Chapter 515: Housewarming party (Part 2) and settling down

Bo Yue rolled his eyes.

Yan Ke awkwardly coughed twice, then, embracing the beautiful flower spirit beside him, simply took him to admire the illusions Li Qi had set up.

“Oh, here’s something for you. Liu Canzhi and the others still haven’t arrived, but they sent a reply, entrusting me to bring it back,” Bo Yue said, pulling a letter from his pocket.

Li Qi took the letter and nodded slightly: “I understand.”

“Then I’ll head over there and check out the feng shui of your Immortal Cave,” Bo Yue waved his hand and left.

As a Diviner, his duty within Shaman God Mountain was the most relaxed, so he basically had nothing to do. Diviner almost never bore any actual responsibility, but correspondingly, it was also the consensus of the other two factions to seek out a Diviner when faced with indecision.

Meanwhile, Li Qi opened the letter.

The letter read:

“My dear friend Li Qi, seeing this letter is like seeing me.”

“Though only a year has passed, we have come to this separation. However, each person has their own Dao, and I understand this principle, so though I grieve, I bear no resentment.”

“I recall the ancient times when human hearts were Chaos, no different from plants and resembling birds. Later, the Sages guided them with rites and music, and taught them benevolence and righteousness. Only then did the system of benevolence and righteousness become clear and orderly. I never imagined that it would come to the separation of Utmost Person and Shaman, and from then on, we would be on different paths.”

“However, though our Daos differ, our hearts are equally firm. I do not worry about its lowliness, but about the Dao’s lack of steadfastness. If the Dao is not firm, if virtue is not upheld, if faith in the Dao is not steadfast, how can one achieve anything? I truly fear falling from the Sage’s great treasure and disgracing the Great Shaman’s legacy. If actions do not align with the Dao, and words do not align with the Dao, then leaving for Chu and Yue, like casting off worn-out shoes, and not going to Chang’an, is indeed wise.”

“Seeing my friend thus, my heart is both pained and at peace. I only hope that when we meet again in the future, it will not be with blades drawn. The heart of a true friend is entirely within this letter, accompanied by a Shamanic Silkworm Artifact. From now on, though our paths diverge, our hearts remain united. I hope you cherish yourself and do not worry.”

The letter was short. After reading it, Li Qi shook his head and took out the Shamanic Silkworm Artifact from the envelope.

The Shamanic Silkworm Artifact had no sentience, only instinct. This Shamanic Silkworm Artifact was still alive and immediately tried to eat the envelope.

Li Qi reached out, froze the Shamanic Silkworm Artifact, then put it into a deep sleep and tossed it into his mustard seed pouch. The letter was also frozen with it.

Liu Canzhi had already said:

“I do not worry about its lowliness, but about the Dao’s lack of steadfastness. If the Dao is not firm, I truly fear falling from the Sage’s great treasure and disgracing the Great Shaman’s legacy. If actions do not align with the Dao, and words do not align with the Dao, then leaving for Chu and Yue, like casting off worn-out shoes.”

Since that was the case, there was no need for further words.

However, after finishing, Li Qi then realized that Zhong Minglou was standing right beside him.

How could this person be so unnoticeable? Not even True Knowledge detected him!

Li Qi jumped in surprise, hopping back.

“Minglou… what are you doing?” Li Qi quickly asked.

Who would have thought, Zhong Minglou took a step forward and suddenly fell to the ground.

He fell to the ground, his head hitting a stalactite with a thud.

“Ah! Young Master Minglou!” The attendant Young Miss beside him quickly stepped forward to help him up, but saw his forehead bleeding profusely and quickly took out a handkerchief to stop the bleeding.

Li Qi also quickly stepped forward, using a spell to heal Zhong Minglou.

But…

When the spell touched Zhong Minglou’s body, it was repelled by an invisible force. The spell in Li Qi’s hand directly dissipated, but he himself was not affected.

“This is… Dao Resonance?” Li Qi immediately realized what was blocking him.

Fragments of the Great Dao! Also commonly known as Dao Resonance.

Why would it stop me?

However, at this moment, Zhong Minglou had already been skillfully given physical first aid by the attendant Young Miss. He said to the attendant Young Miss: “It’s nothing, I just saw something just now, so I wasn’t paying attention and fell.”

The attendant Young Miss, while complaining, bandaged him up. Clearly, this was not the first time this had happened.

Li Qi, meanwhile, squatted down, looking at Zhong Minglou, waiting for his wound to be treated.

After the treatment, Zhong Minglou propped himself up and then sat in his wheelchair.

“Minglou,” Li Qi called his name.

Zhong Minglou didn’t answer, but shook his head, covering his head which had been injured from the impact, and wrote a character in the air: “Peace of Mind.”

After speaking, he pushed his wheelchair and scurried away, at a speed that even the attendant Young Miss couldn’t keep up with while running.

Li Qi didn’t pursue him. He could tell that Zhong Minglou didn’t dare to stay near him.

As a Diviner, Zhong Minglou must have divined something just now, but he didn’t dare to speak of it, even paying a price on the spot, to the extent that he had to activate his Dao Resonance for protection.

“Peace of Mind…” Li Qi muttered these two words.

Forget it, let it be peace of mind. What else could it be?

Watching the Young Master’s small team go about their respective tasks, Li Qi continued to immerse himself in the process of receiving guests.

After a while, Zhu Fengdan arrived.

Of course, as Li Qi’s Master, he would definitely come, and he also brought along the old Ma who had overeaten that day, dangling him along.

Old Ma was now like a loach, being held in his hand.

“Master,” seeing Zhu Fengdan arrive, Li Qi immediately stepped forward, full of deference.

“Opening an Immortal Cave is a good thing. I was worried you two would stay with me, and I’d have to go out to live at night~.” Zhu Fengdan had no sense of being an elder at all, and just patted Li Qi’s shoulder as he came over.

Then, he continued: “Oh, by the way, I brought your brother over. I saw he didn’t have a name, so I gave him one.”

Upon hearing this, Li Qi’s eyes widened, and he cupped his hands, saying: “Thank you, Master, for bestowing a name!”

“A small matter. He’ll take his own surname, Ma. I named him Ma Ji. Can you guess what it means?” Zhu Fengdan asked.

Li Qi frowned for a few minutes, then cautiously replied: “Ji has the same pronunciation as ‘Ji’ (骥, steed), implying the meaning of a steed. At the same time, Ji (稷) is not the Ji (社稷, state) but the ‘Sun Ji’ (日稷), is that right?”

“Not bad, you’re quite solid in these areas~.” Zhu Fengdan smiled, having nothing but praise for his disciple’s knowledge. He truly was a walking library.

The meaning of ‘steed’ (骥) is not about its strength, but a horse named after a Dragon: a steed is not praised for its strength, but for its virtue, showing the identity of a Dragon Steed, and at the same time, carrying expectations.

The ‘Classic of History’ records: Emperor Yao reigned for seventy years, built altars in Heluo. On the Xin day of the middle month, the rites were complete. When it came to the ‘Sun Ji’, a glorious light emerged from the river, and a Dragon Steed appeared, holding a tablet in its mouth, with red patterns and green colors, approaching the altar and spitting out the tablet diagram. It said: ‘Ji’ (稷), meaning ‘side’ or ‘grain’. The ‘Dragon Steed Ode’ says: ‘Some have extraordinary appearance and exceptional feet, born for sacred virtue.’

Therefore, a steed is not praised for its strength, but for its virtue. The former Human Emperor Yao, because of his sacred virtue, during a sacrifice in the Heluo region, at the time of the ‘Sun Ji’, caused a Dragon Steed to appear, holding a tablet diagram in its mouth, to come and pay respects.

So, Ma Ji takes this meaning.

“Thank you, Master. Old Ma… Ma Ji having this name will make his Dao path much smoother in the future,” Li Qi replied gratefully.

Zhu Fengdan waved his hand casually: “By the way, the time has also been set. The war will begin in a thousand years. As for the front line I’m responsible for, it’s near Celestial Dwelling (Xinxiu), quite far. You’ll know when the time comes. You can stay home for these four or five hundred years, then you’ll have to go near the front line. As a strategist, you’ll be responsible for setting up the front line. Many people will come in that direction then.”

Li Qi nodded in understanding, but at the same time, he was a bit confused, so he asked: “Several hundred years in advance… won’t this really be exposed?”

“Exposed what? You don’t think we can hide it then, do you? Total war begins when the battlefield is set up. The power of humanity is enough to burst out from every corner; there’s nowhere to hide, only head-on confrontation,” Zhu Fengdan said indifferently.

Li Qi was silent.

That was indeed the truth. However, when Humanity, Shaman Dao, and Dao of Heaven’s Evolution were in a three-way struggle, there was no place that could be considered safe, nor any place that could be kept secret.

Shaman Dao has Diviner, Humanity has Heavenly Supervision Bureau, and True Dragons presumably have their own methods. At that time, everyone would essentially be playing with their cards face up. Hiding things could only be done at home, not on the battlefield. No matter what means you used, they might not be exposed during the secret weapon stage, but when you prepared to use them, they would naturally become public.

Such a war, with everyone’s cards face up, was precisely the most dangerous.

But it also tested the skill of each commander more severely.

Those peerless strategists would engage in fierce intellectual combat with all intelligence clear, and their intensity and severity far surpassed the petty cleverness Li Qi and the Demonic Prince displayed during their battle.

The more Li Qi understood the grandeur of this war, the more he felt the weight on his shoulders.

How exactly could he get Shen Shuibi out of danger? Could he truly find loopholes in the plans of those peerless strategists and help Shen Shuibi find a way to survive?

Indeed, to those peerless strategists, Li Qi was merely a small pawn on the battlefield; one of his orders could wipe out millions of pawns. So, what Li Qi had to face was merely an insignificant fraction of their grand wisdom… their attention was focused on the opposing strategists.

But, even a small fraction, could he find it?

However, just as Li Qi was struggling, Zhu Fengdan patted his shoulder. The culprit who had thrown Shen Shuibi onto the front lines said with a smile: “Although I’m very annoyed with Mixin, his advice to you is very correct. Think about it carefully. Your Master, I, will not harm you, but I also won’t spoil you. There will definitely be a way out. This advice is my greatest help to you.”

After speaking, Zhu Fengdan stretched lazily and went to find Granny Mei. It was said that he wanted to have a Parent meeting, and since Empress Luofu wasn’t there, he would find Granny Mei instead.

Li Qi, meanwhile, stood in place and nodded.

This was indeed a great help.

Having a goal means effort is useful. The hardest part isn’t climbing a peak, but being a headless fly. As long as there’s a mountain in front, you just have to climb. What’s truly scary is having no mountain, not even knowing where to exert effort. Zhu Fengdan’s reminder was indeed very important. Master… truly a Master.

Shaking off these distracting thoughts, Li Qi stood still and began to quickly recall.

What had Great Shaman Mi Xin said to him?

He began to delve into his memories, recalling every word the other party had said to him, every detail of every second he had appeared by his side.

Then, he found a sentence.

“Don’t be discouraged. If you want to do something, it’s always best to start now.”

“To cultivate the qualities of a long-lived being, you must also start now. You might think this is asking too much, that it’s an impossible task, but you must know that a so-called impossible grand task is also made up of one manageable small task after another.”

“You must learn to seek answers in your long life, to break down impossible grand goals into achievable small parts, and then complete them little by little.”

“All great achievements are initially built brick by brick. The method to destroy a world group is to destroy one world at a time. The method to cross Boundless Outer Domain is to advance step by step. No matter how grand a thing is, it must ultimately be composed of smaller parts.”

(See Chapter 299)

What if this sentence was understood in reverse?

All great achievements are initially built brick by brick. Then this war is a great undertaking sweeping across all realms, and countless people will be involved.

Therefore, Li Qi and Shen Shuibi are just two bricks within it.

What he needed to do was not to oppose the entire grand undertaking, but to, without affecting the overall grand undertaking, pull out one brick and replace it with another.

Thinking this way, the difficulty of the matter instantly dropped significantly, and it became much more hopeful.

The only question was, where to find a brick that could replace Shen Shuibi?

That was something to consider later. There were still five or six hundred years, which was enough time for Li Qi to slowly work on these things, because Li Qi also remembered that Great Shaman Mi Xin had said another sentence: “Learn patience, learn longevity. Pursuing short-term and quick results is only what children do.”

Li Qi still didn’t have the self-awareness of being a long-lived being. After all, he was only in his thirties. Even if he had the self-awareness, his age didn’t allow him to truly understand what a long-lived being was.

However, now there was enough time.

Let’s set a time: four hundred and fifty years.

Breaking down the task to be completed within four hundred and fifty years would allow him to think and act slowly.

Upon this thought, Li Qi immediately felt much more relaxed.

This way, it’s good.

So, let’s continue receiving guests.

Li Qi continued to host the opening banquet until the very end, when everyone departed, having had their fill of food and drink.

Niu Huang directed the Anomolus Spirits and villagers on the mountain to pack up the remaining trash.

This was both to help Li Qi dispose of the banquet waste and to seize the opportunity to make a profit.

These scraps were trash to Li Qi, but to these people, they were treasures. Taking them back, no matter what they were used for, would be very powerful, even including the broken parts from Li Qi’s illusions.

Li Qi saw off his guests one by one.

Shen Shuibi was by his side, with him, and even accompanied Li Qi in bidding farewell to the people of Mount Luofu.

This action completely signified that her home would no longer be Mount Luofu; Mount Luofu was now her maiden home and Sect.

They waited until everyone had left and everything had been tidied up.

The two closed the door of the Immortal Cave.

They looked at each other.

Green forms a new canopy, red blossoms fill the branches.

Reaching the Milky Way, stars seem to fall, coral adorns with seven treasures.

First, pour Wen Jun’s wine, long ride the clear moonlight.

May I offer the night of the embroidered curtain, on a fragrant orchid mat.