddha-Dharma in the Central Plains' and being revered as the 'Ancestral Court' by Buddhist Cultivators in the Central Plains, Southeast, and even further regions.

“To White Horse Temple? Now?” Li Qi tidied his clothes and asked.

“Of course. The demonic thoughts is deeply rooted in your heart. Young Master, you naturally haven’t noticed, but your actions, thoughts, and memories will be subtly influenced, slowly making you unlike yourself, causing you to do things you would never have done before. This matter is of great importance. If Young Master is allowed to continue developing, not to mention your own safety, Chang’an will not allow Heavenly Demon demonic thoughtss to lurk here,” Wan Wuheng explained to Li Qi, neither servile nor overbearing.

Clearly, the latter was the main point. How Li Qi fared, to be honest, only affected diplomacy, but if something like the previous incident with the three lives ancient mirror happened again, the problem would be much larger.

However, Li Qi was very dissatisfied with this explanation; he was somewhat resistant to going to White Horse Temple.

He wasn't sure if he truly had demonic thoughtss within him, nor could he tell, because Li Qi understood that such things were very difficult to detect through self-awareness.

Damn it, a First Grade Heavenly Demon of Enjoying Others’ Emanations targeting him, what could he do?

He didn't even have the strength to resist.

But he also didn't want to go to White Horse Temple, because Li Qi felt it was extremely dangerous.

So, Li Qi said, “Heavenly Demon demonic thoughtss or Heavenly Demon’s Dao Resonance are silent and can infiltrate an ordinary person’s body at will. You can’t prevent them; they are simply impossible to guard against. Why should I be treated like this?”

Yes, if they were afraid of risk and everyone had to be sent to White Horse Temple, then the Heavenly Demon would be overjoyed. It would only need to cast a wide net, causing chaos at will, as no one could restrict it.

It could easily paralyze Chang’an by continuously sending out demonic thoughtss without a specific target.

It wouldn't even need to send them, because demonic thoughtss are inherently rooted in people's hearts. No Cultivator would dare to say they had no demon thoughts; even the Buddha himself had them, otherwise, he wouldn't have been invaded by a Heavenly Demon before attaining enlightenment.

No wonder the Heavenly Demon of Enjoying Others’ Emanations is so terrifying…

Controlling such powerful strength, how could it not be terrifying?

Wan Wuheng patiently replied to Li Qi, “demonic thoughtss are impossible to guard against, which is naturally unavoidable, but the damage caused can be estimated.”

“Even if an ordinary person is corrupted by demonic thoughtss, their actions would be no more than those of a common man; killing two people would be their limit.”

“Cultivators might destroy some roads and public facilities, but that’s about it, and they would quickly be subdued by others.”

“However, at a higher level, for example, during the incident with the three lives ancient mirror, nearly half of Chang’an was enveloped in the danger of being blown up.”

“Therefore, demonic thoughtss are terrifying because the people influenced by them are terrifying. And with all due respect, ordinary people cannot cause much impact, but if something were to happen to Young Master, it would likely cause a huge uproar. Therefore, we hope Young Master will consider the bigger picture and not make things difficult for both sides, after all… regarding the Celestial Pole Golden Elixir Method…” Wan Wuheng subtly reminded Li Qi.

Li Qi frowned.

This person spoke somewhat impolitely, but his reasoning was sound.

He came to Tang Nation essentially as a hostage. It was because the Central Plains did not trust Shaman God Mountain, and both sides were still haggling over the ownership of the Celestial Pole Golden Elixir Method.

To ensure that the Celestial Pole Golden Elixir Method had not fallen into the hands of Shaman God Mountain, Li Qi had to come to Tang Nation as a hostage, indicating that although he knew the Celestial Pole Golden Elixir Method, he had not divulged it or given it to Shaman God Mountain. Therefore, the Sun-Moon True Lead Cauldron was still safe and its Dao opportunity would not be forcibly taken.

It should be known that as long as Li Qi was safe, the Celestial Pole Golden Elixir Method would be safe.

Because the Celestial Pole Golden Elixir Method cannot be stolen. cultivation methods of this level, even with soul searching or mind reading, cannot yield the true divine intent. It must be taught by someone who has learned it, passing on the divine intent to others.

Therefore, Li Qi must actively pass it on or make it public.

If Li Qi were to be corrupted by demonic thoughtss and, in a moment of madness, publicize the Celestial Pole Golden Elixir Method…

Oh my goodness, that would probably lead to a chaotic battle involving First Grade experts personally.

It's like having a safe now, with an unknown password and someone guarding it, so naturally, not many people are interested.

But if the password were to be revealed to the whole world…

Even if Shaman God Mountain and Tang Nation didn't want to fight, could you guarantee that those unattached, solitary Cultivators stuck at First Grade, unable to advance, wouldn't take risks?

Because everyone would know the Celestial Pole Golden Elixir Method, which would be equivalent to obtaining the Dao opportunity by acquiring the safe…

If these people take risks, and other forces across the world eye them covetously, then whether chaos erupts or not will no longer be up to Tang Nation and Shaman God Mountain.

Now they can still suppress it, but then they won't be able to.

Therefore, Li Qi's safety is the key to the stability of both forces.

Thus, Li Qi also felt that the other party's words were very reasonable, and he probably couldn't refuse this matter.

And looking at what the other party said, this matter was told to them by Great Shaman Mi Xin earlier…

This is probably true as well.

It also seems very much in Mixin's style.

Not telling Li Qi, letting him figure it out himself. If he was too slow and couldn't comprehend it, then find someone to back him up, to prevent the situation from worsening.

In fact, Li Qi felt that if his death or demonic possession would not cause any substantial impact on Shaman God Mountain, he would not have notified the Tang Nation people at all, but would have watched him die.

Even if he could save him with just a word, he wouldn't speak.

Looking down on all beings from above, not interfering with any of their choices or outcomes—this is probably the habit of this Great Shaman, and also a habit of Shaman Dao.

Those who are meant to die certainly have a reason for dying, even if that reason is accident or luck, it doesn't matter.

There is no unnecessary good, nor unnecessary evil. Good and evil are unimportant to a Shaman; they simply act as they please.

Thinking of this, Li Qi sighed.

Given this, no matter how he guessed, going along was the best choice for him.

Although Li Qi had no impression of any 'Heavenly Demon' exerting power on him, he dared not gamble.

Heavenly Demon parasitism… this should be the first time it has happened to him.

Since it's an unfamiliar experience…

Wait, is it really the first time?

Li Qi suddenly fell into an indescribable confusion.

He clutched his head and looked up, asking, “Your Excellency, is this the first time I’ve been invaded by a Heavenly Demon?”

Wan Wuheng paused when he heard this, then shook his head: “I’m not very clear about that either. Perhaps only Young Master himself and the Heavenly Demon of Enjoying Others’ Emanations would know?”

Li Qi took a deep breath upon hearing this.

Then he said, “Since that’s the case, please help me inform the Doctrinal Canon. I will go to Luoyang with you now.”

Wan Wuheng, having received this answer, breathed a sigh of relief and said, “It’s good that Young Master has come to a clear understanding. So, shall we depart now?”

“Let’s go now. I’ll trouble Your Excellency to testify for me at the Doctrinal Canon.”

“That is natural.”

The two quickly reached an agreement and ceased their conversation.

Li Qi tidied his belongings, walked out of the courtyard, and closed the main gate.

Afterward, he followed Wan Wuheng away from the place.

He knew in his heart that the destination this time was Luoyang, and he would be leaving Chang'an for a while. Also, for safety, he would not take public transportation but a private vehicle.

Leaving Chang’an for Luoyang…

What this implied, he wasn't sure, but…

As he walked, Li Qi scrutinized himself, constantly examining his thoughts, consciousness, memories, and so on, recalling every little detail that had ever happened, trying to see where something had gone wrong.

But, he couldn't find anything.

No trace could be found.

Not only could he not find it, but even in his thoughts, there was no memory that could prove this had happened.

This made Li Qi's heart pound with fear, and he couldn't help but ponder something.

Are his memories truly reliable?

This can even extend to another question: are his thoughts reliable?

Memory is the cornerstone of thought's existence. If even memory can be tampered with, then what about thought? Are his thoughts, his free will, truly real?

Li Qi knew that often, seemingly free choices are not truly free. Many decisions appear to be made by oneself, but are actually choices made under the influence of many factors.

Among these influences, memory plays an absolutely dominant role, and if memory can be tampered with…

Wait, Li Qi, lost in thought, suddenly realized something.

Memory itself can be tampered with!

He remembered watching a very interesting movie explanation, which was so brainwashing that he still remembers it today.

Number two goes to listen to the scriptures, stays at a hotel at night, number three goes to a restaurant, then watches a movie.

Simply repeating these words could fabricate non-existent events, and in the memories of others, the fabricated events became concrete memories.

Memory could be tampered with from the very beginning!

It doesn't even need to be tampered with, because memory itself is not real; memory is a reconstruction, a reaction produced by the brain based on received stimuli.

Memories generated by the brain are inherently unreliable. Li Qi had taken biology class and knew that even if a frog's brain was destroyed, with only the spinal cord as the central nervous system, the frog could still accurately scratch off a piece of paper soaked in sulfuric acid stuck to its belly.

Memory and will are not necessarily what one imagines them to be. Sometimes, actions are completed, and then one convinces oneself that free will was at play, when in reality, it's not like that at all.

In other words, if one wants to grasp the traces of a Heavenly Demon, one cannot rely on these unreliable things.

If memory is unreliable, then what is reliable?

Li Qi exhaled a turbid breath, then continued to ponder.

Memory itself is unreliable, but one thing is reliable.

That is objective fact, it is this world.

If this world is no longer reliable, then nothing can be trusted, and everything will lose meaning. Therefore, Li Qi can only believe that this world is reliable.

And how to use this point to find evidence of Heavenly Demon parasitism?

Assuming this point is reliable, then make another assumption: everything leaves a trace.

Searching for traces left by a Heavenly Demon, not from memory and thought, but simply pursuing material proof of the Heavenly Demon's existence, can this be used to confirm that one has been invaded by a Heavenly Demon?

So, what material would a Heavenly Demon leave as proof of its presence?

Can this substance be detected? Do Buddhists rely on such things to search for traces of Heavenly Demons?

Li Qi consciously began to look for such traces, even if it was futile.

The physical body, the small human world composed of Qi, should not have traces, after all, that is not material…

No!

Li Qi immediately realized something.

“Wait, Wan Wuheng.” In his intense emotional fluctuation, Li Qi even forgot to use a respectful title for the other party, addressing him directly by name.

Fortunately, Wan Wuheng didn't seem to care; he just turned his head and glanced at Li Qi.

In the few minutes since they had walked out the door, this Young Master had been silent, his eyes downcast, seemingly contemplating something, but now he was suddenly reacting so strongly. It seemed… he had thought of something?

As Wan Wuheng guessed, Li Qi immediately asked, “The usual methods of Heavenly Demon invasion are through Demonic Qi, demonic thoughtss, and Dao Resonance, right? Do your Tang Nation records mention this?”

Wan Wuheng nodded upon hearing this: “That is indeed the case, but everyone has demonic thoughtss, which are almost impossible to distinguish. Demonic Qi is present in those who practice the Demonic Dao or have come into contact with it, so it’s not reliable either.”

“As for Dao Resonance… Heavenly Demon’s Dao Resonance is rare, but it is recorded. For some reason, Heavenly Demon’s Dao Resonance is mostly harmless, leaving no traces, with only a few cases where it induces negative effects in victims.”

After saying this, Wan Wuheng asked, “Why does Young Master ask this? Do you have any ideas?”

“Dao Resonance is a fragment of the Great Dao, a part of the Dao. It can guide the operation of things; it is a type of law,” Li Qi asked again.

Wan Wuheng nodded, still somewhat puzzled. What was Li Qi saying this for?

Li Qi then looked up: “In other words, if I have Dao Resonance within me, then is my human body’s small world operating under the guidance of the Demonic Dao?”