Chapter 410: Magic means

The Sun-Moon Orbit, after all, was a high-level secret, not known to everyone; Li Qi himself only learned the truth from the Eclectic School.

So Lu Mountain God wasn't aware and would need Heaven-Devouring Demon Lord to explain it to him on the way.

Here, the two demons were conducting their final review and deduction, using magical arts to verify their ideas.

But in Holy Flame World, Shen Shuibi and Li Qi were doing their own things.

Of course, this couldn't be continued frolicking, as both of them knew their limits.

After a short separation and initial reunion, the joy in their hearts naturally led them to act on impulse.

But if they wanted to get along for a long time, how could they not exercise restraint?

Everyone possessed self-control and could naturally restrain their primal desires, knowing that occasional indulgence brought joy, while unrestrained indulgence was called wanton behavior—a vast difference.

Therefore, after their indulgence, Li Qi began to address the matters of Holy Flame World.

Due to his arrangements, Holy Flame World experienced an unprecedented civil war, although it was necessary; otherwise, Holy Flame World would not have been able to preserve its 'Dao'.

All of their traditions, history, language, and culture would have vanished into thin air, replaced by the Dao of the Nine Lands Under Heaven.

Was doing this a good thing?

Li Qi couldn't say for sure, because the Great Dao of the Nine Lands Under Heaven was clearly superior; facts had already proven that the Dao of the Nine Lands Under Heaven was sufficient to support a strong civilization and lead to a developed future.

But as a practitioner of Shaman Dao, Li Qi personally felt that maintaining diversity was the best option.

There were already far too many God Dao worlds; God Dao, as one of the Nine Lands Under Heaven, had widespread influence across all heavens, so one more or one less didn't matter.

But Holy Flame World was unique.

The Nine Lands Under Heaven didn't lack a new follower of God Dao, but it desperately lacked a Dao unique to the Holy Flame Clan.

This was the concept of Shaman Dao; Shaman Dao generally would not force others to change their customs and rarely engaged in plunder.

Facing the natives of primeval forests, humanity would violently introduce modern civilization, quickly integrating them into modern society to become a new driving force for humanity's progress.

Shamanes, however, would wait for them to grow on their own and blossom into different flowers.

After all, the Great Shamanes' own output was already quite astonishing; Shaman Dao was actually self-sufficient and did not need to plunder to satisfy its expansion needs.

But this also led to some negative consequences, for example, Baiyue… was a typical negative consequence.

For Li Qi, he was still somewhat conflicted about what this situation meant.

Maintaining Holy Flame World's original state seemed incorrect, like facing primitive tribes yet saying one couldn't interfere with them, thus refusing to give them a chance at modernization.

Doing so also seemed incorrect; although for Shaman Dao, this was the correct approach. If one could modernize primitive people today, tomorrow one could put lions and tigers into zoos, as the outcome would be similar—all about using one's own will to make these backward things develop in a preferred direction.

The ultimate consequence would be that the entire Universe would be left with only one Dao Orthodoxy, one ideology, which is what humanity desired, but not what Shaman Dao desired.

Destroying diversity was destroying the balance of the Universe, destroying the foundation of natural operation.

Li Qi set his own principles: righteousness and justice.

Righteousness: he should help Holy Flame World enter a state of healthy development.

But from the perspective of 'justice,' he should not interfere.

Li Qi still hadn't found a feasible method that could uphold both 'righteousness' and 'justice.' Moreover, he now had to consider not just his own affairs; he also carried a heavy economic burden.

Mount Luofu's accounts were numerous.

Therefore, after much thought, Li Qi decided to do something to make amends for the matters of Holy Flame World.

He planned to hold a Grand Ritual to replenish the Luck lost by Holy Flame World.

This Grand Ritual was to satisfy his personal 'righteousness,' so he didn't plan to publicize it grandly. Instead, he chose some dead worlds drifting in the outer reaches, using these dead worlds, which were about to transform into grotto-heavens, as sacrifices.

This was Li Qi's first time involved in a world-level Grand Ritual.

Although this was actually simpler than the one in Guangyang, since the sacrifices were worlds that had long since died and were gradually disintegrating into grotto-heavens.

The essence of these grotto-heavens wasn't low, but unfortunately, they weren't very useful; they were all unranked grotto-heavens with extremely fragile spaces, easily collapsing completely with a slight disturbance.

Li Qi and the rabbit each collected some as offerings.

Li Qi collected one-tenth, and the rabbit collected the remaining nine-tenths.

There was no other way; the difference in cultivation was evident.

Deep beneath Holy Flame World, tens of thousands of miles down, there was a cavern where countless molten lavas and earth-fires erupted.

From the perspective of the Holy Flame Clan, it was a place where 'survival was impossible below the Saint level'.

Of course, for Li Qi, such a place was merely a picnic spot.

Unless it was a Heavenly Punishment, no natural environment in Holy Flame World could harm him.

On the other side, Shen Shuibi stood gracefully on the lava, her hair tied up, with a jade hairpin in her hair.

The jade was no ordinary item; it was top-grade green jade that could be sold in Chang'an, reaching a rank as high as six, imbued with such dense mountain and water Qi that it almost seemed to emanate from it.

This was the piece of green jade Li Qi bought when he first arrived in Chang'an, and also the origin of Shen Shuibi's name.

Gold paste and green water both referred to rare items; a poem read: “To gather jade, one must gather green water.” This showed its preciousness.

This piece of jade could fetch the high price of a rank seven world in Chang'an.

After such a long time, Li Qi finally finished carving the jade hairpin and personally adorned Shen Shuibi with it.

While preparing for the upcoming task—

Shen Shuibi suddenly asked, “By the way, when you let that little tiger go earlier, did you use Demonic Dao methods?”

Li Qi nodded. “I did, why?”

“When did you learn that?” Shen Shuibi frowned; she had felt something was off earlier, but only spoke up now.

“Hmm… perhaps it’s like ‘a long illness makes a doctor’,” Li Qi said with a smile.

Having been played with by the Heavenly Demon for so long, he should have learned by now. With Information Stream Vision, he could indeed use some methods similar to the Heavenly Demon's memory manipulation.

Although he couldn't arbitrarily fabricate, he could make people unconsciously forget some things.

For example… making Jin Buhuan forget some minor details.

“Demonic Dao methods are extraordinarily effective, but it’s easy to become lost in them. Be careful,” Shen Shuibi said upon hearing this, merely offering a reminder without saying anything further.

There was no need to say more; although Li Qi was young, he wasn't a child, and he would naturally have his own considerations.

It's just… Demonic Dao methods.

Unbeknownst to him, Li Qi seemed to have learned many things; not just Demonic Dao, but he also carried many different auras.

It was unknown whether this was good or bad.

Putting these aside for now.

As they spoke, they continued with the preparations for the sacrifice.

At this moment, dozens of different world-spheres, compressed to the size of a fist, surrounded the rabbit.

She said to Li Qi, “This Grand Ritual can replenish the world's Luck, which should reduce its suppression on you. But why did you choose this critical juncture? Wouldn't it be better after everything is over?”

“It’s just a sacrifice; it won't take many days. After these offerings are presented to this world, my movements here will be more convenient, and the Child of Destiny should also have some kind of sensation,” Li Qi stood on the other side, controlling the operation of the various worlds, placing these bead-like objects in different positions.

He stepped onto the altar.

The altar was also built by himself.

The top tier was nine zhang in diameter, the second fifteen zhang, and the third twenty-one zhang. One, nine, three, five, three, seven—all celestial numbers.

The total height of the three tiers was forty-five zhang, symbolizing the meaning of the ninety-five. The measurements adhered to ancient rulers, with a construction scale of eight inches and one fen, which also aligned with the ninety-nine numbers.

The altar surface had nine layers of ceramic tiles, with a circular center on the top tier, surrounded by nine rings, and the number of tiles accumulated from one to ninety-nine.

The second and third tiers increased progressively. Each side of the top tier had eighteen tiles, the second tier had twenty-seven, and the third tier had forty-five, all accumulating in multiples of nine, multiplied by four, totaling three hundred and sixty, corresponding to the circumference of the heavens.

The altar surface was constructed to resemble the Circular Mound Altar. The top tier's stone perimeter used six-six yin numbers, with six in both length and width, totaling thirty-six.

Outside, the four cardinal and four intercardinal directions were all formed by eight-eight accumulation, with twenty-four in both length and width.

The second tier was twice the size of the top tier, with eight-eight numbers in eight directions, each with a radius of eight, making sixty-eight yin numbers, corresponding to the meaning of coupling with the earth.

This was a Grand Ritual, so everything had to be very orderly, and the sacrificial rituals had to be precise.

Of course, for Li Qi at this moment, these were no longer difficult; he had long since mastered them, able to recite them backward.

As long as it wasn't a sacrificial segment that required him to create it himself based on current circumstances, nothing else posed a challenge to him.

Self-creation required considering the specific situation, what needed to be achieved with the sacrifice, what taboos to observe, and discerning on the spot—that truly tested one's foundational skills.

Fortunately, it wasn't necessary now. The Heaven Worship ritual was actually a very common sacrifice for Shamanes, much like the 'thrust' in swordplay; it was a fundamental skill among fundamentals, something everyone had to practice, but the gap between a master and a novice was also very significant.

The sacrifice began.

The numerous worlds were broadly divided into four parts.

One for filling the world, offering sacrificial grains.

Two for life force, offering fertility.

Three for rewarding intelligence, profound learning, and high talent.

Four for establishing fields of blessing, given to various other Dao.

Jade, silk, and sacrificial animals, further categorized by six grades of jade: Heavenly Dao's azure bi disc, Di Qi (Earthly Qi)'s yellow cong tube, Great Altar of Soil's yellow gui tablet, Great Altar of Grain's green gui tablet, morning sun's red bi disc, and evening moon's white bi disc.

Stars and constellations: seven white, one each of green, red, yellow, and black.

Heavenly God, clouds, rain, wind, thunder: one each of green, white, yellow, and black.

Fangze's subordinate positions: five each for the Five Sacred Mountains, in five colors. Five white for the Five Tombs Mountain.

The Four Seas took colors according to their direction, the Four Rivers had four black, Di Qi (Earthly Qi) had two yellow, three each of green and red, seven black, and twelve white.

Heavenly God, Di Qi (Earthly Qi), Grand Year, Sun, Moon, Stars, Clouds, Rain, Wind, Thunder, Altars of Soil and Grain, Sacred Mountains, and Great Rivers—the various elements comprising the world appeared one by one.

Li Qi stood on the altar and began to recite the invocation.

“Holy Flame Heavenly Dao, the long sundial rises, the myriad things begin, the six Qi begin to nourish, we revere the ancient rites, and carefully prepare the offerings.”

“It nurtures all living beings, brings forth myriad products, bestows clouds and rain, universally and impartially; thus, at the Awakening of insects, we revere the agricultural affairs.”

“The sacrifice says: as growth begins, we follow the customary rites, respectfully offering jade, silk, and sacrificial animals, grains and various products, reverently presenting the burnt offering, showing our solemnity, respectfully offering jade, silk, and purified animals, grains and various products, preparing this burnt offering, devoutly presenting our pure sincerity!”

“Heavenly Dao is not constant, only virtue is aided, the Divine Artifact, the great treasure, is humbly gathered upon this insignificant body. Now, seeing the favor bestowed upon me without leisure, I diligently and cautiously serve, the spiritual blessings Ga Ga, the masses happily endorse, and so do I!”

The main meaning of this invocation recited by Li Qi was very simple.

First, it praised this Heavenly Dao, which was a ceremonial compliment.

Then, it clarified that he already knew that the Heavenly Dao's chosen Child of Destiny was Ga Ga, and after his observation, Ga Ga 'is favored without leisure, diligently and cautiously serving,' indicating he was a promising talent, and Li Qi was willing to help him.

Now, he presented offerings and promised to assist the Heavenly Dao's Child of Destiny to make this world more prosperous, so please accept them, and let's ease our relationship.

After the invocation was recited, Li Qi sprinkled wine as a sign of respect.

He was dressed splendidly, with a solemn expression and dignified demeanor, standing on the altar.

Shen Shuibi watched Li Qi from below the platform, her gaze subtly revealing a focused, joyful emotion.

Indeed, Li Qi was a genuine Invoker; he was conversing with a powerful Heavenly Dao.

His serious and earnest demeanor at this moment made him exceptionally attractive.

However, it might also be a case of beauty being in the eye of the beholder.

Li Qi, on the platform, began his Divine Soul Emergence.

Next, he needed to await the reaction of this world's Heavenly Dao.

Suddenly, deep within the earth where Li Qi stood, a terrifying power began to surge around him!

Shen Shuibi frowned slightly.

But she didn't act.

Suppressing this world's Heavenly Dao's resistance was simple, but if she did that, Li Qi's sacrifice would be in vain, and the only way to resolve the matter afterward would be to refine this world's Heavenly Dao.

If that were the case, it wouldn't be ideal.

Didn't Li Qi go to such great lengths precisely because he hoped to maintain the independent existence of Holy Flame World, to atone for his mistake of plundering the Sacred Flame?

He preserved Holy Flame World's independence, preventing it from being refined, and then took its special products.

Only then could there be fairness, only then could it be considered 'justice'.

But this was only a part of 'justice,' only 'justice' towards the world as a whole.

Li Qi's actions objectively caused the deaths of many Sacred Flame Clan members and brought chaos to the Nine Lands Under Heaven. What about 'justice' for these individuals?

How to ensure both sufficient justice for individuals and sufficient justice for the world? Regarding this, Li Qi was still in the midst of his cultivation, and he did not yet know the answer.

But time was urgent, and his need for money was great, so he couldn't concern himself with so much.

The earth trembled, and the core began to react.

Dozens of divine shadows appeared around him.

Unlike the Nine Lands Under Heaven.

The Mountain Spirit and Water Spirit in the Nine Lands Under Heaven generally had their own consciousness, either Mountain Spirits and Water Spirits that had awakened consciousness, or Mountain God and Water God who had actively cultivated the God Dao.

However, Holy Flame World did not have a complete God Dao method; there was no way for humans to become gods, so it was impossible for local natives to cultivate into deities. Yet, Holy Flame World's own 'spirits' were not powerful, far from the spirits of the Nine Lands Under Heaven, so they could not fully awaken their consciousness and remained in a state of confusion.

However, these spirits were truly the indigenous deities of Holy Flame World.

Li Qi's Spirit Soul left his body and entered a profound state.

This was a way to communicate with ghosts and gods. In the past, Li Qi often used this to communicate with deities, but recently he had done so much less, focusing instead on learning.

Communicating with these spirits was not difficult. As Li Qi offered the numerous grotto-heaven sacrifices and all the gifts he had prepared through the ritual, these indigenous deities naturally accepted the offerings.

As these deities accepted the offerings and retreated, Li Qi also felt this world becoming increasingly friendly towards him.

He advanced step by step, and the surrounding deities gradually receded.

Finally, only one remained.

That was the supreme existence of Holy Flame World, its indigenous Heavenly Dao.

However, the Heavenly Dao did not accept Li Qi's offerings.

Li Qi frowned slightly.

The Heavenly Dao seemed to subtly reveal a hint of resistance, but it had no consciousness, so one could only sense its instincts and not communicate with it directly.

At this point, the Invoker's skill was put to the test.

If one misinterpreted the Heavenly Dao's meaning, one would suffer Heavenly Punishment, and the sacrifice would fail.

Of course, it wouldn't be a complete failure, because all the other deities had not refused Li Qi.

Li Qi was silent for a moment.

Suddenly, his Spirit Soul reached out and pointed to the heavens: “I, Li Qi, swear that I will never destroy this world. If I violate this oath, I will violate my Dao Heart.”

Upon speaking, the Heavenly Dao's resistance suddenly dissipated.

All the miniature heaven and earths Li Qi had collected disintegrated.

The entire Holy Flame World's world barrier suddenly expanded outwards by a circle!

Meanwhile, Ga Ga, tens of thousands of miles away, suddenly had a premonition; he seemed to sense something?