Chapter 49: Coming

The mountain root's Di Qi (Earthly Qi) is the Di Qi (Earthly Qi) of this mountain.

Di Qi (Earthly Qi) has characteristics.

Therefore, it is said: “There is a large tree, its name is You, its green leaves grow in winter, its fruit is red and tastes sour; eating its skin and juice can cure qi-reversal illness. The people of Qizhou cherish it, but when it is transplanted north of the Huai River, it turns into a trifoliate orange. The mynah bird does not cross the Ji River, and the badger dies when it crosses the Wen River; this is due to the Di Qi (Earthly Qi).”

This means there is a large tree called You. Its green leaves remain green in winter, its fruit is red and tastes sour, and eating its skin and juice can cure qi-reversal illness. The people of Qizhou cherish it, but when transplanted north of the Huai River, it becomes a trifoliate orange. The mynah bird does not cross the Ji River, and the badger dies when it crosses the Wen River. All of these are caused by Di Qi (Earthly Qi).

Di Qi (Earthly Qi) has characteristics. Different places have different Di Qi (Earthly Qi), which leads to different local characteristics, resulting in different situations and customs.

Li Qi once thought these were nonsense, but after careful consideration, he had to admit that it was very true.

In his world, the idea that oranges grown south of the Huai River are oranges, and those grown north of the Huai River are trifoliate oranges, is pure nonsense; they are simply different varieties. But in this world, it is a truly existing phenomenon.

Furthermore, in the other world, different regions have different temperatures because of latitude, because it is round, and the sun's light is not uniform.

However, in this world, the land is flat.

In good light, standing on a hill, he could see for tens of miles, and there was no such thing as a horizon.

Evidently, there is no concept of latitude and longitude here.

This is a world where the sky is round and the earth is square.

Therefore, what can determine the nature of different regions can naturally only be the ethereal Di Qi (Earthly Qi) and weather.

Li Qi has realized many times that this world is completely different from his former world.

Of course, there are some commonalities, but the deeper aspects are definitely different. For example, the universal gravitation here is absolutely not the same as in his world, otherwise the flat land would have collapsed long ago.

Given this, he fully believed the description of the mountain root's Di Qi (Earthly Qi) in the Book of Zhu.

Why can a mountain be called a mountain?

What is the difference between a mountain and a pile of dirt and rocks on the ground?

The difference is that a mountain has a foundation. A mountain, simply looking at it, seems like just an upright pile of rocks and earth, but in reality, beneath the mountain, the part buried underground, there is an inverted mountain, even deeper and thicker than the mountain above.

This is the mountain root, the foundation that allows the great mountain to stand for ten thousand years without falling.

If a mountain has no foundation, it will collapse with a push. How can it stand firm?

The nature of the mountain root follows the surrounding terrain.

If the mountain root has a gushing spring forming a stream, that is where water originates, a pattern of water and earth merging.

If the mountain root has a stone skeleton, then trees will be rampant, full of vitality.

If a river erodes the mountain root, then it is an earthen hill without trees or rocks, a small mountain no more than tens of meters high.

It is rumored that there is a mountain in Penglai, whose mountain root naturally forms a jade gate, with a mirage creating a colorful spectacle, transforming into a wonder of the human world, truly marvelous.

These are all manifestations of the mountain root's nature.

And Li Qi, as a Invoker specializing in Di Qi (Earthly Qi), has a unique way of using this mountain root's Di Qi (Earthly Qi).

That is to use it in conjunction with the weather.

The Book of Zhu says: “Di Qi (Earthly Qi) ascends, Heavenly God descends, Yin and Yang rub against each other, heaven and earth surge, sounding with thunder, and stirring with wind and rain!”

Di Qi (Earthly Qi) rises to become clouds, Heavenly God descends to become rain. When clouds and rain combine, thunder is born!

Invoker are known for their combat power.

When Shen Shuibi, that rabbit, met Li Qi, her evaluation was: “He is called Zhu for serving ghosts and gods, protected by ghosts and gods, accompanied by ancestral spirits, and blessed by Heavenly God, Di Qi (Earthly Qi), and all gods of the four directions. His power is terrifying.” (See Chapter 23)

And Shen Shuibi, although it is unknown what Dao she cultivates, it is known that she is a Fifth Rank.

However, Li Qi is still a novice now, with only a few wisps of Qi, not even having a rank.

But this does not mean he cannot use knowledge and planning to try and secure a trump card for himself.

The Azure Dragon Divine Qi given by the Eastern Azure Dragon is a type of Heavenly God, but the Di Qi (Earthly Qi) he sacrifices to, the household gods Shen Tu and Yu Lei, do not give Di Qi (Earthly Qi).

The Five Sacrificial Gods are Di Qi (Earthly Qi), but they grant Divine Qi, not Di Qi (Earthly Qi).

So at this moment, he intends to use his Qi, and the Mountain Spirit's aversion to him, to exchange for a wisp of Di Qi (Earthly Qi).

The sacrificial ceremony was underway.

The Mountain Spirit felt its innate purity being defiled by human Qi.

This greatly angered the originally pure Mountain Spirit, but this trace of defilement was too faint for it, so it easily dispersed Li Qi's Qi and withdrew its power.

And Li Qi felt an indescribable pressure…

The surrounding mountains and forests… seemed not to like him very much?

There was a feeling of being rejected by the entire world.

“No wonder they say this method shouldn’t be used recklessly… This is interfering with this Mountain Spirit’s Dao. If he gets lucky in the future and can transform into a Heavenly God, he might come looking for trouble with me…” Li Qi mocked himself.

If human Qi pollutes a Mountain Spirit, and this Mountain Spirit later becomes a Heavenly God, its Dao will be much more difficult than that of an ordinary Mountain Spirit.

The ignorant Mountain Spirit's current aversion would not have any substantial effect, so Li Qi was not worried. As for the future?

Are you kidding? There are countless mountains and rivers in the world. How many can transform into a Heavenly God?

The lottery has better odds than that.

“I'm ready here… This altar will be placed here.” Li Qi looked up at the altars piled up with stones.

This altar was entirely made of stacked stones. He had even done a stress analysis. Each stone weighed two to three hundred jin, totaling about ten thousand jin, or around ten tons.

It was really not easy to carry them up.

Li Qi finished his task and turned to look at the old horse and Shen Shuibi.

These two non-humans were even worse off than Li Qi. They had already collapsed and fallen asleep. The old horse was half-kneeling, leaning against a tree, while Shen Shuibi was leaning against the old horse. Both were already asleep.

They are truly carefree…

But Li Qi dared not be so carefree.

He wouldn't sleep tonight.

He found a high spot with a panoramic view and sat down.

He continued to read.

It was already 0.8%. With daily diligence and hard study, there would always be收获.

Wasn't today's trump card gained from reading?

Later, he might also be able to speak eloquently like Shen Shuibi, with various allusions and ancient texts flowing effortlessly.

As a former researcher, Li Qi was very clear that “knowledge is power.”

While reading, Li Qi also observed his surroundings distractedly.

However, before he could notice anything unusual in the distance, he first saw Shen Shuibi's ears suddenly pop up from her head.

Those rabbit ears.

So cute.

But before Li Qi could react, Shen Shuibi suddenly opened her eyes, her face full of panic: “Hoofbeats! Something's coming! So many hoofbeats, at least ten!”

Upon hearing this, Li Qi immediately stood up.

Damn it, divination is really accurate.