Chapter 37: Grade

Li Qi flipped through the book for half an hour and found the record in the Book of Zhu.

The Book of Zhu records: "In ancient times, there were Shen Tu and Yu Lei, two brothers, who were capable of capturing ghosts. They resided on Mount Dushuo in the East Sea, standing under a peach tree, reviewing all ghosts. If ghosts were unreasonable and wantonly caused harm to humans, Tu and Yu Lei would bind them with reed ropes and feed them to tigers."

Another record states: "In the East Sea, the sundial casts its shadow on Mount Dushuo. On the mountain is a great peach tree, winding for three thousand li. In the northeast, there is a Ghost Gate where all ghosts enter and exit. Above it are two Divine Spirits, one named Shen Tu and the other Yu Lei, who preside over all ghosts. Evil and harmful ghosts are bound with reed ropes and fed to tigers. The Yellow Emperor then erected large peach wood figures at the gates, depicting Shen Tu, Yu Lei, a tiger, and reed ropes to ward off ghosts."

This means that in ancient times, there were two brothers, Shen Tu and Yu Lei, who could restrain ghosts and lived on Mount Dushuo in the East Sea.

This Mount Dushuo had a vast peach tree on it, stretching for three thousand li.

In the northeast corner of the peach tree, there was a Ghost Gate, the place where all ghosts entered and exited. The two brothers, Shen Tu and Yu Lei, were stationed there, responsible for supervision and guardianship. If evil ghosts appeared, acting unreasonably and causing trouble, Shen Tu and Yu Lei would arrest them, then tie them with ropes made of reeds and feed them to tigers.

When the Yellow Emperor ruled the world, seeing the chaos and the rampant evil ghosts disturbing the people, he taught the common folk to carve statues of Shen Tu and Yu Lei from peach wood and hang them with ropes in front of their homes to prevent evil spirits from invading.

Thus, Shen Tu and Yu Lei became the household gods.

In this record, Li Qi saw some familiar deities and astronomical knowledge he knew.

Although he didn't know what connection this world had with his original world…

Yet these folk customs, and even ancient texts, could all match up?

Most crucially, he could understand the written language, and what the hell, there was even a country called Tang Nation in this place…

A coincidence?

Forget it, never mind those things; they actually had nothing to do with him.

Since he had come, he would make himself at home.

For the sacrifice to the household gods, Li Qi used a different method this time.

He offered the willow branch Young Master Zhu had given him onto the altar.

This time, a wisp of Divine Qi from the household god entered the willow branch.

This was also a method recorded in the Book of Zhu. The Spiritual Tools and Divine Artifacts used by Shaman Dao practitioners were mostly made using this method.

With a wisp of Divine Qi integrated into it, the willow branch visibly became more lustrous, but it did not undergo a qualitative change.

That was normal; this was a willow branch given by Young Master Zhu, and it should already contain Di Qi.

However, with the Divine Qi of the two gods, Shen Tu and Yu Lei, injected into it, the willow branch clearly gained some other sensations.

According to the records in the book, its ghost-fighting ability had become stronger.

Good, good. It's good to strengthen his equipment now.

The Di Qi sacrifice was also complete, but Li Qi did not sacrifice to the Human-Ghost.

Because Human-Ghost are ancestors, but he actually had no ancestors in this world; he was an outsider.

As an outsider, unless he gained recognition from a certain Human-Ghost deity in the future, or became a live-in son-in-law, there was little need for him to sacrifice to Human-Ghost.

After finishing all this, Li Qi, who had gotten up at three in the morning, looked up and saw that the sun had already risen.

Fortunately, after all this, not only was he not tired, but he became full of energy under the nourishment of the Life Qi from the wood Qi.

Shen Shuibi was still fast asleep. She hadn't opened her eyes all night and was truly sleeping soundly.

Compared to the cautious Li Qi, she, a fugitive with a hundred-gold bounty on her head, seemed to have no pressure at all.

One could only say that being single-minded was quite practical in some ways.

Let her sleep... Anyway, Young Master Zhu paid for the room.

Thinking these thoughts, Li Qi voluntarily stopped the Ox Strength Technique and then walked out.

"Based on the current situation, what grade would I be considered?" He tested his strength and muttered to himself.

Using Shaman God Mountain's own grading, Li Qi felt that he was now just an ordinary, newly initiated Invoker. He even had to consult books for the norms of sacrifice. The two simple daily sacrifices this morning took a full three hours, and he had to stay up late to do them, which meant he was barely not an amateur.

And the Invoker's own grading, when viewed across the entire world, was difficult to compare with others.

Therefore, to "standardize the world," the Sages established a method applicable to all cultivation paths, which was a grading from Ninth Grade to First Grade.

Li Qi really wanted to scoff at the phrase "standardize the world," but on second thought, this thing might be more than just symbolic... It was very likely a struggle for the "Dao" among the powerful.

Perhaps, this thing could truly standardize the world, restricting all Cultivators just like the Heavenly Dao.

Leaving aside such grand and abstract matters, Li Qi himself had also thoroughly understood this grading system.

First Grade to Ninth Grade was actually divided based on the influence and understanding of the "Dao," unrelated to combat power.

Military School of Thought Cultivators and Sword Dao Cultivators could easily defeat types not so skilled in combat, such as Shaman Dao's Diviner, even across grades, but their influence on the Dao was certainly far inferior.

Because of this difference, a Fifth Grade Shaman Dao Diviner, facing a Military School of Thought Cultivator one grade lower than him, meaning Sixth Grade, could very likely be beaten into a fool head-on.

However, on the other hand, as long as this Diviner hid and relied on divination or even curse techniques, it would not be difficult to wear down the opponent to death.

Or, an Medical Dao Cultivator, even if they cultivated to a high grade, probably wouldn't have much environmental destructive power.

But a Shaman Dao Invoker, with the Divine Qi protection of Di Qi and mountain gods, could cause localized earthquakes at Eighth Grade.

In short, this grading system only considers the Dao Grade. While it has some relation to performance and combat power, the relationship is not significant. Lethality primarily depends on the cultivation method.

But the grade is not just for show. When a certain Dao reaches a high grade, it naturally possesses its own means, perhaps not as skilled in combat, but absolutely irreplaceable and even unique.

According to the classification, Eighth, Ninth, and Seventh Grades are the lowest, meaning from newly initiated beginners to gradually familiar stages.

Sixth, Fifth, and Fourth Grades are intermediate to high-level experts, considered masters of their path, with a deep understanding of their Dao and some unique techniques.

Third, Second, and First Grades are considered contemporary masters, usually Sect Leaders of a sect or leaders of major powers.

In the miscellaneous chapters of the Book of Zhu, it is recorded that Shaman Dao has Shaman Gods, Daoism has True Immortals, Confucianism has Sages, and Martial Dao has Human Immortals.

Legend has it that there are even higher levels above these; First Grade is not the ultimate.

But anything beyond that was not written in the book, perhaps deemed unnecessary.

As for Li Qi…

He confirmed again and again.

He should be… unranked.

That's right, unranked. He estimates he can only be considered Ninth Grade when he at least masters the sacrificial methods for the four seasons, continuously performs all the most common four-season Heavenly Gods and five Di Qi sacrifices for a year, and when the Qi of the four seasons is complete within his personal miniature heaven and earth, and the five sacrificial Divine Qi protects his body…

"Alas, it's a long and arduous journey. I have to diligently cultivate for a year just to get a rank?"