Chapter 577: Winning by Surprise

A small ecosystem was forcibly detonated from the outside!

Envoy Pang's pupils dilated, his expression changed, and he immediately clasped his hands together, his Inner World unfolding!

He was a Cultivator of the Human Dao Legalist school, and the Legalists were best at the Dao of 'rules'. The moment his Inner World opened, the surrounding world instantly became a cage!

"Establish governance here!" As soon as he spoke, the explosion was immediately confined to its original spot!

Governance means rectitude. Rectitude is that by which the destiny of all things is set right. Therefore, the Sage cultivates virtue and establishes the mean to generate rectitude, and clarifies rectitude to govern.

By establishing governance here, he intended to define all things with his own rules. All Spells and all transformations of power had to pass through his eyes, which is called "setting right the destiny of all things."

But are all things truly willing to be set right by you?

The surrounding Spells began to resist!

It was the world itself resisting!

The Inner World from Shaman Dao began to squirm, resisting this external governance and rules!

"A Shaman? Substituting the Heavenly Dao with oneself? Interesting." Envoy Pang immediately recognized the source of this resistance. It must have been sent by that Shaman Dao envoy.

Assassinating himself... that was truly a bold move.

There was just one problem... how was he exposed? The conflict between the two sides was conducted through proxies, and there was no way to track the other party's whereabouts. Envoy Pang himself hadn't found Li Qi, so how did Li Qi find Envoy Pang?

Forget it, ignore these for now.

"The Heavenly Dao is not always timely, the land is not always beneficial, people are not always consistent in their affairs; how can one substitute the Heavenly Dao?" he commented again, then stretched out his hand, and from it emerged a plumb line and a square.

These were his Spiritual Artifacts, the so-called 'level and plumb line'.

Holding the Five Tones in the left hand, grasping the Five Flavors in the right, with a plumb line and a square, amply prepared with rules and axes, achieving Major Achievement in reducing leakage, this is the measure of timely virtue.

It wasn't only Shamanes who could control the timing and advantages of the world.

Then, his Dharma Aspect appeared behind him!

The Dharma Aspect held the level and plumb line, and threw it into the air!

As the rules expanded, birds flew according to the plumb line, not daring to violate its severity.

Heaven and earth contain all things, hence it is called the sack of all things. The meaning of the universe encompasses above to the highest Heaven, below to the springs beneath the earth, and outside beyond the four seas, connecting and enclosing Heaven and earth, making them one bundle!

The Dharma Aspect spoke: "In times of governance, virtue must be affirmed, and righteousness must be clear, so none dare to deviate from customs or rites."

What does it mean to deviate from customs or rites?

It was clearly calling out the Shamanes.

Thus, the Inner World from the Shamanes was forcibly repelled! The Heavenly Dao of Lingchou Realm was regulated by Law, and all Shaman influence was purged.

All of this happened in a flash, in just a few short seconds.

The other team members, Envoy Pang's subordinates, also displayed their Divine Abilities at this moment. Several Dharma Aspects descended, and in an instant, over a dozen Dharma Aspects appeared!

At this moment, Li Qi's voice came from outside: "Such a quick reaction, Pang Shenci, Envoy Pang, right? By the way, can we talk?"

Hearing his name, Envoy Pang frowned, his expression turning grim.

What was going on? Why did the other party know his name, and even find him? What exposed him? Something wasn't right, was it? His actions had always been clean and clear... However, he wasn't afraid of the other party. The previous exchange had already led to a conclusion: the other party couldn't do anything to him, and he and his team also had various backup plans.

Since there was no life-threatening danger, it wouldn't hurt to talk. After all, both sides had been fighting for so many years. Although Envoy Pang felt he had won, the other party indeed had some capabilities.

"Li Qi... right? I wasn't quite sure of your identity, but I didn't expect you to accurately identify me and even find my whereabouts. It seems that while you may not be as good as me at manipulating public opinion, you've won a hand in intelligence." Envoy Pang glanced at the information about Li Qi coming from his terminal.

It was very likely they would fight soon, so he'd better check quickly. Finding the other party's background was relatively simple.

"Why do you think I'm not as good as you at manipulating public opinion?" Li Qi retorted.

Envoy Pang calmly replied: "Does that even need to be said? The war has already brewed. As soon as this civil war starts, public opinion will inevitably fall into the evil ways of the Human Dao, entering an endless cycle of expansion. By then, this place will become a frontline fortress for the Human Dao, even affecting the outcome of this cluster of worlds."

"Although our struggle is insignificant to the entire front, isn't victory determined by such tiny differences?"

From Envoy Pang's perspective, this statement was actually correct.

Celestial Dwelling (Xinxiu) had over a dozen large world clusters, and within those large world clusters, there were many medium and small world clusters.

Lingchou Realm was just the center of a medium-small world. The outcome here was probably like a million-strong army facing off, and suddenly one soldier defected.

Just one soldier, completely unimportant, with almost no impact on victory.

But if this tiny impact happened millions of times, it would be enough to tip the scales of victory.

"Indeed, but you overlooked one thing," Li Qi chuckled.

"What?" Envoy Pang asked.

But Li Qi didn't explain, instead launching an attack the next second!

Envoy Pang frowned and gave a shout, and the entire team mobilized. Nearly twenty people attacked simultaneously; some were responsible for defense, some for counterattack, and some for observing Li Qi's every move and analyzing his every Divine Ability. Li Qi's intelligence also instantly appeared on their terminals.

Everything Li Qi had done during his time at Imperial Academy, all the information the Human Dao had on Li Qi, was now disclosed to this envoy team.

This was Envoy Pang's calm confidence. Li Qi truly couldn't defeat him. Although he didn't know how Li Qi found them, it didn't matter.

Because in Envoy Pang's view, the world situation had already been decided. Li Qi coming to their doorstep was merely a last-ditch effort. If he killed them or forced them to retreat, he could turn the tide.

Unfortunately, appearing alone to attack twenty-odd people of the same rank in the Human Dao within a world—what was he thinking? With their current setup, and being prepared, even the Lingchou Realm Lord could retreat calmly without fear for her life.

For a Sixth Grade Cultivator to dare to do this, besides the explanation of having no other choice, he must have lost his mind.

On Li Qi's side, he simply stretched out his hand lightly, and then his Dharma Aspect unfolded.

Boom!

His Dharma Aspect was not the form that often appeared before; instead, Buddhist Heavens filled the sky, and at the same time... the Heavenly Dao of this world was actually within Li Qi's Dharma Aspect!

"Wait, you can't—"

This was impossible! The other party was only a Sixth Grade Cultivator!

Envoy Pang was experienced; he instantly recognized Li Qi's method!

Li Qi had refined the Heavenly Dao of Lingchou Realm using the Grand Ritual method, and then used the Shaman Dao mountain and water Grand Ritual technique to make the entire world his sacrificial ground!

How was that possible?! To use an entire Fifth Grade world as a sacrificial ground, doing so should only result in his body exploding!

Sixth Grade Cultivators had a limit to what they could withstand.

The Heavenly Dao of a Fifth Grade world contained complex information, storing the records of over ten genuine Fifth Grade beings, plus trillions of lives and billions of years of history, all carried by the Heavenly Dao.

Refining the Heavenly Dao was extremely difficult. Just a few decades ago, when Li Qi first arrived in the outer realms, one could see that the Sixth Grade Lu Mountain God took a full hundred years to slowly refine the Sixth Grade Holy Flame World, and only then did it work.

Refining something of the same grade was already so difficult, let alone transcending grades.

Each grade was like a Heaven!

However, Li Qi had broken through this Heaven, completing the refinement of a Fifth Grade Heavenly Dao in a few years, and doing so silently.

This defied common sense!

Although he knew the Young Masters of Shaman God Mountain were all individuals who defied common sense, this was breaking too much common sense!?

How did he do it!?

In his astonishment, Envoy Pang watched his companions being defeated by Li Qi one after another. Although they were all Sixth Grade Dharma Aspects, several of them were pierced by Li Qi as if they were bubbles.

Several people flew backward. Under the pressure of the Fifth Grade world's Heavenly Dao and the Buddhist Heavens, in just one move, the defensive part of Envoy Pang's team completely collapsed, and those who were counterattacking... their counterattacks hadn't even arrived yet.

Because a Martial Artist had already engaged them in close combat.

A burly, white-haired old man had unknowingly approached these Sixth Grade Human Dao Cultivators.

Li Qi's Inner World was a feint, meant to conceal the Sixth Grade Martial Artist beside him!

He looked very ordinary; his Inner World was dry, operating sluggishly, his Qi and blood withered, and his muscles atrophied.

But when he punched, he was unstoppable.

These were Human Dao elites, refined Sixth Grade Cultivators, any one of whom could sweep through a Sixth Grade world, yet they were helpless against his fists.

They used different Spells. The Human Dao drew upon various characteristics from myriad worlds outside the Domain, possessing an extremely large reserve of high-quality Spells.

They used different Divine Abilities. As the second layer of high-level expression, Divine Abilities were the embodiment of 'Law' in 'Dao, Law, Spell', and the Human Dao certainly wouldn't lack them.

They summoned various Spiritual Artifacts. The low cost of Spiritual Artifacts allowed everyone in the Human Dao to be armed to the teeth.

Dazzling arrays of Divine Abilities and Spells, each capable of making the Lingchou Realm Lord envious, with each person possessing over a dozen Sixth Grade Spiritual Artifacts. So many people simultaneously attacked, attempting to drive away the burly old man.

But... when he punched, there was no particularly terrifying destructive power, no world-shattering effects, no continent-shattering displays, none of that. It was just like a street brawl, one punch, then another punch.

However... one punch, then another punch.

One punch, still one punch.

One punch, one punch, one punch, one punch, one punch.

As if endless, as if it would never stop.

Fast, accurate, ruthless.

Another punch, two teeth flew out, saliva mixed with blood splattered.

Whether it was escape techniques, defensive measures, even the Daoist Golden Light Spell, or the Heavenly Court's protective incantations, so many methods were deployed, yet not a single one could block him.

But he just kept throwing punch after punch, his expression cold, as if he were hitting a sandbag.

With each punch, his Martial Dao Inner Qi would, like a returning void, directly shred these Spells and even Spiritual Artifacts, devouring them into his body.

In just one second of close combat, over a dozen Human Dao Sixth Grade Cultivators were beaten to near death by his fists!

This was the Martial Dao. No matter what Dao Orthodoxy, if one was engaged in close combat by a Martial Artist of the same rank, they would never have a good outcome.

Moreover, this was not the same rank.

The Shen Yijun, once a Fifth Grade Cultivator.

Clearly, Envoy Pang also saw this.

This must be Li Qi's trump card, right?

But thankfully, the situation was still under control.

The Shen Yijun needed one second to break through the entire defensive formation.

And that one second was enough.

Envoy Pang invigorated his Dharma Aspect, tightening the plumb line!

"Sages prevent chaos with arts and skills, artisans correct curves with a plumb line...!" he murmured, then invoked the Sage's venerable name.

Then, a wisp of Fourth Grade aura leaked out.

The Shen Yijun retreated without hesitation, exploding backward!

Li Qi also immediately withdrew, but before leaving, he, at his fastest speed, seized the true spirits of four or five Human Dao Cultivators, but the rest he couldn't get in time.

A huge Domain expanded outwards.

A giant Yellow Bell slowly chimed.

The Yellow Bell is the beginning of pitch. It is said: Yang Qi gathers below, Yin Qi flourishes above, budding beneath the Yellow Springs, hence it is called Yellow Bell.

A magnificent sound of order resonated, an indescribably spectacular light and an ineffable sound echoing beyond the rational dimension formed a barrier that supported a small world.

Harmonious chimes echoed, repelling the chaotic Martial Dao Inner Qi from the Shen Yijun and Li Qi's continuously advancing Shaman Inner World.

Within its faintly glowing area pulsed a powerful, integrated light; colors, sounds, and elements were all affected by it. The Six Pitches, Five Elements, Yin and Yang, and Proper Virtue were all regulated.

"The Qi of Pitch..." Li Qi sighed.

When he saw this, he knew there was no way. After all this preparation, he still couldn't take down the Human Dao envoy. He estimated that the other party would get away completely.

Pitch, or 'Lü', was used to coordinate Yin and Yang and calibrate musical notes.

The 'Lü' in 'Fa Lü' (Law) comes from this.

In ancient times, Cultivators used 'Lü' to determine time because at the winter solstice, when the first Yang is born, as Yang Qi emerges, the ash inside a pipe called the Yellow Bell would spontaneously fly out, simultaneously emitting a "humming" sound. This sound was called Yellow Bell, this time was Zi, and the solar term was winter solstice.

This sound was used to set the tone and also to determine time, to regulate the changes in seasons, hence it was called "Lü Lü Tiao Yang" (adjusting Yang with pitches).

The twelve pipes of Lü were divided into two groups: six Yin and six Yang. The six odd-numbered ones belonged to Yang, called the Six Pitches; the six even-numbered ones belonged to Yin, called the Six Lü. The Lü pipes were nine inches long, their number being nine. Advancing by three means three times nine, yielding 729. Subtracting one multiple gives 364, which roughly corresponds to a year minus one day.

To record the sound of harmony, thereby guiding the Qi of harmony. Clear yet not high, deep yet not low, the eight musical tones are harmonious, and the singer can speak at ease and prolong their words, which is the meaning of harmony.

The other party used the Fourth Grade Qi of Pitch to set the tone for Yin and Yang, completely fixing the timing and advantages of the world, and thereby fixing all things derived from the Yin and Yang Qi!

However, at least he caught a few people.

As Li Qi sighed, Envoy Pang on the other side took a deep breath.

Even now, he was still bewildered.

What... what exactly was going on? What happened? The situation was just looking great, how did it suddenly turn like this?

So, he said: "This time, I've lost. But I dare to ask, how exactly did you manage it, brother? Although this indigenous world is weak, there are not a few discerning individuals among its populace. How did you hide it from everyone's eyes?"

Envoy Pang couldn't figure it out.

Lingchou Realm, as a Fifth Grade world, its 'civilization' could hardly be called a civilization. As a collective, despite not lacking resources, they were still mired in struggles over mere survival interests. Such behavior was no different from a pack of wild beasts.

But this didn't prevent many independently awakened individuals from existing in Lingchou Realm. If these people were willing to break away from civilization, they would still be very formidable.

However, everyone, including Envoy Pang, had not noticed that the Heavenly Dao had been refined!