Chapter 539: Small game

Li Qi suddenly recalled.

Chan Zhi, the monk, had told him about his origins: he was from the Dakini Heaven lineage, under Mahakala. (See Chapter 189 for details)

“Under Mahakala, the lineage comes from Dakini Heaven.” These were Chan Zhi’s exact words.

So, looking at it now—

This person, who claimed to be that dark-skinned monk… what was his name again? Jing Buyan? This Senior Brother of Jing Buyan was also a follower of Tsongkhapa, under Mahakala, and White-Chen Fox King Bodhisattva was also under Mahakala.

Therefore, Chan Zhi was able to Master both the Buddha-Demon Integration of Tsongkhapa and the Heart-Eating method of Dakini Heaven.

And Li Qi, without a doubt, had actually learned a part of Chan Zhi’s Buddha-Dharma and was influenced by him.

Was it because of this that they came looking for him?

Then the other party should know that both Chan Zhi and his Master, Jing Buyan, are dead, right?

Li Qi pondered, then replied, “I have indeed heard of him. I once met Great Master Chan Zhi when I was in Baiyue.”

“Is that so? Are they still alive?” the 5th Grade Lama asked eagerly.

He was truly quite eager, almost unlike the demeanor of a 5th Grade Lama.

But Li Qi frowned at this moment, unsure how to answer.

Say they’re dead? What if a fight breaks out then?

Say they’re not dead? That’s even more ridiculous; the other party definitely knows they’ve been killed.

However, after a few seconds of deliberation, Li Qi decided to tell the truth. But in those few seconds, he also prepared for battle.

The world does not allow 5th Grade Lamas to fight openly, so as long as he could withstand the other 5th Grade Lama’s interference, he would be safe.

So, Li Qi replied, “Of course they are dead. Great Master Chan Zhi and Great Master Jing Buyan have both died.”

As soon as he finished speaking, he saw the monk smile.

Then, Li Qi clearly felt a… force.

Was it a spell?

The opponent’s cultivation was rising! And Li Qi also felt that although he didn’t have True Knowledge Dao Resonance, he still had the Dao Principle Reader. It’s just that the Dao Principle Reader couldn’t see physical existence; it could only be used to perceive pure thoughts and logical things, a kind of specialized sense developed by those on the Spirit Dao for sensing the outside world.

It just so happened that what was taking effect now was not a physical entity!

Li Qi clearly felt a power existing in concept surge towards him!

And the 5th Grade Lama’s cultivation began to rapidly increase; it seemed his Dao Foundation was quickly strengthening.

What’s going on?

But as soon as that thought flashed, Li Qi had a sudden realization!

He understood!

The other party was using his words to nail down Jing Buyan’s coffin!

It was indeed a technique from the Dakini Heaven lineage!

In ancient times, when Dakini Heaven, also known as White-Chen Fox King Bodhisattva, was still in love with the Human Emperor, one of the Three Dukes, the Human Emperor’s Grand Tutor, strongly opposed this relationship. But he was reprimanded by the Human Emperor, so he gouged out his own heart and died. However, though his heart died, he himself did not. He only needed to ask passersby, “What happens if a person has no heart?” As long as he heard “A person without a heart can still live,” he could reverse life and death.

However, Dakini Heaven was already skilled in this method. She possessed the Divine Ability of Autonomy, capable of knowing a person’s death date six months in advance. Therefore, she would preemptively remove and consume their heart, replacing it with something else, allowing them to live without a heart.

So, knowing this method, she transformed and ambushed him in advance, answering, “Of course, a person without a heart cannot live,” thereby completely sealing his fate and causing the Grand Tutor’s immediate death.

Now, it was likely a similar tactic!

Chan Zhi’s Master, the 5th Grade Lama Jing Buyan, who had the Dharma Hall, was probably not completely dead yet. After being cursed to death by Bo Yue’s Dharma Protector, Le Ya, he used a heart replacement method to stay alive, barely clinging to life.

And this 5th Grade Lama in front of him had probably long coveted his Junior Brother’s cultivation and even his entire Physical Body, so he had already taken possession. However, since the other party wasn’t completely dead, he couldn’t completely devour his Junior Brother.

So, he went to great lengths to find Li Qi, using words to induce and trick Li Qi into saying, “They are completely dead.” This kind of statement, like a weasel begging for a title, generated a power that nailed Jing Buyan’s coffin shut, directly devouring him!

The 5th Grade Lama took a deep breath. The rapid advancement in his cultivation made him look much more terrifying. His skin also turned black, and blood and black mist emerged from his back, as if a Demon God was subtly residing within his back.

However, on his back was also a Human Skin Thangka. On the Thangka, the image of the Demon-Subduing Mahakala suddenly opened its eyes. Both hands formed fists, with the index fingers pointing upwards at the chest, turning inwards. Fangs extended, and both hands, from the top sides, pulled the index fingers inwards, with the backs of the fingers facing inwards.

Thus, a fierce radiance erupted, and the black Qi dissipated.

“Ha, so they are already dead. Then I have truly disturbed you, benefactor. Farewell.” The Lama said with a smile, then, taking his disciple, the 6th Grade Lama, he quietly vanished from the spot.

Only Li Qi’s face was not good. He reached out and quietly wiped away the blood from the corner of his mouth.

Because he clearly felt a backlash, a backlash from Jing Buyan before his death.

Was this one of the opponent’s goals?

He immediately sat down cross-legged, not even bothering to find a Dharma Protector, and directly began to regulate the injuries within his body.

Even in a half-dead, weakened state, the backlash from a 5th Grade Lama was not to be underestimated. Since Li Qi had spoken to nail down that coffin, he would certainly have to bear the corresponding price.

The small Universe of his body was in chaos, the injury was not severe, but certainly not light. Intense Demonic Qi had eroded his body, and he needed time to recover.

Li Qi’s injuries were not light and required urgent recovery. And from the look of the 5th Grade Lama, he should have gone far away.

However, Li Qi suddenly opened his eyes and looked into the distance.

In the distance stood a red cockscomb hat.

It was the 6th Grade Lama. The 5th Grade Lama had already gone far, likely not interested in his meager flesh.

“Master has left. He needs to digest Junior Martial Uncle’s things. But… Master told me before he left that you, benefactor, have many Karma,” the Lama said as he walked towards Li Qi.

“Your sect is good at devouring people. What, so many who wanted to devour me along the way have died, and just now you were accusing me of fishing for kills? Now your courage has suddenly grown?” Li Qi stood up and replied with a smile.

“Because, benefactor’s injuries are very severe,” the Lama said, his figure suddenly changing!

A Dharma Form rose behind him, spewing fire, appearing as a terrifying red image, as if the fire of Mars gathered, holding a large Vajra-like halberd in one hand, and forming the Kalpa-paramita mudra with the other, with Void Realm treasure light radiating from his back, seemingly wanting to devour the Demonic Overlord!

No, rather than devouring the Demonic Overlord, it was the Demonic Overlord itself!

The Dharma Form lowered the large Vajra-like halberd, then only changed its index finger, touching the thumb.

This was the Fire God Mudra for dispatching.

A fierce demonic fire rushed towards Li Qi!

However, Li Qi, on the contrary, breathed a sigh of relief.

Demonic fire, this stuff was a specialty of the Demonic Prince. When Li Qi fought the Demonic Prince back then, he was burned quite badly by the Yang Extreme Demonic Fire.

And the demonic fire in front of him was far too inferior.

Facing the raging flames, Li Qi cleared his mind, eliminating distracting thoughts. He saw countless demonic fires rushing towards him, and the Dharma Form’s mudra also changed accordingly, beginning to place the back of the right index finger inside the left index finger. The two seamless thumbs stood straight up, turning once to the right. Thus, a fiery realm was formed.

Flames blazed fiercely with ignorant fire, the Universe dimmed and merged. Around Li Qi, it was as if someone was burning firewood and pouring oil, with smoke and flames rising everywhere.

From within the smoke and fire, countless strange phenomena floated out, bringing countless horrific scenes before Li Qi’s eyes.

His body suffered various torments. It seemed needles pierced his tongue, blood flowing all over his body.

His feet seemed to turn into iron beds and copper pillars, burning through, his skin charred and烂.

Fiery furnaces and giant cauldrons rose around him, boiling Li Qi. He seemed to be in them, his body and head shattered and falling, tumbling with the boiling. Ghosts held forks, leaning by his side, constantly stabbing!

Tongues of fire gnawed at his hundred joints, muscles scattered, blood covered the ground. In the fire, there seemed to be flocks of birds, their beaks like blades, flying very fast, entering Li Qi’s mouth, piercing through and through, his bones shattered.

All sorts of suffering, as if endless pain, enveloped his body and tormented his Spirit Soul.

But Li Qi was not affected in the slightest.

To be honest, this kind of pain-induced illusion was not even close to the Demonic Prince’s demonic fire. The former Li Qi was in such pain from the Demonic Prince’s demonic fire that he even lost the ability to move.

The Demonic Prince didn’t bother with illusions at all. His demonic fire was purely about burning your desires and incinerating your Dao Heart. As long as you had subjective consciousness, you couldn’t escape and were bound to endure it.

And the demonic fire at this moment, although it materialized the various torments of Hell, if you guarded your mind, you would not be affected by it.

Of course, if you didn’t guard it, that’s another story.

However, Li Qi had maintained a clear mind since the beginning, completely ignoring the pain brought by the demonic fire. Thus, the damage was naturally ignored as well.

It was a very strange reaction, but “mind is reality” is a common characteristic of such methods.

“Your Dao Heart is indeed firm, but unfortunately, your body is too heavily injured. I’d like to see how you fight me while resisting the demonic fire. A Shaman… is not good at close combat,” the Lama said, seeing Li Qi resist the demonic fire, somewhat surprised but unconvinced, and thus spoke mockingly.

The demonic fire was his signature technique, and he didn’t expect it to be blocked by this heavily injured Shaman. How hateful…

Never mind, he wouldn’t survive this place anyway.

Li Qi, however, didn’t waste any words. Instead, he slightly stomped his foot, commanding the local Mountain and Water Deities , hoping they would lend him a little power.

He was indeed injured, and close combat at this moment would be quite disadvantageous, so he still needed to borrow the power of the mountains and rivers.

After all, Li Qi was a Invoker of the Di Qi (Earthly Qi) lineage, and this was his specialty.

This action was naturally seen by the Lama opposite him.

The Lama didn’t speak, only revealing a hint of mockery.

Borrowing the Di Qi of the Western Heavens?

Who do you think you are? The Di Qi of the Western Heavens are all enfeoffed by Buddha-Dharma; there are almost no wild gods, all are righteous gods, almost entirely held by perfected Heaven-Human beings. It’s not like Shaman God Mountain or any other wild places!

And on Li Qi’s side, he also simultaneously sensed the local Di Qi’s rejection of him.

The Di Qi here were not naturally existing Di Qi; in fact… those spirits had already dissipated, completely replaced by the Heaven-Human beings of the Buddhist Heavens.

The Di Qi of this place were unwilling to help Li Qi!

This situation… might also occur in human territories. The righteous gods enfeoffed by the human dynasty would certainly not respond to Li Qi.

However… looking at the other party’s smile, Li Qi also smiled.

Then, Li Qi’s Dharma Form suddenly rose!

But at this moment, his Dharma Form was no longer the fragmented form from the Demonic Prince battle; instead, it displayed a great Fusion!

This was the result of Li Qi’s seventy-plus years of effort.

He had already resolved all the hidden injuries and ailments within his body, and greatly stabilized his problem of Dao Path fragmentation, so now his Dharma Form looked very healthy.

Li Qi’s Dharma Form looked exactly like him, but within the Dharma Form, principles flowed. Heaven and Earth operated vigorously, like a constantly moving hub. Countless Dao Orthodoxy circulated throughout the six voids, rising and falling without error, thus able to govern the four seasons and transform all things.

Thus:

Humans are born from it, and within it, the Great Ultimate is contained.

If one knows how to depart from the way of Heaven, they can turn and open and close.

This wondrous realm merges, and all phenomena are complete within me.

Within the Dharma Form, joy is boundless, Qi condenses and spirit transforms. Each step seems to be beyond the six directions, like the majesty of mountains, the flow of rivers. Art merges with spirit, Dharma roams with the Dao, seemingly able to make all mountains and rivers resound!

However, the mountains and rivers did not resound.

Even after Li Qi displayed his Dharma Form, no Di Qi responded.

The charging Lama almost stopped laughing.

This Shaman truly wouldn’t shed tears even when seeing his own coffin.

The attack had already reached Li Qi.

But at this instant, Li Qi’s Dharma Form suddenly reached out, and in its hand, the ‘Buddhist Heavens’ appeared!

First and foremost was Dakini Heaven, with its giant wheel turning, and the Four Greats striking simultaneously!

Then, next to Dakini Heaven, layers of paths descended, developing into the Heaven of Majestic Flame Wheel Light, the Heaven of Purity, the Heaven of Great Autonomy, the Heaven of Wisdom Practice, the Heaven of Wishes, and the Śrīdevī.

Then, more Buddhist Heavens, in front of these Heavens, spread out again, instantly covering the sky.

All you Mountain and Water Deities , are you Heaven-Human beings who have achieved cultivation in Buddha-Dharma?

Then, at this moment, the Buddhist Heavens are here!

Li Qi stood up and recited the true words: “Command all holy beings, empower and protect, make obstacles retreat and flee, light cover the body, majesty be at ease, all dangers be fearless, disasters like water and fire, all calamities, tigers, wolves, lions, swords, staffs, yokes, and such matters, all be extinguished!”

The Buddhist Heavens were here. Li Qi, in front of the other party, once again commanded the Mountain and Water Deities of the Buddhist Kingdom!

Thus, before the other party’s very eyes, Li Qi’s ability as a Invoker was once again brought into play, transforming the sacrifice into a ritual, opening the two thumbs and standing them upright like a wall, imagining the mudra as the shape of a Vajra scepter.

This time, the Mountain and Water Deities of the Buddhist Kingdom no longer held back, moved by Li Qi’s command, they empowered him!

Then, Li Qi directly endured the opponent’s attack. As his body was pierced through, he loudly shouted, “May the Mountain and Water Deities perform the ritual, remove all obstructors! May all demons seeing this mudra retreat and flee!”

Since the other party dared to use demonic fire, a Demonic Dao technique, then they should take a blow from the mudra formed by the Buddhist Heavens!

Li Qi had not wasted his time observing and learning in the Buddhist Heavens these past two years.

With the empowerment of the Western Heavens’ Di Qi within his body, Li Qi, imitating the Demonic Prince’s fighting style, took a direct hit from the opponent. At the same time, he suddenly used a Buddha-Dharma mudra in his palm, striking the Lama’s head with it.

Both sides exchanged injuries!

Li Qi was struck in the heart by the Fire God Mudra in close combat, spitting blood continuously.

However, the Lama’s head was directly shattered by Li Qi, along with his Spirit Soul, both pulverized.