Chapter 412: Direct confrontation

Language has power.

When the Child of Destiny admitted that he had ‘agreed’, Li Qi’s objective was already achieved.

The moment the agreement was reached, the Heavenly Dao of the Holy Flame World no longer obstructed him; in fact, it would become his aid.

Many times, a simple sentence can have such an effect.

This way, Li Qi could proceed with his next step.

Li Qi had recently earned a lot of money relying on the Shamanic Silkworm Artifact, but he had invested it all into this.

“Good, since the agreement has been reached, do you still need our help? If you find it troublesome, we can help you eliminate your enemies, and then you can just take over their territory,” Li Qi said.

Those so-called ‘Holy Flame Clan Seventh Grade’ could all be dealt with by Li Qi in one night.

Although they were all Seventh Grade, the disparity was too great.

They were not on the same level at all; Seventh Grades from the Nine Lands Under Heaven were inherently a notch stronger in cultivation method, magical arts, and even talent compared to those from other places.

This was an insurmountable chasm, a difference stemming from the world’s tier.

Only a few First Grade worlds could catch up.

These First Grade worlds, besides the Nine Lands Under Heaven, were the strongest forces in the endless heavens, and clearly had no connection to the Holy Flame World.

“No need, the Holy Flame Clan’s affairs will be resolved by the Holy Flame Clan themselves; there’s no need for Immortals to interfere,” Ga Ga refused decisively.

“Many people will die if you resolve it yourself… If we act, we can occupy those places without bloodshed, but if you do it, you’ll have to command a large army, and the casualties from such a war won’t be small,” Li Qi reminded him.

“Peace not obtained through iron and blood is not true peace,” Ga Ga replied decisively.

Li Qi pondered upon hearing this, then showed solemn respect.

He hadn't expected Ga Ga's reaction in this regard to be even quicker than his; although he came from an ordinary world, he truly hit the nail on the head.

Indeed, the Shaman God Mountain likely thought the same.

They could clearly allow their Disciples to freely read answers to various problems, letting their cultivation rapidly improve and their experience soar, but they simply didn't do so.

Their purpose was to let the Disciples find their own answers, even if those answers were unconventional; such ‘own answers’ were the fresh blood of Dao Orthodoxy.

Shaman God Mountain did not lack high-grade combat power; what it lacked were ‘answers’ that could advance Dao Orthodoxy further, and these answers could only be found by the younger generation accustomed to seeking answers themselves.

Li Qi knew this in his heart, but this time, he was confused when it came to the question of ‘whether or not to let others help kill people’, and Ga Ga actually reminded him.

“Well said. I didn’t expect to need you to remind me of this principle. As a reward, I can give you a brand new cultivation method to replace your current one. While it won’t lead to a Breakthrough, it can increase your current combat power by three or four times. This is unrelated to any stance, nor is it a favor; it’s gratitude for what you just said,” Li Qi stated.

“…If that’s the case, then I’ll accept it,” Ga Ga pondered for a moment, ultimately choosing to trust Li Qi’s words.

His intuition told him that this statement was trustworthy, because when the Immortal said it, even his tone was different from before.

The Holy Flame Clan had no such thing as ‘expressions’; as creatures similar to beetles, all their emotional fluctuations were conveyed through sound, so they were particularly sensitive to tone.

This Immortal in front of him indeed cared greatly about such things.

So, he accepted.

Li Qi, without further ado, took out an Eighth Grade Dao Orthodoxy cultivation method, condensed it into a divine will Legacy, and gently tapped it onto Ga Ga’s forehead.

Then, the two vanished without a trace.

Only Ga Ga remained.

Ga Ga sat in place, seemingly lost in thought.

— — — — — — — — — —

Li Qi, at last, had concluded the matter of the Child of Destiny.

He and Shen Shuibi returned to the cave.

“So, now that you have the Heavenly Dao’s approval, are you going to use this world as a foundation to set up a Formation?” Shen Shuibi asked, looking at Li Qi curiously.

It was very difficult to use a world as an energy source when the Heavenly Dao was resisting, so one either had to gain the Heavenly Dao’s approval and form a contract, like Li Qi, or directly refine the Heavenly Dao and make it one’s puppet.

Li Qi was unwilling to refine the Heavenly Dao, nor was he willing to completely turn the Holy Flame World into a slave race, so he could only go through great trouble, spending several years, to finally complete the contract with this Heavenly Dao.

This way, Shen Shuibi could directly use this world for arrangements, and also gain some confidence in dealing with the Heaven-Devouring Demon Lord and Lu Mountain God.

“Of course not. We’re building a reception Formation here to facilitate the transportation of people from the Human Dao Golden Dais on Dou Su Six. With the help of the Golden Dais and the reception Formation, the transportation efficiency will likely increase tremendously,” Li Qi said with a smile.

“Reception Formation? Oh… Yang Ning? Are you really planning to bring her in for this?” Shen Shuibi immediately reacted.

Li Qi countered, “Why not? Yang Ning can help, which is also good for Mount Luofu. This is a good opportunity to help Mount Luofu recover a bit and find something to do. This industry can’t be built by just the two of us.”

“You seem to be biting off more than you can chew,” Shen Shuibi frowned, having understood Li Qi’s unspoken meaning.

“With Yang Ning, that’s two Fifth Grades. I’ve also recently contacted some high-ranking officials in Tang Nation through the Flower Gods of the Upper Garden, and there will be other opportunities for trade, not just the Shamanic Silkworm Artifact.”

“So, we can definitely try… to occupy a world cluster. This isn’t too big a bite; we can handle it,” Li Qi stated.

Occupying a world cluster meant… doing the same thing as the Heaven-Devouring Demon Lord.

“That’s very difficult, isn’t it? Even with Yang Ning, it’s hard to achieve, and we lack the necessary equipment. Such a large-scale Formation isn’t that easy to obtain, is it?” Shen Shuibi pondered, seemingly finding it unlikely.

“Isn’t someone delivering it to us?” Li Qi smiled.

“The Heaven-Devouring Demon Lord’s Formation? You want to snatch it? If it’s just me and Yang Ning, it’s probably impossible to capture him alive and take the Formation. Defeating him is easy, but capturing him alive is very, very difficult,” the rabbit emphasized.

“Of course, it’s not just the two of you. Mount Luofu isn’t left with only the two of you,” Li Qi said.

At this, the rabbit’s eyes widened.

Mount Luofu certainly didn’t have only Yang Ning and Shen Shuibi.

A lean camel is still bigger than a horse. As one of the ten great grotto-heavens of Dao Orthodoxy, Mount Luofu had a Second Grade overlord overseeing it, and once was a major power with multiple Third Grades and dozens of Fourth Grades.

Even though it was now in decline, Granny Mei, a Fourth Grade, still survived. When Li Qi came to propose marriage, it was Zhu Fengdan’s mount, the Great Phoenix, who personally went to obstruct him, which gave Li Qi an opportunity to rush in.

“You want Granny Mei to act? Are you alright? This is extremely unwise, Li Qi, you should reconsider. I don’t think it’s feasible,” Shen Shuibi’s expression changed, and she immediately objected.

“I understand your concerns, but we won’t snatch it by force. Granny Mei will only act as a witness, so there’s no need to fear,” Li Qi said.

Li Qi understood what the rabbit was thinking.

If Mount Luofu’s only surviving Fourth Grade, Granny Mei, were to act, then they would have to be prepared to face an opposing Fourth Grade.

Neither Shen Shuibi nor Li Qi believed that the Heaven-Devouring Demon Lord had no one behind him, so a Fourth Grade acting would definitely elicit a Fourth Grade response. There would be nothing to say about a stronger party bullying a weaker one.

And could Li Qi bear the conflict of a Fourth Grade? Could Mount Luofu withstand a Fourth Grade battle? Granny Mei’s injuries hadn’t even healed yet.

Therefore, Shen Shuibi adamantly disagreed with involving Granny Mei.

“Tell me all your plans and intentions. I always feel like you’re planning something big,” the rabbit sat down and suggested to Li Qi.

“It’s what I told you before: Mount Luofu cannot sit in the grotto-heaven and wait for death; it must take action,” Li Qi also sat down, holding the rabbit’s hand, and said.

“I understand that principle, but right now, Yang Ning and I can act, but Granny Mei cannot. If we truly provoke someone of the same grade, we won’t be able to handle it, and if it comes to the point where Grand Invoker has to act, and Shaman God Mountain interferes, then things will become difficult,” the rabbit said.

“That’s why I just said, Granny Mei won’t seize by force, and I won’t trouble her to come here personally. She’s still recovering on Shaman God Mountain. The only one coming will be Yang Ning,” Li Qi explained.

“Then what do you want to do?” The rabbit was confused.

“I want Yang Ning to take some of Granny Mei’s aura. Releasing it at a crucial moment can serve as a deterrent, showing that Mount Luofu still has some strong roots,” Li Qi explained.

“If it’s only a deterrent, then we’ll probably still have no choice but to let him go; it’ll be very difficult to capture him alive. We’re back to square one,” Shen Shuibi seemed a bit annoyed. “So what exactly is your plan to keep the Heaven-Devouring Demon Lord? You’re still hiding it from me at a time like this. Then I’ll agree to your absurd requests, alright? Isn’t that what you want?”

Seeing the rabbit finally get to the point, Li Qi laughed heartily, no longer deliberately keeping him in suspense.

He gently opened his palm.

In his palm, a lingxiao flower floated, continuously cycling between blooming and withering.

At the pistil of the lingxiao flower, a drop of dark red liquid floated, struggling as if trying to break free.

Shen Shuibi’s pupils constricted.

demonic blood of such a high grade?! And it’s been purified?

— — — — — — — — — — —

Time had passed several days later, to a place several light-minutes away from the Holy Flame World, roughly the distance from Earth to the Sun.

This distance was actually very far, but for the Fifth Grade Heaven-Devouring Demon Lord, this distance was almost like being face-to-face.

It would only take him less than a minute to reach the Holy Flame World from here.

“Is the Mountain God ready?” the Heaven-Devouring Demon Lord asked.

“Already prepared. I have already formed a Formation with Jin Qi (Metal Energy) winds, more than enough to envelop an entire world,” Lu Mountain God nodded.

At the same time, his Dharma form expanded, and the several-hundred-mile-tall fierce tiger from before reappeared.

“That’s good. Then let’s depart,” the Heaven-Devouring Demon Lord said.

With that, the two demons acted simultaneously.

In the Void Realm, a fierce wind suddenly rose!

The wind roared, countless Jin Qi (Metal Energy) flapped, and within it, countless blades emerged.

The Heaven-Devouring Demon Lord suddenly opened his mouth, that constantly changing face suddenly opened a huge maw, six or seven feet wide, and spat out a mouthful of black water.

These black waters fell into the wind, blown into countless powders by the wind, and those powders immediately transformed into endless ghosts and demonic soldiers!

These demonic soldiers, with whips driving them, fanned the strong winds, stirred up violent waves, advancing in a hundred paths, with six divisions marching to the drumbeats. Demon Qi billowed, as if all strong enemies ahead would be reduced to dust!

The ghosts stirred the demonic winds, and the demonic winds blew the Jin Qi (Metal Energy). In mere moments, a million demonic soldiers appeared in the Void Realm!

Looking at these demonic soldiers again, they were not illusions created by magical arts, but genuine demonic soldiers.

These were the elite troops the Heaven-Devouring Demon Lord kept in his belly, not something like 'scattering beans to form soldiers'.

The reason this could be discerned was because these demonic soldiers and generals had military Qi on them, forming a military Formation!

Their military Qi converged in the sky, the drumbeats ceaseless, and under the Lu Mountain God's blessing, these million demonic soldiers appeared ferociously powerful.

Then, the Lu Mountain God was heard saying, “With such a mighty army, Demon Lord, capable of slaughtering an entire world, this humble god will no longer be stingy. I happen to have some collections that can be used by the Demon Lord’s army.”

With that, Lu Mountain God waved his hand, and the endless Jin Qi (Metal Energy) winds in the Void Realm fell to the ground.

In ancient times, gold was used as ornamentation, and those who embodied gold corresponded to the Five Elements, possessing a肅殺 (su sha -肃杀) aura of grimness and severity. Therefore, military Qi was composed of metallic objects, and their grades were surprisingly not low, perfectly matching the cultivation of these demonic soldiers! From Ninth Grade to Seventh Grade, all were present.

The Jin Qi (Metal Energy) then transformed into five blades, falling into the hands of these ghosts.

The so-called five blades were: saber, sword, spear, halberd, and arrow.

There were also go, shu, hammer, staff, and other exotic weapons.

With weapons in hand, these demonic soldiers bowed and shouted, “Thank you, Mountain God, for the bestowal!”

Then they displayed their weapons, showing off their might, wielding powerful spears, grasping mighty halberds. Spear tips brushed the clouds, long swords gleamed, left hand gripped halberds, right hand clutched ganjiang swords, military Qi blazing.

The military Qi of these demonic soldiers formed a red Formation, with red bows and vermilion arrows, crimson feathers and scarlet quivers. Looking at them, they were like fire, outshining the morning sun!

These million demonic soldiers alone were enough to slaughter all living beings in the entire Holy Flame World.

Thus, the two demons, leading a million demonic soldiers, charged towards the Holy Flame World.

Halfway there.

Just then, abruptly, in the boundless Void Realm, a bright moon cast its light, as if paving a flat, wide road in the darkness.

Smoke and mist, a faint moon, long light, moonlight filling the sky, frost covering the sky.

Tai Yin Qi, spanning hundreds of millions of miles, blocked the path of the demonic soldiers.

“Oh? The obstructors have arrived. This strength is indeed good. The remnants of Mount Luofu do have some skill,” the Heaven-Devouring Demon Lord saw this and felt his heart settle.

Indeed, it was good, but if this was their only level, they were still far from being his match.

One must know that in Baiyue, it took several Baiyue Kingdom Lords working together, plus Orthodox Sword Palace, to merely ‘suppress’ the Heaven-Devouring Demon Lord, which showed his power.

So, he extended his hand.

In the Void Realm, a devouring force unfolded.

A giant mouth, tens of thousands of miles wide, appeared in the Void Realm!

A foul stench wafted over!

Heavenly Dog Devours the Moon!