Chapter 446: Application of Demonic Energy

Li Qi was still deep in his thoughts.

He used to think that True Dragons might not be that powerful; after all, being born at Rank Nine sounded mediocre, and many exotic beast races could easily reach Rank Seven by adulthood.

But now, it seemed things were not quite like that.

Why were the Golden Crow and Jade Rabbit born at Rank Seven?

That was because they possessed unique Dao Resonances. The two sisters were formed from the respective Dao Resonances of the Sun-Moon True Lead Cauldron and Empress Luofu, essentially a part of the authority of these two Great Powers.

They were naturally Rank Seven, but they were unique. There would never again be Dao Resonances born from the union of the Sun-Moon True Lead Cauldron and Empress Luofu in the entire Universe. Even if this couple had another pair of children, what would be born would absolutely not be the Essence of Greater Yin and Essence of Greater Yang, but other parts of their Great Dao.

Great Powers having children wasn't truly 'having children,' but rather splitting off a part of their Great Dao and turning it into life. This was different from 'reproduction' in the biological sense.

But True Dragons, perhaps, were different… The reproduction of True Dragons was true reproduction.

They replicated themselves; this was a true, pure reliance on genes to reach such strength.

This was the most terrifying point—

Genes could be copied at will.

Although he didn't know what limitations existed that made True Dragons seem to be few in number, according to Li Qi's understanding… if it was simple reproduction, then the number of True Dragons should be as many as the Human Race… everyone at Rank Seven, and as numerous as the Human Race, which would be trillions upon trillions.

Was he overthinking?

But from the Dao of Heaven’s Evolution Li Qi had seen so far, things indeed seemed to be developing in this direction.

Then, the scarcity of the Dragon Clan must have other reasons unknown to Li Qi behind it. This might become the next target for exploration.

However, at this moment, Li Qi suddenly felt someone pushing him.

"Sir! Are you still listening!?" Lei Fang called out from outside.

The Merfolk girl was already anxious. Li Qi had suddenly fallen into a dazed state, staying still and unmoving. If this continued, he would collide with other nobles!

So, in her haste, she actually reached out and touched Li Qi.

This could very likely result in her hand being chopped off, but in her anxiety, she couldn't care less.

And after being pushed, Li Qi awoke from his contemplation and asked in confusion: "What happened… Wait, you just said, collided with a noble?"

When Li Qi was immersed in thought, he didn't completely lose his vigilance, and he could also hear speech. It was just that his mind subconsciously filtered out these things, just as he had grown accustomed to filtering out the countless杂音 from the True Knowledge Dao Resonance.

He was quite skilled at playing deaf and dumb. In this regard, he had actually learned from the Jade Rabbit. When the Jade Rabbit immersed herself in her own world, she was exactly like Li Qi now.

One could only say that couples influenced each other.

However, when truly valuable information and threatening presences appeared, he would still become vigilant. But now, there was clearly no threat, he was just woken up by Lei Fang's push.

"Sir, let's quickly get out of the way, the noble is coming!" Lei Fang pulled Li Qi, wanting to leave.

This, instead, piqued Li Qi's interest. He gently exerted force and pushed Lei Fang away. The young girl only felt an irresistible immense force, and her entire body was pushed back, but she wasn't injured.

Then, she watched in horror as Li Qi actively swam towards the direction of the 'noble'!

The 'noble' in the Merfolk's mouth was very curious.

If it were normally, Li Qi would definitely plan carefully, wait to ascertain the noble's background, and then slowly make contact.

But now it was different; Li Qi didn't feel any threat at all.

One must know, a Shaman's sixth sense was very accurate. No one understood the meaning of 'in the冥冥之中' better than a Shaman.

So he went straight for it.

He met the noble's mount not far away.

First to enter his sight were several… walruses? They should be walruses.

Their bodies were plump and fat, about twenty to thirty zhang long, with two extremely thick tusks, full of a sense of power. They looked very agitated, shaking restlessly despite being restrained by reins, and grunted a growl as Li Qi approached.

Roaring underwater was a very unwise choice, as it would expel a large amount of gas. So, aquatic creatures' roars were internal vibrations, which mostly sounded like grunts, or, like whales, were quite high-pitched and sharp sounds.

And then, above these huge mounts, was the 'noble'.

Li Qi noticed that this was an ordinary Merfolk, simply one whose cultivation had reached Rank Eight, nothing more.

The so-called noble… was actually just a division of class or cultivation?

This made Li Qi a little disappointed.

However, the noble pulled the reins and asked gently from the walrus's back: "Who is approaching, and why do you block my path?"

This 'noble' did not do anything impolite.

After all, he wasn't a fool. People came and went from East Isle, and a 'guest' clearly from the land, who also seemed to have a high cultivation, blocking his path like this, must have a reason.

Speaking arrogantly and making enemies arbitrarily was something only an imbecile would do.

Lei Fang, who was nervously agitated beside him, was momentarily stunned.

It was… her first time seeing a 'noble' so gentle.

So, 'nobles' could speak politely?

Li Qi, however, ignored all that. He floated up a few meters so he could look directly at the 'noble' on the mount, and then said: "Excuse me, Your Excellency, are you the manager of this area?"

The Merfolk then said: "Oh? elegant speech of the Human Race? A friend of the Human Race? Indeed, the Bai Zhu Family is the manager of all the pearl fields on this East Isle, and I am Bai Zhu Zhaoyue, the second son of Bai Zhu."

"Bai Zhu… this surname, was it given to you by the Human Dao?" Li Qi asked immediately upon hearing this term.

"Not so, this surname was bestowed upon the ancestors of the Bai Zhu Family by the Great Shaman Ju Yu back then, and has no relation to the Human Dao," Bai Zhu Zhaoyue immediately puffed out his chest and said proudly!

Ju Yu?

Li Qi immediately understood.

Ju Yu was one of the factions of ancient Shamanes, which was before the separation of Humans and Shamanes.

Ju Yu meant beautiful jade and jewels. In ancient times, when Humans and Shamanes had not yet separated, the Ju Yu clan was responsible for collecting jewels from various places for decoration and various uses.

Later, when Humans and Shamanes separated, the Ju Yu clan followed the Human Emperor's lineage and became the Human Emperor's ritual official, no longer a Shaman.

Bai Zhu, on the other hand, was one of the ritual instruments of the Ju Yu clan. For example, members of the royal family had to use jade as feathers, with white pearls below, and hanging golden tweezers. A horizontal hairpin on both sides, tied with a national knot, all hairpins and earrings were the same, used to distinguish Ranks.

So when Li Qi heard the term Bai Zhu, he immediately thought of the Human Emperor's ritual official.

However, now it seemed… the Bai Zhu clan's Legacy was even older than Li Qi had imagined.

It was actually a surname bestowed by the Ju Yu clan before the separation of Humans and Shamanes, and it mentioned a Great Shaman, which means Rank Three?

No, Great Shamanes in ancient times certainly weren't Rank Three, they should only have been around Rank Six or Seven, but that was still enough to be proud of. Rank Six or Seven at that time was also quite high.

"A surname bestowed by the Ju Yu clan? What did your ancestors do to receive a surname from the Ju Yu clan?" Li Qi asked again.

As he spoke, he voluntarily opened his Human World, emitting a gentle pressure, and at the same time, exuding his unique aura as a Shaman.

This was to make things clear.

Feeling this sense of oppression, although he didn't know if Bai Zhu Zhaoyue understood Li Qi's meaning, he clearly felt that Li Qi was much stronger than him.

So, he immediately bowed, showing his respect for Li Qi with his status.

Then, he raised his head, chest out, and said: "In ancient times, the Bai Zhu Family often offered white pearls and green pearls, and was especially appreciated by the Great Shaman, thus establishing a deep connection and being granted this surname!"

Holding his head high and chest out was a sign of pride in his surname.

Offering white pearls and green pearls, that is to say… this branch of Merfolks once specialized in producing white pearls and green pearls for the Human Race at that time.

"So it's a clan with ancient connections. Then I've truly met an old acquaintance. My name is Li Qi, a disciple of Shaman God Mountain." Li Qi bowed slightly and said so.

He didn't refer to himself as 'in the humble position' because he was not in a humble position, so he used another humble term.

"So it is a distinguished guest from Shaman God Mountain. May I ask why you block my path?" The person from the Bai Zhu Family also stood up from his mount and returned the bow to Li Qi.

"It's not blocking your path, but rather curiosity about the surroundings. To be honest with you, I came from Shaman God Mountain to study and gain experience, and I'm curious about the vicinity of East Isle. I am currently observing." Li Qi replied.

Bai Zhu Zhaoyue nodded: "I see. Then I won't disturb the distinguished guest. If you are interested, you can visit. The Bai Zhu Family mansion is nearby; the distinguished guest can inquire about it. I have urgent matters, so I cannot delay. Please forgive me."

"No problem, please go." Li Qi said so, actively allowing the other party to leave.

Bai Zhu Zhaoyue seemed to genuinely have something urgent to attend to, so he immediately spurred the reins, driving the sea cows away in a hurry.

Li Qi stood still, listening and watching his retreating figure, lost in thought.

Ancient times… how long ago was that?

Several thousand epochs?

It's probably even more than that. This Bai Zhu Family… although it has been passed down, it hasn't made any progress?

Not necessarily, this might just be a branch family, more information is needed.

Li Qi had already begun to deduce in his mind.

Perhaps with a few more clues, he could construct more facets of the Dao of Heaven’s Evolution and infer the part he needed.

He hadn't seen all of the East Sea, but it didn't matter.

Seeing a leopard through a tube, one can see a spot; seeing the subtle, one knows the obvious; a single leaf tells of autumn.

Knowing a little bit could lead to inferring many things. For Li Qi, this was a skill he had to master.

So, he quickly came back to his senses.

But as soon as he did, he saw Lei Fang prostrated at his feet, trembling and not daring to move.

Oh, she was probably scared by him. She had touched him just now, and then he pushed her away. She was probably afraid of death, right?

Hmm… that's strange.

"You weren't afraid of me just now, why are you afraid of me now?" Li Qi grabbed the Merfolk girl and asked.

Lei Fang didn't expect to face this question and stammered for a moment… Li Qi was indeed a little puzzled by this.

When he first met this Merfolk girl, she appeared poised and answered questions quite appropriately, which was why Li Qi wanted her to be his guide.

But how long had it been, two hours? Her displayed reverence for 'nobles' and fear of him were not like before.

So Li Qi immediately grew suspicious.

When this Merfolk referred to him as 'noble' in front of her family, Li Qi didn't feel anything.

However, when Li Qi learned that the high-Rank Merfolks in this area were called 'nobles', he had already secretly started to pay attention.

They wouldn't call him that without reason.

Now, her strange behavior, after he had met a true 'noble' and was treated with respect by a 'noble' of the Bai Zhu Family, she became completely panicked.

All these suspicious points made it impossible for Li Qi not to doubt this Merfolk girl.

"Sir… Sir, I, I'm just afraid of being disrespectful to you…" The Merfolk girl quickly bowed.

Merfolks don't have the concept of kneeling, but she still prostrated herself at Li Qi's feet.

"Get up, speak with your body straight." Li Qi helped her up, then held her shoulders, gripping both her shoulders like pulling a radish, forcing her to meet his gaze.

In the water, this was easily done.

Then, Li Qi didn't explain to her, and his pupils suddenly widened until the whites of his eyes were completely covered by the black pupils.

Demonic Qi surged from his body.

Lei Fang trembled nervously, fear diffused in her heart, as if a pair of hands reached into the flesh of her chest and fiercely gripped her heart.

But soon, she no longer felt nervous.

She felt so relaxed, her mood couldn't help but become joyful, with a feeling of floating, making one feel refreshed and at ease, and her breathing couldn't help but slow down.

The Sir in front of her also became kind and amiable.

"Who sent you to find me?" Li Qi's voice was full of allure, as if it could make people voluntarily open their hearts.

The Merfolk girl offered almost no resistance. She only felt trust, and driven by instinct, she replied: "Nobles… nobles, the nobles sent me."

"Oh? Nobles? The noble from just now?" Li Qi asked.

"Not the one from just now, but… also from the great Bai Zhu clan." Lei Fang said somewhat shyly.

She didn't know why, but she just felt a faint sense of secret joy.

"So that's how it is. Then you go far away, at least five hundred li from East Isle, then slowly follow East Isle, and come back to find me after three days, alright?" Li Qi asked.

"Okay… I'll listen to you." Lei Fang nodded repeatedly.

"Then it's settled. In three days, I'll wait for you here." Li Qi finished speaking, and gently pushed Lei Fang outwards.

The old horse stomped its hoof and let out a low whinny.

"Don't worry, no one's around. Come on, let's go see who's behind this."

Saying that, Li Qi turned and left.