Chapter 561: Li Qi appears

The sky trembled, and in an instant, all life in the entire world fell into intense pain!

"Is this what I sent you to school for?" A man's voice full of disappointment came.

"You know, she used to like you." A regretful female voice sounded.

"His family is nobility!" Another astonished voice appeared.

"Old wife... it's been fifty years, hasn't it? I'm happy to have loved you in this life." It was an old man's nostalgic voice.

"How could this be!? How could I not have passed!? I clearly tried so hard!" A hysterical female voice.

"Squeak!" The wail of a small beast being hunted.

These sounds began to resonate in everyone's minds, then converged into countless cacophonies.

The history of the entire world, everyone's thoughts, at this moment seemed to produce immense fluctuations; countless voices exploded, the Mortal World was in turmoil, and countless emotions, feelings, thoughts, and sentiments surged forth!

Everyone experienced hallucinations.

All of this was because the Heavenly Dao of this world was forcibly refined by someone in an instant.

The wailing and final struggles of the Heavenly Dao spread throughout the entire world; all life heard such wailing, and everything this world experienced was the Heavenly Dao's last echo, their hallucinations and auditory hallucinations being the 'collective memory' stored by the Heavenly Dao.

But these were meaningless and could not prevent the arrival of that great existence.

With the Heavenly Dao refined, the world barrier directly dissolved under a mighty force.

A terrifying hole, visible to the entire world, split open in the sky.

A hand stretched out from within, a massive hand that seemed capable of crushing the world's continent, effortlessly grasping the Heavenly Dao and Reincarnation branches of this world.

Then, from within Reincarnation, it seized a soul that had not yet departed; this soul had just entered Reincarnation, was still alive, had not yet become a ghost, and had not truly entered the Ghost Gate.

Therefore, as long as one resisted the pull of Reincarnation, one could still live.

This period, Mortals call 'the brink of death,' or 'snatching people from the King of Hell.'

However, in reality, the King of Hell hadn't even reached out yet; though dead, they weren't completely dead, and saving them at this time was what is called 'a trip through the Ghost Gate,' or 'returning to life.'

The Spirit Soul is cast into the body, but because the body has died, the Spirit Soul flies out.

But a dead body is no big deal; just fix it before the Yin Messenger arrives.

Thus, that large hand gently rubbed its fingers together, and a massive amount of rich vitality, almost enough to fill the entire world, burst forth, forcibly bringing the dead body back to life!

Three souls returned to their places, seven spirits entered their orifices.

Perfect and complete, just like when they were born, lively and energetic, without any lingering effects, after all...

Heaven's will had always been watching everything; everything was within calculation, everything was within arrangement.

This was not only Li Shiwei's adventure but also a major test for Li Qi.

Li Qi's major test for himself, testing his strength, wisdom, Heart-Nature, and ability to strategize; only by possessing such abilities could he possibly become a true 'strategist.'

After all, once he participated in the war, his duty would be to be a strategist, responsible for deploying troops, dispatching generals, and engaging in battles of wits with the enemy's sages, striving for the greatest possible victory.

This was not just Li Shiwei's adventure, but also a crucial cultivation for Li Qi.

Fortunately, everything went well; he did successfully act as 'Heaven's will' within a short period and limited scope.

For this seventh-grade world, in nearly three years, Li Qi was more Heavenly Dao than the Heavenly Dao itself.

Even the Heavenly Dao was within his will.

And Li Shiwei also had her own gains.

Through repeated insights and gains, and finally at the brink of death, condensing her life, although she did not find her seventh-grade Dao Foundation, she at least removed the flaws in her Dao Heart.

Compared to the Dao Foundation, Li Qi felt that the Dao Heart was more important.

In fact, two years later, Li Shiwei's self-proclaimed 'ordinary mind' was not ordinary at all.

Her so-called ordinariness was merely no longer distinguishing between high and low, noble and humble, but she still distanced herself, still believing she was a passerby, still feeling she was a separate and special existence.

At first, she thought she was a 'hero'; after being advised by Shi Tou, she thought she was a 'special cultivator'; only after this brush with death did she realize... she was neither a hero nor special.

In reality, in this world, no one is special, nothing is special.

Among the myriad worlds, no matter how special, it's not special; no matter how powerful, it's not powerful.

She was just an ordinary part of the myriad worlds, a very common component of the Universe, no different from other parts.

Li Qi had always had this awareness; he knew that although he was more powerful than most people, he was not more special than most people, but Li Shiwei didn't think so, because she was special from birth.

So she needed experience; only then could she truly have an ordinary mind, recognize her own ordinariness, and recognize the ordinariness of others, ultimately being able to examine all things in the world with an equal gaze, not generating more prejudice due to existing prejudice, thus being unable to see the whole picture.

This situation of prejudice generating more prejudice, leading to arrogance, and finally completely obscuring the Dharma Eye and clouding the Dao Heart, is very common, and many cultivators have fallen victim to it.

Fortunately, Li Shiwei found her way out.

The hand gradually shrunk, and the hole in the sky began to mend.

Then, a figure descended from the sky.

Li Qi descended from above, landing in the center of the battlefield.

The village man's eyes were filled with terror, and his body trembled.

He could risk his life fighting Li Shiwei, but facing the terrifying existence before him that could easily shake the entire world... although his Martial Artist's Heart was still there, his reason told him—

He couldn't win.

It was impossible to win; this was a great existence that could crush the entire world with one hand, an unspeakable, indescribable terrifying Heavenly God; he was grander than all deities, all self-proclaimed gods in this world.

His existence was more powerful than the entire world combined!

"Don't be nervous, relax, you did well, you protected your world, of course... you also paid the corresponding price, but since all of this originated from me, consider it my compensation," Li Qi said, flipping his palm, revealing three true spirits.

These were the three Martial Artists killed by Li Shiwei earlier; Li Qi did not let them enter Reincarnation but collected their true spirits and a portion of their flesh and blood.

For a seventh-grade, this was already enough for resurrection; after all, seventh-grade cultivators could completely resist Reincarnation with their own power, even if they died they wouldn't reincarnate; as long as their Spirit Soul wasn't completely extinguished, they could be reborn as ghost cultivators.

Immortals, if they can't even resist Reincarnation, how can they be immortal?

One must know that a seventh-grade is already considered a true 'God' in many worlds, absolutely a top-tier existence chosen from millions of worlds and endless lives.

Just like Li Qi, seemingly ordinary, but in reality, he is already a very, very high-ranking existence.

Handing out the true spirits, Li Qi then looked at Li Shiwei.

Li Shiwei slowly awoke.

Upon opening her eyes, the first thing she saw was Li Qi, and then the large hole in the sky that was still healing.

She reacted quickly, immediately realizing what had happened, and stood up, wanting to say something.

But after a moment of hesitation, she withdrew those choices and merely bowed her head, calling out: "Father..."

At this sound of "Father," Li Qi's heart melted.

He had prepared many, many lessons, including his advice, criticism, and many things about himself for Li Shiwei.

But at this moment, after nearly twenty years, hearing that timid 'Father' again, he found... indeed, sometimes doting is involuntary.

She had spent almost twenty years outside; twenty years of suffering and hardship, so much so that her voice was hoarse.

When she left, she was a carefree, happy, and innocent young girl.

Now she stood silently, a much more mature and steady young woman than before, nearly forty years old, having lived half a Mortal's life.

Although this time was but a flick of a finger for Immortals, truthfully... Li Qi was only a little over a hundred years old; he wasn't that immortal yet.

These nearly twenty years were not that short for him.

So, in the end, he put his hands down and sighed, "Alas, let's talk about it when we get back. Your mother is waiting for you outside. Are you leaving now?"

"I... give me some time. I'll go find Shi Tou. After I return... I'll have a good talk with Father," Li Shiwei nodded and said.

"Okay." Li Qi did not make things too difficult and let Li Shiwei leave.

Li Shiwei left to find Shi Tou.

Shi Tou was still with Lu De; he seemed to really like this young man.

As for Li Qi, he stood in place, looked at the village man, and said, "The message should have been delivered, right? You should have very costly fast travel technology. Are they coming soon?"

"...Yes, they're coming soon." The village man nodded.

Perhaps by coincidence, before his words even finished, distorted lines of light suddenly flashed around, chaotic light intertwining, followed by over thirty seventh-grade cultivators.

There were sages, emperors, recluses, tyrants, deities, and beasts.

They carried various 'Divine Artifacts,' Spiritual Artifacts that had reached the seventh-grade, and various great killing weapons were in their hands, some even already activated.

This was the entire world's foundation, all its treasures and strong individuals, arriving simultaneously and attacking simultaneously.

The moment they arrived, all the seventh-grade cultivators erupted with intense killing intent!

All the power of a strong seventh-grade world was fully displayed here.

If it were Li Shiwei, she would probably be instantly killed.

However, Li Qi waved his hand and said, "Everyone, sit down."

In a flash.

All spells were deciphered, all Spiritual Artifacts were Sealed, and all cultivation was suppressed.

Silently, the ancient ones of the entire world all became ordinary people.

Then, in the Void Realm, chairs appeared, floating down beneath them.

Their knees buckled, and they all involuntarily sat down on the chairs.

Cold sweat instantly drenched everyone present.

Those with sharp eyes had already noticed how the chairs appeared.

Creation from nothing.

With just a thought, real chairs emerged from nothingness, which sent shivers down the spines of those who noticed.

True creation from nothing?

Or... was it actually something similar to space equipment?

Hopefully, it was the latter.

But Li Qi didn't care what they were thinking and said, "I apologize for disturbing you. Earlier, in an emergency, I needed to cut off Reincarnation here, so I refined the Heavenly Dao of this place."

"However, I will return the Heavenly Dao of this place to its freedom, as the refinement was merely an emergency. As for your world... do you wish to return to your former state, or join a new world? This concerns the fate of your world, and you can consider it carefully."

After speaking, Li Qi did not use words to explain, but gently waved his hand, and behind him, anomalies arose.

Within the anomalies, the future seemed faintly visible.

Li Qi presented a choice to this world as his apology.

To return to their former state, Li Qi would cast this world into a deserted cluster of worlds, letting it continue to drift and develop on its own, with various future scenes constantly appearing, layer upon layer.

If they wished to join a new world, they would enter the 'Merchant Association,' and then, in their eyes, they saw endless races and endless civilizations, and they too would be one of them, joining in an independent and autonomous manner, becoming part of the world cluster.

Two futures were laid before them.

The anomaly disappeared.

The seventh-grade cultivator known as the God Emperor immediately made a decision; the moment he observed, he realized this was an opportunity, and he immediately issued commands, choosing without hesitation to join the new world.

The humanoid creatures on this side immediately joined his faction.

The Beast King on the other side, however, chose to develop on his own. He said, "This is our world; even if it has been disturbed, it should develop on its own."

The God Emperor responded, "If we develop on our own, who knows how long it will take to Breakthrough? Did you see it? Such mighty power can only truly be achieved by engaging with all races!"

After that, a quarrel ensued.

Li Qi remained motionless, sitting in place, waiting for the outcome of their quarrel.

The quarrel eventually escalated into a brawl.

The beasts of this world's Dao of Heaven’s Evolution were the first to attack; they realized one thing—

Li Qi would not interfere, which meant that now was the critical point for deciding the world's fate, but they could not defeat this nearly invincible existence.

However, the other party was clearly waiting for them to decide for themselves.

Since the dispute couldn't be resolved with words, then let the ones standing speak.

Thus, battle erupted.

The high-ranking individuals of this world began to fight among themselves; the ancient ones of the seven nations began a death match under Li Qi's witness.

They were deciding the fate of this world.

And Li Qi watched their battle, somewhat lost in thought.

They were deciding the fate of a world.

How many other worlds were experiencing such struggles?

So, who among them was right?

He didn't know.

Just like Li Qi...

No, just like everyone's Dao path.