Chapter 514: Housewarming party (Part 1)

The invitations were sent out.

About a month later, the banquet officially began.

All the relatives and friends naturally arrived, and many Daoists from Mount Luofu came, looking at Li Qi with somewhat complex expressions.

However, those Daoists who had previously cooperated with Li Qi in handling the Holy Flame World's affairs were constantly explaining to them that this was not a political marriage, but a true union of hearts.

Whether they believed it or not was another matter, but these Daoists clearly had no intention of causing trouble; they sat steadily and even formed groups to toast Li Qi.

Li Qi, naturally, was very solemn, accepting all toasts, and it could be considered that they got along peacefully.

However, some who had worked with Li Qi were very emotional, saying things like, “So this day has come,” as they bid farewell to Shen Shuibi.

For them, this meant that Shen Shuibi had officially left Mount Luofu; from now on, Mount Luofu would be her maiden home, her Sect, but not her 'home'.

Shen Shuibi's 'home' had moved to this Immortal Cave at this very moment.

However, Shen Shuibi did not feel any regret; she wasn't dead, she could go back anytime she wanted, it was really no big deal.

After that, Yang Ning also arrived.

As soon as she arrived, she pulled Li Qi to a secluded area in the back; everyone else wanted to follow, but Shen Shuibi stopped them.

Hmm… Li Qi shouldn't get beaten, right??

Once they were in the back, Li Qi looked at Yang Ning and, being sensible, did not speak first.

Speaking now would probably cause problems.

The essence of the sun makes one hot-tempered.

However, to his surprise, Yang Ning did not make any extreme moves, but instead said to Li Qi in a very ordinary tone, “The location you chose is good; Cultivating here should not be slow, and the foundation is deep, so there’s no fear of it being depleted.”

“Still, it needs to be restrained; the extraction of Qi needs to be moderate, otherwise it might break the balanced cycle and affect the stability of the Great Source,” Li Qi replied casually, pondering what Yang Ning wanted to say.

“I know, it harms the Heavenly Dao, Mount Luofu also knows this, otherwise our Sect's mountain gate would have been depleted long ago; we also understand the Dao of natural, and the Dao Ancestor once said 'Dao follows natural', so of course we understand the importance of maintaining the Great Source,” Yang Ning found a place to sit down.

With these two sentences of dialogue, Li Qi understood.

She seemed to want to say something, but didn't know what to say, yet her personality wasn't one to hesitate, so she pulled him over, but after pulling him over, she found she really couldn't speak, so she started making small talk.

There were a few more casual remarks.

Li Qi responded, but saw that the other party didn't seem to have any intention of leaving.

So, Li Qi thought for a moment, then stepped forward and said, “Don’t worry.”

Yang Ning heard this, her expression was startled for a moment, then she reached out and grabbed Li Qi’s collar, clutching it tightly, and said in a low voice, “How can I not worry? I heard her say that war will break out in no more than a thousand years.”

“What if war breaks out?” Li Qi asked.

Yang Ning didn't answer; of course she knew this.

What if war breaks out? Could she stop it?

This war would involve multiple Shaman God, and even the Human Emperor might personally take action. The Sun-Moon Orbit is of great importance, even among First Grade items, it can be considered High Grade.

Ascending through the Great Dao opportunity of the Sun-Moon Orbit, the operation of all heavens would be within one's grasp, and one could even influence the Star Officials and establish a connection with the Four Symbols.

Under such circumstances, what else could they do? What could they do?

So Yang Ning also couldn't speak, because she herself couldn't escape.

However, Li Qi grabbed her hand and pried open her fingers, one by one, from his collar.

Yang Ning was surprised to find that Li Qi's Cultivation was already sufficient to interfere with her Physical Body, even to pry open her fingers.

At this moment, Li Qi repeated, “Don’t worry.”

After he finished speaking, silence fell between them again.

Yang Ning's hair turned from black to golden-red, then gradually ignited, and then slowly calmed down.

Finally, she flung her hand and walked out, leaving only one sentence: “Then I’ll trust you for now, but if something happens…”

She choked up at this point.

If something happened, then what?

Would she still be in the mood to settle scores with Li Qi then?

Thinking of this, she simply stopped speaking and walked out with her head down.

Li Qi shook his head.

He had said 'Don't worry' twice.

But, was he at ease himself?

Hard to say, hard to say.

However, he would do his best.

After seeing Yang Ning off, Li Qi was about to leave when he saw another person enter.

A woman who looked about forty or fifty years old, no longer young, but still very charming.

Li Qi, of course, knew who this was.

Granny Mei, the only remaining Fourth Grade of Mount Luofu.

“Granny Mei,” Li Qi immediately stepped forward and bowed.

In front of an Elder, etiquette must not be lost.

“Li Qi, ah, the last time I saw you, you were only Eighth Grade,” Granny Mei said, looking at Li Qi.

“Yes, I was young then,” Li Qi responded with a smile.

“You are still very young now; it’s only been a few years since then, which is but a blink of an eye for me, yet you are already Sixth Grade,” Granny Mei said, looking at Li Qi, her eyes filled with… inexpressible emotions.

He didn't know if it was admiration, or fear, or perhaps… worry?

“Progressing too quickly, with an unstable foundation, I've made Granny Mei laugh,” Li Qi immediately lowered his head.

“Some people can’t even achieve an unstable foundation, ah. Cultivating for less than ten years and already Sixth Grade, it would scare a lot of people to death if word got out,” Granny Mei sighed.

“Many Children of Destiny can also do it,” Li Qi immediately replied.

“Yes, Children of Destiny can also do it, but the Dao path of Children of Destiny is inherently restricted; they cannot transcend the grade of the world itself,” Granny Mei said.

“It's not impossible, just very difficult; they need to make up for what they haven't paid a thousand or even ten thousand times over, just like me,” Li Qi laughed.

Yes, the current Li Qi, forcibly elevated to Sixth Grade by a Third Grade head, is like a Child of Destiny being forcibly promoted by the Heavenly Dao of the world, and he will have to repay it all in the future.

A Fifth Grade Child of Destiny, wanting to Breakthrough Fifth Grade, needs to put in a thousand times more effort than a normal person Cultivating from scratch to Fifth Grade to possibly achieve it.

Li Qi was also like this.

Granny Mei waved her hand: “It’s different. Your debt will only be repaid when you reach Third Grade, while a Child of Destiny has to repay it on the spot. The efficiency difference is huge.”

When Li Qi reaches Third Grade, he will repay the Sixth Grade debt; although it's a thousand or ten thousand times, there is still a chance.

But Children of Destiny repay a Fifth Grade debt at Fifth Grade; let alone ten thousand times, they might not even be able to repay it once, which is why it is said that Children of Destiny cannot transcend the world itself.

However, Li Qi couldn't quite understand why Granny Mei would tell him these things. He didn't understand the meaning of these conversations; was Granny Mei trying to… warn him about something?

Li Qi was puzzled, but he didn't want to guess blindly, so he simply asked, “Granny Mei, is there any deeper meaning in what you're telling me…?”

“Deeper meaning? Why should there be a deeper meaning in speaking?” Granny Mei was puzzled.

However, being a Fourth Grade powerhouse, she immediately realized Li Qi's concern.

So, the old woman reached out and stroked Li Qi's head.

Li Qi was a little unaccustomed; after all, hardly anyone had ever stroked his head before. When Zhu Fengdan stroked his head, it was most likely because she was about to beat him.

However, the other party was a kind Elder, so Li Qi did not react in any special way.

Granny Mei said, “Progressing too quickly, others might only see envy, but… this speed, one certainly can’t achieve it through self-Cultivation. You must have seen many things you shouldn't have, right? And the reason they approach you is because they want something from you.”

Li Qi remained silent.

“Don’t worry, what do you think I would want from you? Not everyone who talks to you has a deeper meaning. Take a good rest; the time ahead might be the calmest period of your life.” After Granny Mei finished speaking, she looked at Li Qi with eyes that seemed to hold both pity and regret, then stood up and left.

Only then did Li Qi realize.

Just as the other party said, she really was just like an ordinary Elder, coming over to chat simply, perhaps talk about everyday things, or ask about Shen Shuibi's situation.

However, after Li Qi said that sentence, she gave up on that idea and left instead.

Li Qi stood rooted to the spot, and after a long while, he sighed.

That's right, in this world… there are people who would do that. Sometimes, not every word has a deeper meaning.

It has to be said, this feeling was quite good.

Thinking of this, Li Qi's mood also brightened a little, and he continued to go out and greet guests with Shen Shuibi.

Before long, the spiritual creatures from the mountain, as well as the villagers from the village below, and the Anomolus Spirits from various monster lairs all arrived.

They were all trembling, looking at the important figures beside them.

There were people from Shaman God Mountain and Mount Luofu, with Fifth Grade and Sixth Grade experts everywhere. Even Niu Huang, the highest Cultivation among them, was scared stiff, having to keep his head down when walking.

Fortunately, no one thought these little Anomolus Spirits were noisy; in fact, no one noticed them at all. Many younglings, like little mice and weasels, ran around, rolling in the floating delicacies and eating wildly, then being pulled down by the Elders of their clan.

It was clear that the old mice and weasels wanted to beat these little brats soundly, but since they were still at the banquet, they were afraid their crying would disturb the important figures, so they just glared at them fiercely without striking.

Since they weren't beaten, the little ones naturally weren't afraid. Although they reined themselves in a bit, they still played with each other, giggling and running around, and some of the bolder ones even greeted the skylarks from Mount Luofu.

Although most of Mount Luofu's welcoming skylarks had already entered the ranks and had higher Cultivation than those weasel Elders, they were usually of lower seniority and younger in age, also having a childlike nature. They truly blended in with these little brats, disregarding their status and Cultivation. A bunch of little skylarks and little mice mixed together, flying and scurrying around the hall, their laughter echoing everywhere.

The people of Mount Luofu smiled knowingly, but the mouse Elders and the like were so scared they couldn't stand still. It was only after the Mountain God Niu Huang persuaded them that they didn't rush to discipline the children, but let them play.

As for the adults, they seemed to be infected by the constant giggling and laughter, and the banquet became much more lively.

Li Qi greeted guests, toasting everywhere, welcoming new arrivals.

Soon after, Bo Yue and the others also arrived.

Bo Yue, Yan Ke, Zhong Minglou, these three also arrived here, but… they were still Eighth Grade and had not Breakthroughed.

Not everyone can rapidly ascend two grades in a few years; they still needed to accumulate and then steadily Breakthrough to Seventh Grade.

“Damn it, Sixth Grade! You really are a monster, ah.” Bo Yue punched Li Qi on the shoulder: “How did you Breakthrough? You didn’t let your Master anoint you, did you?”

The speaker had no ill intention, but he really hit the mark. Li Qi smiled bitterly: “Alas, don't mention it. Do you think I wanted to? But looking at you, your foundation is already solid. Why haven't you started to Breakthrough?”

Yan Ke brushed his hair, exuding his handsomeness, and laughed: “He was planning to settle for a hundred years before talking about Seventh Grade, but a few days ago, he just broke the lottery mechanism in Chang'an, which counts as accumulating a sum. This kid was overjoyed, but the next day they changed the system again, and he hasn't broken it yet, so he plans to deal with that first.”

Bo Yue was also a top Genius, and his studies in Chang'an had also brought him many gains. Now, he also seemed to have hopes of reaching Seventh Grade.

However, he was different from Li Qi. Li Qi was always being chased and urged to Breakthrough, while Bo Yue had enough time to slowly consolidate his accumulation, waiting until everything was foolproof before Breakthrough.

However, this was actually a manifestation of the gap.

If Bo Yue were to Breakthrough now, although he could reach Seventh Grade, it would diminish his potential, and he would never do such a thing, so he preferred to be slower.

But when Li Qi Breakthrough from Eighth Grade to Seventh Grade, although he was forced to, he had actually accumulated enough, which was also the reason for others' astonishment.

However, when he ascended to Sixth Grade, it was like being forced into a situation; there was no other way, if he didn't Breakthrough, he would be killed by the Demonic Prince.

The three Young Masters chatted happily. Yan Ke even brought a female companion whom Li Qi didn't know, but she was said to be a minor Flower God. However, Zhong Minglou beside them remained silent.

Everyone was used to it; Zhong Minglou was naturally a quiet person, so no one found it strange.

And beside him stood a caregiver, the ordinary person Li Qi had hired for him. Now she was also scared stiff, just pushing Zhong Minglou's wheelchair, nervously looking around.

Everything in this vicinity was something she had never seen before—Demon Gods and Anomolus Spirits. She had been told about them when she arrived, but no one told her that in Shaman God Mountain's territory, even mice could talk!

Mice talking was one thing; it was normal for monsters to talk, but just now that Divine Ox carried a stone over, and that stone could talk too!

It was truly bewildering.

The Young Master's squad chatted for a while and were about to disperse, some to eat, some to greet guests, but at this moment, Zhong Minglou suddenly coughed dryly.

The other three immediately fell silent, their ears perked up.

When the fortune-teller spoke, they had to listen carefully.

After Zhong Minglou coughed, he remained silent for a while.

The others also waited patiently.

However, after about two or three minutes, Yan Ke couldn't hold back: “Minglou, what do you want to say?”

“Ah? I don’t have anything to say,” Zhong Minglou replied, puzzled.

“Then why did you cough?”

“My throat was itchy.”