Chapter 485: Pre-battle preparation

Li Qi is a Shaman.

And it’s well-known that Li Qi’s combat talent… is hard to describe. Yunfang Great Shaman even explicitly stated he was no good. (See Chapter 222 for details)

Although everyone felt that a Shaman’s combat talent, like a martial artist’s intelligence, was a non-essential condition—it didn’t matter whether you had it or not.

If you had it, no one would think more highly of you; if you didn’t, no one would think you were incapable because of it.

For example, Zhu Fengdan was famously excellent in combat talent, the type who fought people every day.

However, it is said that many years ago, Zhu Fengdan was much like the current Li Qi, a gentle and humble type, and even more mild-mannered than Li Qi.

Li Qi was like a hedgehog; he usually curled into a ball, minding his own business, but if someone casually touched his quills, he would definitely prick them.

And if you blocked Li Qi’s path, once Li Qi realized he couldn’t make way, he would simply roll over you instead of staying stuck in place.

But at that time, Zhu Fengdan would choose to wait in place for the other party to leave.

If the other party wanted to roll over him, he would then counterattack. He was a typical gentleman, a very common type among Shamanes.

Most Shamanes actually just mind their own business and don’t engage in power struggles, because they are not skilled in combat and don’t like fighting. Most of Shaman God Mountain consists of self-reflective individuals.

It is known throughout the world that Shamanes are not good at fighting.

Therefore, the Demonic Prince understood this even more clearly.

The Demonic Prince must have run out of tricks. In the time they had, he and Li Qi had used all their methods and all their foundations. Both of them had racked their brains, but neither could truly overwhelm the other.

So, at this point, Li Qi was pondering how to use the third-rank skull to deliver a decisive blow.

The Demonic Prince, however, was more direct.

He came in person; his method for breaking the deadlock was simple.

Since they couldn't determine a winner by fighting across the fourth rank, he would just kill Li Qi! A Shaman definitely couldn’t defeat someone from the Demonic Dao!

He descended directly and swiftly from the sky! Without hesitation, he broke away from the fourth-rank protection and charged towards the fifth-rank treasure ship where Li Qi was located!

However, unfortunately, Cang Hou couldn’t spare his hands to assist Li Qi.

The moment the Demonic Prince appeared, Moro Yan immediately disregarded his own safety and forcefully entangled Cang Hou. The intensity of their battle escalated another level, and neither could interfere with the outside world.

Whoever dared to strike at the outside world at such a time would be seeking death. Neither of them could interfere with the battle over there.

Such an entanglement was extremely dangerous for Moro Yan. Before this, he could withdraw at any time and escape, but if he became entangled like this, he wouldn’t be able to leave.

But even if it might cost him his life, he truly carried out this order from the Demonic Prince. It was unimaginable what madness would possess a fourth-rank individual to do such a thing.

Perhaps the title of Demonic Prince truly held such weight.

But no matter what, Li Qi had to face the opponent himself.

Thinking this, Li Qi stood up.

To be honest, he felt a bit apprehensive. He knew his own capabilities. When it came to fighting, Li Qi had mostly only bullied the weak, and rarely fought against those of the same rank.

As for challenging stronger opponents…

Except for when he was young and ignorant, before he reached a rank, and fought a mass-produced ninth-rank officer, Li Qi had always respectfully called others Senior and never challenged stronger opponents.

However, what could be done now?

Better to face it calmly.

Li Qi packed his things, adjusted his breathing, prepared his spells in advance, and set up traps.

He was very calm.

The opponent was coming from afar, from the battlefield thousands of miles away, from Moro Yan’s side. This would take some time.

Therefore, setting traps and Formations in advance, waiting at leisure, and preparing to face the opponent directly would compensate for his disadvantage in fighting.

After about a few minutes, the Demonic Prince, relying on some unknown power, managed to cross such a long distance in such a short time.

He didn’t give Li Qi much time to prepare at all!

However, Li Qi was well aware of this, and he also understood another point—

The faster the opponent ran, the more tired he would surely be, and the more power he would consume. The advantage wouldn’t change.

Moreover, a few minutes was already enough for him to do many things.

His miniature heaven and earth spread out, forming a cage.

His inner body spirits were summoned, the Five Peaks Mountain Gods suppressed the five directions, and the Four Rivers Water Gods crisscrossed in all directions, connecting the eight poles, forming a miniature heaven and earth.

A Shaman’s Inner World, nourished by the Qi of Heaven and Earth, resembles a miniature Heaven and Earth. Yin and Yang, Five Elements, Four Seasons, Eight Festivals—all can be operated within one’s body.

Li Qi scattered many treasures, placing them in various spots, all corresponding items.

For instance, to suppress the four directions, there were four precious jades: an azure gui for the east, a red zhang for the south, a zou yu for the west, and a black huan for the north. Then, a yellow cong suppressed the earth, a blue bi supported the sky, and gui and bi hung the sun and moon, forming a Formation.

Li Qi even hung the rabbit’s amulet on the Moon God, though its power was not yet activated, merely to hold down the Eye of Taiyin. He also took out the corresponding Jin Qi (Metal Energy) and hung it on the Sun God.

As for where the Jin Qi (Metal Energy) came from?

He couldn't have called his sister-in-law for nothing, right?

As for the mineral veins, forests, and swamps, they were suppressed by Life Qi.

The One Origin, Two Instruments, Three Powers, Four Seasons, Five Elements, Six Tones, Seven Governments, Eight Winds, Nine Palaces, and Ten Continents each had their own suppression.

The Star-Mansion Array had their order, the three luminaries shone brightly, the five planets radiated light, the multitude of stars shifted and circled the pole, and the Big Dipper moved to indicate direction. When the Two Instruments first separated, the Origin Qi was pure, the Star-Mansion Array showed their form, and the six positions were established in time.

Even with only a few minutes, Li Qi had already set up a solid miniature heaven and earth in advance, further strengthened with various treasures.

It had been said before: whoever entered this Heaven and Earth would be suppressed by the Heavenly Dao, and their Realm would be forcibly lowered by one level.

And within it, Li Qi could exert even greater power.

This back and forth created a significant gap. Not to mention dropping an entire rank, it could at least pull down half a rank!

Just as Li Qi had finished setting up the battlefield, the Demonic Prince finally arrived.

The battlefield Li Qi set up was on the fifth-rank treasure ship, so Li Qi hadn’t attacked yet, waiting at leisure for the opponent to break through the protective barrier.

Of course, if the opponent couldn’t even break through the treasure ship’s protective barrier, that would be for the best.

However, unfortunately, the protective barrier could only block the aftershocks of battle, but it couldn’t stop a truly capable person with judgment.

Because the protective barrier was already damaged, full of holes. After one fourth-rank impact after another, the protective barrier was already riddled with holes and in disrepair.

It was like a dilapidated house, full of holes. It could barely shelter from the wind and rain, and one could find a corner without drafts to withstand the outside elements, but it certainly couldn't stop a bandit who wanted to get in from outside.

The bandit couldn’t break down the wall, but it was very easy to find a hole and crawl in.

Li Qi had made preparations that were not completely foolproof, but he believed they were the best he could do, and he quietly awaited the opponent’s arrival.

Before long, a figure, riding a black light, whistled in.

The escape light was solid, indicating profound cultivation and a stable foundation.

The black escape light seemed to faintly exude the Aura of some high-level existence, showing that he had paid the price of some precious treasures to accelerate himself to this extent.

However, the opponent did not charge directly as Li Qi had imagined, rushing into the trap, but stopped not far away.

“Hmm… Did he detect the trap? No matter, the miniature heaven and earth is already set up, the traps are just an extra. Li Qi’s heart was vigilant. He didn’t strike first, but steadily held down the miniature heaven and earth. With this, he could compensate for his disadvantage in fighting.

The Demonic Prince stopped outside, suspended in mid-air with a wind-controlling technique, revealing his true form.

His true face was not visible; he wore a mask. However, there were no patterns on the mask, only two small holes indicating the position of the eyes, allowing light through. The rest was simply a black surface, entirely pure black, seemingly crafted from some kind of jade, completely concealing his face.

His posture was straight, like a graceful jade tree, head held high, chest out, with a noble demeanor, like some prince or noble. His every gesture exuded an aristocratic Aura.

However… as Li Qi watched, he felt it was a bit affected, as if he was deliberately trying to show off.

Looking at his clothes, he was dressed in black gauze, with tadpole-like script on it. What was written was unclear, but it must have been some kind of rune, perhaps even done by a Master calligrapher.

He wore a majestic cloak, flapping in the wind, with a nine-ring belt around his waist and black leather boots. He had no jewelry, only a dark jade tiger pendant inlaid with gold hanging from his waist. A fierce tiger was carved from dark jade, lifelike, its eyes glowing with golden light, its mouth spewing Jin Qi (Metal Energy), as if it could turn real at any moment.

“Young Master of Shaman God Mountain, Li Qi… Hmm, truly as cautious as I expected.” The Demonic Prince spoke. His voice was similar to Li Qi’s, both young men’s voices, even the intonation was similar.

As he spoke, the Demonic Prince produced a staff, a type of climbing bamboo staff, but made of dark bamboo, also entirely black.

This Demonic Prince seemed to particularly like black. This all-black attire, coupled with the handsome mask, even without revealing his face, made one feel an overwhelming sense of nobility. What a refined Young Master; walking down the street, he would likely attract many cheers.

He held the bamboo staff and lightly tapped a few times. The traps Li Qi had set up immediately withered, their runes and Formations directly severed.

Li Qi’s eyes darkened slightly.

This move was enough to show that Li Qi’s mastery of spells was inferior to the opponent’s.

With just a glance, he broke through Li Qi’s carefully laid traps. If it were the opponent setting them, Li Qi wouldn’t dare say he could do it so calmly.

Because this wasn’t destruction, but rather breaking open.

Destruction is simple: just smash through with violence. Then, defense blocks it, you won’t die, but you’ll certainly be disheveled and suffer minor injuries, much like a tank rolling over some ordinary landmines.

Breaking open, however, means dismantling the fuse of every mine in the minefield, turning them into duds.

The technical difficulty involved is completely incomparable. If the opponent had set traps in advance, Li Qi wouldn’t dare say he could break them so effortlessly.

Therefore, Li Qi began to feel nervous.

However, he had already made preparations, so at this moment, he could only be extra careful.

“What? I’ve already taken the initiative to speak, aren’t you going to reply? Or do you not even have the leisure to speak?” The Demonic Prince’s mask showed no expression, but a hint of disdain could be heard in his tone.

Since the opponent had said so, Li Qi, while maintaining his readiness, replied, “Being cautious is a good thing. Caution is the parent of safety. If one isn’t humble and cautious enough, even a dragon crossing the river can capsize in a ditch, right? If a dignified Demonic Prince underestimates his opponent, it’s inevitable he might stumble here, isn’t it?”

“You speak very interestingly. Earlier, we struck from afar, each competing with wisdom and foundation, and you and I were evenly matched. I thought I had finally met an opponent. However, seeing you now, I am truly disappointed.” The Demonic Prince shook his head, his tone regretful, the kind of regret one feels when high expectations are dashed.

“The previous contest has already shown that there isn’t much difference between us. Demonic Prince, hearing you say that, I would have thought you just won,” Li Qi replied with a smile.

What’s with the pretense? Didn't everyone fight to exhaustion just now, unable to do anything to each other? Now he’s acting like a grand Master, what’s this all about?

Is he trying to gain an advantage with his Aura, to overwhelm me from the start?

A flurry of guesses rolled through Li Qi’s mind, but thinking didn’t hinder his speaking.

After the Demonic Prince heard Li Qi’s words, though his expression couldn’t be seen, laughter came from beneath the mask.

He smiled and said, “We are all sensible people, why say such things? I have already come here in person, and you have seen my abilities. We both know each other’s level, so why keep up the pleasantries?”

Hearing this, Li Qi couldn’t help but roll his eyes and spit, saying impolitely, “What nonsense. If a single glance could determine victory, then why fight? Wouldn’t everyone just show off a bit and know the result? If you truly have the confidence, why say so much to me? Just come up and smack me dead, wouldn’t that be enough?”

“I heard your Master is Zhu Fengdan. Indeed, you’ve truly learned his rudeness and vulgarity.” The Demonic Prince shook his head. Though his expression couldn’t be seen, his ‘pity’ could be felt.

Then, he continued, “Alas, I still thought you were a talent. After all, though not as good as me, you are still much stronger than the many wastes in the world and have the qualifications to converse with me. I originally thought that after today’s battle, you would die, so I felt some pity and stopped here to speak a few more words with you, to remember you as a person.”

“However, you yourself are insensible, so be it. In that case, let us begin.” After the Demonic Prince finished speaking, he raised the bamboo staff in his hand and then threw it forward!

The bamboo staff flew out and landed in Li Qi’s miniature heaven and earth.

Immediately, the stable miniature heaven and earth was greatly shaken!

The sun lost its brilliance, the moon lost its True Qi;

Heaven brought chaos, evil Qi continuously darkened;

Drought Qi gave birth to ghouls, fierce winds scattered;

Locusts swarmed, and in the watery areas of the miniature heaven and earth, swarms of insects suddenly appeared, covering the ground in an instant, their flapping wings obscuring the sky. They devoured grain, trees, and flowers, all suffering, and good timber was uprooted.

Li Qi’s stable miniature heaven and earth was directly torn open by a natural disaster!