Chapter 375: Puzzle cave heaven

As agreed, two days later, the journey indeed began on time.

Even Li Qi himself was eager to depart quickly, but he also wanted to know if the Demonic Clone would return when the time came.

Apparently, he didn't return.

So, it was time to depart quickly.

Go to Chang'an, resolve all current matters, and then piece together that Grotto-Heaven.

Handle the sales of Sacred Flame, as in half a month, it would be time to go to the Holy Flame World to settle everything.

Deal with the follow-up issues of the Shamanic Silkworm Artifact and resolve the Sacred Flame supply chain.

Complete the reward promised by the Lingxiao Kingdom Lord.

Finish the last clue of 'I Am Me,' temporarily resolving the Desire Realm deception that allows Heavenly Demons to descend at any time.

Then… go to the Holy Flame World and drag the Holy Flame World to a place where the Star-Mansion Array and the Golden Dais can reach, allowing for quick establishment of contact.

After finalizing these basic matters, Li Qi departed impatiently once the time arrived.

The Golden Dais was extremely fast, but much slower than the Star-Mansion Array; it would take 'hours' to reach Chang'an.

Perhaps this was for more efficient energy allocation; within the world, every slight increase in speed would lead to enormous energy consumption, while a slight reduction in speed would not cause much trouble for the journey but could save a large amount of energy.

This energy, if used outside the domain, could easily send a person countless billions of miles away.

Before long, Li Qi returned to Chang'an, accompanied by the Lingxiao Kingdom Lord.

Stepping out of the Golden Dais, Chang'an was as prosperous as ever, as if everything brought by the Heavenly Demon before had caused no impact.

In fact, it truly had no impact, as the flow of time had been paused then; for others, those changes were no changes at all.

But this made Li Qi even more afraid.

If this were the case, who could know when changes had occurred?

Perhaps at some moment, all First Grades bloomed, and the battle destroyed all the myriad worlds, while he remained oblivious, and after one side won, the battlefield was cleared, time continued to flow, and Li Qi continued to live as usual, completely unaware.

And if the enemy won, it would be a death without realization, not knowing what happened even before dying.

Such a scene was truly somewhat despairing; life and death depended on 'randomness,' living unknowingly, dying unknowingly.

Li Qi truly didn't want this.

As Li Qi gazed at Chang'an, pondering these thoughts, the Lingxiao Kingdom Lord beside him grew a bit impatient.

"Young Master, why are you standing still? Aren't we going to settle down?" the Lingxiao Kingdom Lord asked curiously.

"Oh, right, then let's go. Country Lord, are you finding your own place to stay, or staying with me?" Li Qi took a few steps forward, asking as he walked.

"If possible, I hope to announce the news we are bringing immediately, rather than wasting time resting," the Lingxiao Kingdom Lord said.

Li Qi, however, shook his head: "It's not that simple. To resolve this matter, we need to prepare a banquet and invite guests of sufficient importance. All of this requires preparation. However, since the Country Lord is so anxious, let's divide the work."

"You go prepare the banquet, and I will invite Liu Donghe and Liu Canzhi for you. If all goes well, Liu Donghe's name can attract more people. By then, the reputation of the Flower God's struggle might spread throughout Chang'an, and then the famous scholars who scorned you with their poems will apologize. Only then will the Country Lord get her wish," Li Qi deliberated for a moment, then said.

"Reasonable. Then let's proceed as such. Promoting and holding a banquet is not a simple matter; I'm not sure how much time the preparations will take, but let's communicate via the terminal. I'll let you know when I'm ready. As for Mr. Liu Donghe, I'll leave that to the Young Master," the Lingxiao Kingdom Lord pondered for a moment, also thinking this was better, and nodded.

Li Qi took out his newly purchased terminal and exchanged contact information with the Lingxiao Kingdom Lord.

Then the two bid farewell and went their separate ways.

The Lingxiao Kingdom Lord had her own vehicle; she quickly drove away in her Yulu (Jade Road).

Li Qi had no vehicle, nor had he obtained a Tang Nation driver's license, so he could only hail a taxi.

After contacting the Qingbird taxi he had used before via the terminal, Li Qi began waiting by the roadside.

Although he was supposed to go find Liu Donghe to discuss this matter, Li Qi temporarily decided not to.

Li Qi did not plan to directly find Liu Canzhi and have him contact his father; that wouldn't be ideal.

He had to go to the Imperial Academy first to settle matters there, especially the Grotto-Heaven piecing.

Because the concept of 'boundaries' also had a great effect on the Shamanic Silkworm Artifact; there seemed to be a 'boundary' between the individual and collective of the Shamanic Silkworm Artifact.

Li Qi had observed the existence of boundaries in many places; it seemed this hidden rule covered all things.

But the concept of 'boundaries' was not as ubiquitous as those true fundamental rules; it was hidden deeper, not so easily seen.

True fundamental rules were clearly discernible everywhere, such as 'space'; all things relied on their nature to extend in space, so space could be determined to be a fundamental rule.

But the concept of 'boundaries' was much more obscure; not everyone could perceive it, yet 'boundaries' universally existed in many things that underwent transition.

As long as a thing underwent transition, such as from few to many, from weak to strong, there must be a 'boundary' in the intermediate process of that thing.

The so-called boundary was that instant of qualitative change occurring during this transition.

Li Qi had already figured out many uses for boundaries, but he had always been unable to comprehend that specific instant. He needed an experiment, to personally observe the revival of a high-Rank collective existence and witness how this instant of qualitative change was accomplished.

And now, he was just one step away from this answer.

Soon, a Qingbird landed on the ground along the transportation network; it was the same one Li Qi had hired before.

It was clear she was a bit excited, but managed to suppress it.

"Sir." The Qingbird landed alone, spread her wings, and bowed her head to Li Qi: "I didn't expect you to contact me a second time. I thought a great figure like you would have a dedicated driver."

"Great figure? I'm not a great figure. Why do you think so?" Li Qi shook his head, denying the words 'great figure,' while also asking with some curiosity.

"I saw it! At that time, I took my children to listen to the Imperial Academy lecture!" Hearing this, the Qingbird's previously suppressed excitement burst forth: "My children and I all saw it, Sir. You were at the entrance of the Imperial Academy, lecturing on behalf of the other sirs, and you were even invited in by the Imperial Academy’s Chancellor!"

So it was then, Li Qi nodded.

No wonder she called him 'Sir'; it wasn't that meaning, but truly 'Sir,' referring to a teacher.

"Cough, cough, that was just an accident; I never thought it would happen that way," Li Qi explained after a cough.

"To be able to do something like that means you are already a great figure," the Qingbird respectfully said.

"Let's talk about these things later. Take me to the Imperial Academy," Li Qi shook his head, not wanting to dwell on these matters anymore.

Although he had indeed gained some reputation unknowingly, it wasn't important.

He wouldn't stay in Tang Nation for too long, and he might even leave the Imperial Academy tonight.

However, he was already prepared.

The Qingbird immediately nodded, then spread her wings, allowing Li Qi to step on them and walk onto the pavilion on her back.

Then, she flapped her wings and soared high, flying quickly towards the Imperial Academy along the designated aerial route.

This journey was slower, but Li Qi liked it; it was much more comfortable than the super-fast travel of the Star-Mansion Array and the Golden Dais.

Unfortunately, Li Qi's mood was heavy now, and he didn't much feel like enjoying the scenery or chatting.

The Qingbird seemed to sense this mood, so she also remained silent, faithfully carrying the pavilion and flying along the designated route to the Imperial Academy.

Soon, they arrived at the Imperial Academy.

The Qingbird respectfully bade farewell to Li Qi, and Li Qi paid the fare.

The Qingbird didn't say anything about it being free; that would just be pretense. She needed every penny to feed her children. She wasn't a native of Tang Nation; she had 'Ascended' from another world.

So, she had to work much harder than pure Tang Nation people.

After bidding farewell to the Qingbird, Li Qi arrived at the entrance of the Imperial Academy.

It wasn't yet vacation time, so the Imperial Academy was as calm as ever, with people only occasionally entering.

Li Qi walked into the Imperial Academy without any hindrance; he was already a Imperial Academy student, so no one would stop him, nor would the automatic devices.

To be honest, the Human Dao world was full of various automated devices, but Li Qi had never seen 'tool spirits' or 'AI' as part of these automated devices, yet these devices were still extremely sensitive.

So sensitive that they could freely screen and survey every person, confirm the identity of everyone entering and exiting the Imperial Academy, and process it promptly.

Li Qi had a guess.

Perhaps all these automated devices shared a common AI.

That would be the true body of The Axis of All Realms.

Within any area that the terminals could cover, all people and objects were under the gaze of this Second Grade existence.

However… this was quite safe.

Losing some privacy in exchange for almost absolute safety; any rule-breaking behavior would be seen by The Axis of All Realms. The Axis of All Realms itself would not react, but subsequent law enforcement agencies could easily retrieve everything from The Axis of All Realms's records at that time.

Nowhere to run.

Unless you were an existence on the level of a Heavenly Demon.

Tonight's matter, presumably, would also be like this.

Li Qi thought so.

Back at the school, Li Qi found a place and quietly waited for nightfall.

Before long, night fell, and the students left. Li Qi then slowly walked into the classroom.

There were still so many desks inside.

Li Qi unleashed his power, and then, began to piece together.

Li Qi did not personally delve into these Grotto-Heavens.

The pattern itself had already been pieced together by the Shaman God, so Li Qi was not worried about making mistakes. Everything proceeded in an orderly fashion.

He used his power to connect them, like stitching, piecing these desks together, then carefully breaking the divisions between them, and before anything fractured, he used the Shaman's power to stabilize the mountains and rivers.

The world itself had an instinct to coalesce; as long as Li Qi, like a surgeon, stabilized the impact caused by the shattering of mountains and rivers, it would be like reattaching a severed arm—the world would heal its wounds itself.

It would grow back on its own.

But this was still not a simple task. Li Qi had made many preparations for it, even having complete blueprints, but he still sweated profusely.

However, it was good that Li Qi had made extensive preparations for this.

He carefully stitched together the collisions of these Grotto-Heavens, minimizing losses.

At this moment, within these Grotto-Heavens.

Countless residents felt an earthquake.

In one of the Grotto-Heavens—

Here there was a kingdom, and a king.

This king had always enjoyed his rule and devoutly followed the arrangements of 'Heaven.'

That is, every so often, he would dispatch soldiers to the envoys sent by 'Heaven,' and then let the envoys command the army for a thorough and exhilarating battle, so he could enjoy life and do nothing else.

But today, as this king drank a cup of wine, he suddenly found…

The sky had fallen.

The earth was torn open, and the sky cracked with countless fissures, as if weeping.

His capital was also torn into four parts, as a great fissure in the earth easily overturned everything.

Buildings, residents, whether noble or commoner, were all destroyed.

This kingdom had not even had time to react before he and his country were completely buried by the natural disaster.

This natural disaster was Li Qi's 'surgical operation.'

Surgery on a human body would tear flesh and blood, killing some cells.

Surgery on a world… naturally, would also tear some things apart, killing some residents.

In a Ninth Grade Grotto-Heaven, a Seventh Grade's power could already turn the world upside down.

Li Qi focused entirely on completing this precise operation.

Two Grotto-Heavens crashed together, erupting with flames, seawater, and endless shockwaves.

Li Qi was like a Heavenly God, watching everything from above.

He was giving these Grotto-Heavens destruction, and also giving them Rebirth.

After destruction, there would be Rebirth.

Initially, the demon dragon used as teaching material would recover its life in this series of destructions; although the outcome was unknown, it would certainly be resurrected.

Time passed bit by bit. Li Qi had to complete this matter in one night; if someone came for class tomorrow, he would be stopped.

So he had to speed up.

The eastern fragment was completed, revealing the front abdomen.

The western fragment was completed, and Li Qi could see the back of a demon dragon and its many segments.

The southern fragment was completed, and a clearly discernible Dragon tail was pieced together.

And then… the northern fragment, where the Dragon head was located.

Amidst a series of roars, the Grotto-Heaven at the Dragon head merged in flames.

Then, Li Qi pieced in the last and most important piece of the Grotto-Heaven.

Dotting the Dragon's eyes.

With this move, Li Qi immediately activated all his senses.

Physical, mental, and True Knowledge Dao Resonance; whatever it was, Li Qi opened everything!

Everything began!

And, it was exactly as Li Qi had expected.

With a silent energy fluctuation, in those Grotto-Heavens, the position of the Dragon's eyes suddenly lit up.

One could clearly feel the 'nimbleness' within those eyes.

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