Chapter 568: Marriage, and then the first visit to Xinsu

As is well known, although Shen Yijun cultivates the Martial Dao, he is actually related to the Divine Dao.

Just from his name, it can be seen that his surname is 'Shen', a surname that cannot be used casually. Li Qi once mentioned several times that this actually indicates he is a descendant of a Heavenly God.

In other words, he is related to the Divine Dao, so it's not surprising for him to have a Star Officials' Spiritual Artifact.

Moreover, he most likely can't use this Spiritual Artifact, as he is a Martial Artist after all.

Therefore, Li Qi ultimately accepted this set of Spiritual Artifact.

After that, Shen Yijun also received the merchant association's certification, as well as the documents and coordinates Li Qi wrote for him.

He didn't plan to go with Li Qi; instead, he would first go to various places in the East Sea to cash in his foundations and contingency plans, then flee to Li Qi's merchant association.

He would go to Boundless Outer Domain to lay low and recuperate.

After all, he directly dropped in Rank, and it would be very difficult to recover in a short time. Shen Shuibi's recovery after dropping in Rank relied on massive infusions of emperor fluid paste, and the consumption of resources was truly immense.

Shen Yijun would probably also need a large amount of resources to recover, but in Boundless Outer Domain, there's no shortage of that. His original Rank five foundation, Martial Artist's heart, and Martial Dao Divine Intent are all still there. The lost cultivation would likely be recovered in a thousand years, or ten thousand years if conditions were worse.

But... that Patrolling Envoys was truly ruthless, dropping his Rank with a mere raise of a hand...

After Shen Yijun left, Li Qi fished for a few more days. When he was tired of it, he packed up his fishing gear and prepared to go home.

He would go home, wait for Little rabbit (Nickname) to finish her seclusion, hand over Little rabbit (Nickname)'s world to Little rabbit (Nickname), let the biological mother take care of the child, and then he would prepare for the wedding.

After the ceremony was witnessed by both sets of Parents, it would give them a proper status, and then they could proceed to Celestial Dwelling (Xinxiu).

The opportunities of the ancient Star Officials still needed to be seized.

Thinking this, Li Qi returned to Shaman God Mountain within a few days.

A year and a half later, Little rabbit (Nickname), after seven full years of seclusion, finally emerged.

In seven years, she had perfectly completed the entire process of refining the Dragon-Tiger Golden Core.

Taking this item could instantly grant Rank five (limited to Shen Shuibi herself). Of course, Little rabbit (Nickname) was already Rank five, so it had no effect on her.

However, it could be thrown out, and the intertwined Dragon and Phoenix Qi within it would cause Yin and Yang to clash, resulting in an immediate self-detonation.

If it were in Boundless Outer Domain, it could conservatively shatter all objects below Rank five within one or two light-years. Ordinary Rank five would be utterly unable to withstand it. Even a Rank five similar to Little rabbit (Nickname), like Heaven-Devouring Demon Lord, would die within it unless he brought out a corresponding Rank Spiritual Artifact for a mutual destruction.

When Little rabbit (Nickname) emerged from the stone chamber, Li Qi was already waiting outside.

Li Qi stepped forward, getting straight to the point, and said to her as he held her arm, "Yu'er, Empress Luofu has awakened, and she has agreed to our request for a supplementary ceremony."

Shen Shuibi had expected it, but hearing the news confirmed, she couldn't help but be overjoyed: "That's good, that's good! Then without further ado, let's go now!"

"Ah? Aren't you going to rest a bit?" Li Qi asked in surprise.

"This is the best rest," Little rabbit (Nickname) said, pulling Li Qi and leaping directly into the air to find Zhu Fengdan.

Upon arriving at Zhu Fengdan's place, they could see him feeding iron beasts in his great hall.

He had a pile of golden bamboo tied to a fishing rod, using it to tease two Rank five savage beasts rolling on the ground.

These two iron-eating beasts are still here… Is he really raising them as pets?

The pile of ruins behind him… oh no, those piles of Spiritual Artifact, seemed to have grown thicker. He must not have been idle these past few decades.

"Master," Li Qi said, bowing as he landed.

"Greetings, Grand Invoker," Shen Shuibi bowed.

"Ah, ah, I understand what you two mean. I'll be there when the time comes. If I'm not there, just come to my door; I should be sleeping. Alright, don't disturb me. If I'm not happy playing later, watch out, Fatty and Roundy might bite you. I'm telling you, you two might not even be their match." Zhu Fengdan waved his hand, signaling them to leave quickly.

Li Qi glanced at the two iron-eating beasts. The two iron-eating beasts made a 'meow' sound, cutely sticking out their tongues.

They were quite cute, but he definitely couldn't defeat them. These things were vanguards in ancient divine battles.

Li Qi didn't know what to say. He pulled Shen Shuibi, bowed, informed him of the scheduled ceremony location, and then left.

Then they arrived at Mount Luofu's current驻地.

Over the years, Empress Luofu's awakening had completely revitalized this place.

Along the way, they greeted various cultivators of Mount Luofu, and everyone was happy. The people of Mount Luofu were no longer as lifeless as they once were.

Of course, Yang Ning should be busy with the merchant association in Boundless Outer Domain right now, so she wasn't present.

They arrived at Empress Luofu's Immortal Cave, just about to enter.

But here, Shen Shuibi suddenly stopped, pulled Li Qi, and said, "Li Qi... let me be with Niangniang alone for a while."

"Okay." Li Qi naturally knew what she wanted to do and readily agreed.

There was no need to guess.

Because Little rabbit (Nickname)'s eyes had already started to redden.

She didn't want him to see, did she? Unfortunately, she couldn't hold it back.

Li Qi stood at the entrance of the Immortal Cave, watching her enter alone.

He sat outside the door, waiting for the conversation inside to end.

However, at this moment, a green bird suddenly descended from the sky.

It was called a green bird, but it was still underage, likely born in the past decade or so, still a child, with a cultivation just barely at Rank nine.

"Son-in-law, why are you standing outside the Immortal Cave? Aren't you going in to see Niangniang?" The green bird landed on Li Qi's head and said playfully.

These new generation of young people from Mount Luofu all knew that Li Qi was a mild-tempered person, easy to get along with. Although he would occasionally space out, it was said to be an Epiphany.

Of course, it must be a legend. Who could have so many Epiphanies? He probably just liked to space out.

"They're talking inside, so it's not good for me to go in. I'll just stand here for a while~," Li Qi said to the green bird with a smile.

"Oh, oh, I see. By the way, son-in-law, when do you think I can join the merchant association? I'm already Rank nine, pretty amazing, right? Even Master praises me as a Genius. I've always wanted to play in Boundless Outer Domain. Can you write me a recommendation letter?" The green bird spread its wings and said.

"You're only Rank nine, you should still cultivate well. Boundless Outer Domain isn't just exciting, it's very dangerous, and also very boring. A ship can drift for decades at a time, can you stand it?" Li Qi retorted.

"I think I can do it," the green bird said.

"Then go tell your Master. First, stay in seclusion for half a year, then we'll talk." Li Qi brushed his head, and the green bird was forced to fly up.

"If I can stay in seclusion, then son-in-law, you must honor my request!" The green bird chirped loudly after taking off and flew away with a whoosh.

Li Qi shook his head. These children.

Before going out, every single one of them was like this.

Li Shiwei was also like this, but in recent years, Li Qi had truly let Little rabbit (Nickname) grow up on her own.

Anyway, nothing in that world could kill her, so let her properly comprehend the Dao. It had only been a few years.

Thinking this, it wasn't hard to understand why Zhu Fengdan had thrown him into Baiyue back then.

After all, in the eyes of a Great Power, it didn't seem that dangerous, and some setbacks and hardships were all acceptable.

Li Qi just stood there, thinking and greeting passersby.

About two hours later, a voice came from the Immortal Cave: "Li Qi, come in."

Hearing this, he straightened his clothes.

He walked inside.

After that, everything proceeded smoothly.

The ceremony was not grand but kept simple, merely formalizing their status witnessed by both sets of Parents.

There was no need. Why make a big fuss now, creating a lot of fanfare... that would be like loudly announcing to the whole world: "We weren't actually married before, even though we already have a child, it was actually an illicit affair!"

Isn't that ridiculous?

So, they just secretly formalized their status, similar to quietly getting a marriage certificate and meeting the Parents.

From then on, Li Qi and Little rabbit (Nickname) were no longer illegally cohabiting but were a husband and wife with the witness of their elders and a formal ceremony.

Moreover, as is well known, within Shaman Dao, rituals possess special power, which is also the purpose of sacrifices.

This ceremony was presided over by Zhu Fengdan. He tied a red string around Li Qi and Shen Shuibi, then softly chanted a few blessings.

Speaking of which, this was also the duty of a Invoker.

The so-called 'blessing' is actually when a Invoker comes up to offer auspicious blessings, which is why it's called a 'blessing'. And 'curse' is when a Invoker uses words to criticize and insult.

And Zhu Fengdan was a Rank three Grand Invoker. The ceremony he personally presided over genuinely had an effect.

Li Qi clearly felt that their lives were connected.

At that moment, Shen Shuibi also looked up in astonishment. The two looked at each other, then together at Zhu Fengdan.

But Zhu Fengdan merely made a 'be quiet' gesture, telling them not to speak.

Then, Zhu Fengdan continued the ceremony, but Li Qi grew increasingly surprised.

This was a ceremony he had never seen, or even heard of.

Their lives were connected. Li Qi could even feel that if he died but Shen Shuibi didn't, he could be Rebirth by consuming Shen Shuibi's life Origin.

And vice versa.

This would severely weaken the living person, but it wasn't irreversible; it could be replenished with proper recuperation.

This is truly...

Cheating.

Sure enough, Master still cared about him and didn't truly let Shen Shuibi die on the front lines.

But Zhu Fengdan perhaps sensed Li Qi's thoughts, walked over and patted Li Qi's shoulder, saying, "There are ways to sever this connection. Don't trust it too much; carelessness can kill you."

Although Zhu Fengdan said it with a smile, Li Qi felt... he wasn't joking.

So he immediately became serious, bowed, and kept it in mind.

After the ceremony ended, Li Qi took out the world containing his daughter and handed it to Little rabbit (Nickname).

The task of taking care of the child was left to his wife. He was going to Boundless Outer Domain, as an envoy of Shaman God Mountain, to win over the world clusters on the battlefield to his side.

It was time to set off.

— — — — — — — — — — — —

Traveling in Boundless Outer Domain was nothing to Li Qi at this point. Through Star-Mansion Array, he quickly arrived outside Celestial Dwelling (Xinxiu), at the nearest world controlled by Shaman Dao.

This was a Rank five world, named Lingchou Realm.

This was also a typical world named after its own special product, just like the former Earth Oil Realm and Holy Flame World.

Its special product was written in the world's name: it produced a unique type of silk fabric that could be used as raw Materials for Spiritual Artifact such as magical robes and sails, and the local people also made a living by refining such Spiritual Artifact.

Like most Shaman Dao worlds, this place was not a standardized industrial production, but a highly personalized custom industry.

As a Rank five world, this place was no longer a backwater, but truly connected with many other worlds, having trade with numerous world clusters. High-level cultivators there often traveled to other places in the world and Boundless Outer Domain.

Orders from myriad worlds drifted here like snowflakes, then were transported by the world-class merchant ships already established here, ship by ship, to the location of Star-Mansion Array, and then shipped to other places.

Li Qi was currently floating outside Lingchou Realm's world barrier. This place could not be directly entered via Star-Mansion Array; entry required scrutiny by the local inhabitants.

This was also a significant feature of an enlightened world: they had a clear understanding of Boundless Outer Domain and their own world, and they had their own methods to establish their world within Boundless Outer Domain, ensuring they were not easily invaded.

Although, Lingchou Realm had actually long abandoned its own Dao and fully joined Shaman Dao.

Floating in the Void Realm, letting the nothingness and cold of Boundless Outer Domain tear at his body, this no longer had any killing power over him, so he could leisurely gaze into the distance.

"Wow, you can see it even from here," he exclaimed.

Here, there were sixteen entire world clusters. Although he couldn't see those world clusters, he could still detect their gravitational pull.

But none of that was important. What truly made him exclaim was the bright firelight in the distance.

Yes, bright.

As bright as looking at the sun from Earth.

Such bright and radiant light was the wonder of Boundless Outer Domain: the 'Great Fire'.

The Dao foundation of an ancient Star Officials easily illuminated sixteen world clusters.

These were not small world clusters, but ones that spanned tens of thousands of light-years. Sixteen of them, and there were other Void Realm between each, so if you drew a circle to encompass all sixteen world clusters, the diameter of this circle would probably be over five hundred thousand light-years.

However, the light of 'Great Fire' was still clearly visible here.

Tens of thousands of light-years away, radiating across countless worlds.

In Boundless Outer Domain, countless worlds, and the lives within them, when they first Breakthrough their world barrier, were as joyful as fish leaving water for the first time.

A fish leaving water, the first thing it sees when it looks up is the bright sun.

And those located in Celestial Dwelling (Xinxiu), the first thing they saw when they looked up was the Great Fire.

Truly magnificent, worthy of the title 'Wonder of Boundless Outer Domain'.

Boundless Outer Domain not only contains countless worlds but also wonders such as this. The most typical and common is the Guixu, while something like the Great Fire is unique.

After admiring the Great Fire, Li Qi turned and left.

First, he would go to Lingchou Realm to gather some information.