Chapter 588: The Coming of Humanity, the Beginning of the War

Not everyone is the Heaven-Devouring Demon Lord.

Even the Baiyue Kingdom Lords, who are looked down upon in the world, can defeat ninety-nine percent of outer realm fifth-ranks if they go to the outer realms.

However, it requires many Baiyue fifth-ranks to work together to suppress him.

And this is just suppression, because… in fact, all the Baiyue Kingdom Lords combined cannot defeat the Heaven-Devouring Demon Lord.

The Heaven-Devouring Demon Lord is a true Great Power, possessing a top-tier Legacy, entrusted with important tasks by the Demon Dao, and capable of acting as a thorn in Baiyue to trouble Shaman Dao.

As for Shen Shuibi, at that time, she was evenly matched with the Heaven-Devouring Demon Lord, and even managed a slight victory in the end thanks to Li Qi's schemes.

the little rabbit is usually gentle and weak, but she is a genuine second-rank direct descendant, with a legitimate Dao Orthodoxy Legacy.

However, even if the Heaven-Devouring Demon Lord came in person, he wouldn't be able to achieve this battle record.

The only reason for this record is… Shen Shuibi learned a bit.

You see, the the little rabbit used to dislike fighting, and she wasn't good at it. She was a researcher, fond of studying Yin and Yang trigrams and Alchemy, which was natural for her, as there has been a saying of 'Jade Rabbit pounding medicine' since ancient times.

However, in the past hundred years or so, she already knew that she would soon participate in battle.

Even the the little rabbit would feel a sense of urgency. In these years, she prepared many trump cards for herself, even getting ready to self-detonate her Golden Core.

Therefore, regarding combat, she also began her special training, even sparring with Yang Ning many times. Under the special training of the combat expert Yang Ning, the the little rabbit's progress was rapid.

She was already good at learning and thinking, and now she simply applied these qualities to combat.

And now, this is the result of her special training.

An ordinary fifth-rank, if their weakness is seized by her, is not her match in a single move.

Coincidentally, Li Qi is best at finding people's weaknesses, so within a few seconds of meeting, the heads of two fifth-ranks were already severed.

Shadowmoon Cold Tooth realized this point, which is why he fled in a hurry.

Unfortunately, his speed couldn't match Shen Shuibi, and… Li Qi could detect his moving trail, allowing him to track it all the way, making it impossible for him to escape Shen Shuibi no matter how he changed direction.

However—

“Wait… wait for me to catch my breath.” Li Qi clutched his chest, exhausted to death, his eyes bloodshot, and steam constantly rising from his head.

Intervening in and chasing fifth-rank battles was still too much pressure for him.

Although the battle only lasted a few seconds, the information poured into his mind during those few seconds had already burned his brain. He had to temporarily use his Nascent Soul to take over thinking, which allowed him to withstand the information flow that seemed like a galaxy pouring in, and successfully report the weaknesses to Shen Shuibi, helping the the little rabbit instantly find the opponent's weak points and achieve the feat of instantly killing two peers.

Then, he was dazed, repairing his brain while searching for traces, and still hadn't recovered yet.

Shadowmoon Cold Tooth was about to say something, but then he saw the Fairy, elegant and graceful, put a finger to her lips and shush him.

He shivered, stopped his protests, and listened carefully to what she said.

Then he heard the Fairy say: “Don't speak… wait for him to finish.”

Shadowmoon Cold Tooth immediately felt a surge of shame. He, a dignified fifth-rank, waiting for a sixth-rank who looked like a dead dog to speak!?

But for the sake of his life, he suppressed his anger and waited for that sixth-rank to catch his breath.

As for Li Qi, he kept trying to say something, but his brain, which had turned into mush, couldn't support him to continue speaking. If it were during a battle, a seventh-rank coming now might even be able to chop him down.

But thankfully, in this situation, he had plenty of time to adjust.

Soon, about fifteen minutes later, he regenerated a brain, filling the original void, allowing his body's inner world to return to Perfection, and his thinking ability to recover.

“Cough cough.” Li Qi coughed twice dryly, shaking his head: “Um… Shadowmoon Cold Tooth, right? Are you willing to surrender?”

“I am willing! I am willing!” Shadowmoon Cold Tooth immediately said, without any hesitation.

He still had many things he hadn't done, he still had pursuits on his Dao path, he had unfinished business waiting to be completed, he could not die.

As a fifth-rank, life was no longer the focus of his pursuit. If he could instantly complete his entire Dao path and reach the end in an instant, then he could die the next second.

If one hears the Dao in the morning, one can die in the evening.

However, life is a necessary thing for pursuing the Dao. Without life, he cannot continue to move forward.

Therefore, as long as it doesn't violate his Dao Heart, he can compromise on anything.

Unless the other party asked him to do something against his Dao Heart, such as forcing him to immediately enter the Demon Dao, then he would definitely fight with his life, never giving in, and death would not matter.

But if it was just surrendering, and it could save his life, then it was equivalent to preserving the opportunity to pursue the Dao.

Before the Dao, there is nothing that cannot be given up.

Preserving life is for the future pursuit of the Dao.

Giving up life is for upholding the current Dao. These two actions are no different; in the end, they are all for the same purpose.

“Cough cough, since you are willing to surrender, then tell us who your mastermind is? With the courage of just a few of you, you shouldn't dare to do such a thing. What did Humanity promise you that made you willing to hold out here as a thorn?” Li Qi asked.

Shadowmoon Cold Tooth didn't conceal anything. Things had come to this, and there was no hiding it.

He just secretly glanced at Shen Shuibi.

Too strong…

Moreover, she seemed to be from the same family; she was also Moon Essence, but her purity was much higher than his own.

As a demon, Shadowmoon Cold Tooth's name implied that he was also a type of Moon Essence, but he was not a pure Moon Essence of extremely high quality, because there are only two types of pure Moon Essence.

Jade Rabbit, Silver Toad.

However, he was a demon, while she was a Daoist, and… why was she so pure?

The first generation of the world?

Very likely.

There are also differences between Moon Essence and Moon Essence. Moon Essence from a ninth-rank world and Moon Essence from the world are naturally different, and Moon Essence can naturally also bear offspring. There will also be differences between naturally conceived Moon Essence and those bred.

The so-called 'first generation of the world' refers to Moon Essence directly generated by the Tai Yin of the world itself, which is the kind with the best origin.

However, what Shadowmoon Cold Tooth didn't expect was that Shen Shuibi was not the so-called first generation.

She wasn't even generated by the Tai Yin of the world, but something even more terrifying.

She was directly separated from the body of a Great Power, inheriting the Sun-Moon True Lead Cauldron and Empress Luofu's Tai Yin true intent.

A second-rank direct descendant, and one of excellent quality.

If Li Qi hadn't stumbled upon a once-in-a-billion-year opportunity, he probably wouldn't have been able to speak to her in his entire life.

However, there was no need to explain anything to Shadowmoon Cold Tooth; after all, there wouldn't be much interaction.

And Shadowmoon Cold Tooth only took one glance before beginning to reveal their plan completely.

Initially, Wang Wu noticed the departure of Humanity and the news of Shaman Dao's expansion.

Then, he keenly felt that this was an opportunity, a huge opportunity, one that might even help Bin Kuang and him truly join Humanity.

So he planned these things, intending to use this matter to claim credit from Humanity later.

After hearing all this, Li Qi was astonished.

“No, you guys… no wonder you were expelled by Humanity,” Li Qi said, putting a hand to his forehead and sighing after listening.

Shen Shuibi also shook her head slightly.

How did this level of decision-making ability cultivate to the fifth-rank?

Shadowmoon Cold Tooth looked at Li Qi and Shen Shuibi's expressions, somewhat puzzled: “Is there… any problem with this?”

“By doing this, you will not receive any rewards, nor will you be accepted by Humanity,” Li Qi said: “Because you simply don't understand the arrogance of Humanity. They call themselves 'orthodox' and 'Supreme' throughout the world, denouncing all other eight directions as barbarian lands. What kind of mentality is that?”

“If Humanity voluntarily withdraws from here, then they will not leave any nails. If they intended to come in, Envoy Pang would have already laid out plans on you from the beginning. Although Tang Nation is domineering and unreasonable, it has always been grand and upright, never breaking its promises. If Envoy Pang says they will leave, they will definitely leave cleanly,” Li Qi said.

Tang Nation was domineering, but at the same time, when facing difficulties and challenges, they would only confront them head-on, and would not resort to underhanded tricks. Even the Military School of Thought, who liked 'deceit in warfare', and the School of Names, who always 'confused black and white', might use schemes against enemies, but once they truly promised to leave, they would definitely not leave a single one behind.

To try and gain Humanity's approval in this way was truly wishful thinking.

With this mentality, it would be a miracle if they weren't expelled.

“Besides those few world clusters you're holding onto, you must have also secretly planted nails and spies in other worlds as scouts. Save yourselves the trouble; even if Humanity comes, they won't accept the help offered by these spies,” Li Qi said, shaking his head.

“That's it then. I thought you had received a promise from Humanity, but it turns out you voluntarily led the way for them… Truly—a waste of time.” Li Qi shook his head.

If that was all it was, then there really was no need to be so tangled before the war, even inviting Shen Shuibi…

So, no longer bothering with the other party, Li Qi and Shen Shuibi turned and left.

Only Shadowmoon Cold Tooth stared blankly at the departing Shaman Dao envoy. At this moment, he must have already guessed Li Qi's identity.

However, he still couldn't figure out why the other party would think he was foolish, or even a waste of time.

No matter how he thought about it, planting a nail here was beneficial and harmless to Humanity. Why wouldn't they accept him? This was a matter of interest!

Not eating the meat placed before their mouths, but insisting on clashing head-on with Shaman Dao? What was the point of incurring so many more casualties?

Moreover, let alone Humanity, even the Shaman Dao envoy was certain that Humanity would definitely do this, without even a hint of doubt.

Then weren't they afraid that Humanity would suddenly change its strategy and deliver a heavy blow to Shaman Dao?

Were the thought processes of these great Dao Orthodoxy truly different from theirs? This clearly shouldn't go against Humanity's bottom line. The Humanity he understood would use schemes, and not just schemes; they had often acted as behind-the-scenes manipulators.

Why would Humanity do this themselves, but now act high and mighty and refuse to accept theirs? And even Shaman Dao acknowledged this point.

Could it be… that his understanding of Humanity was mistaken?

Shadowmoon Cold Tooth fell into self-doubt.

But Li Qi ignored him.

The last obstacle in the world cluster had been cleared. He had thought the other party knew something, but it turned out they knew nothing. They were just voluntarily working for Humanity, who probably didn't even know about it themselves.

Then it didn't matter. Under the grand trend, they couldn't stir up any waves.

Li Qi and the the little rabbit left here.

After that, it was business as usual.

Because they had already done everything they could, all that was left was continuous learning, consolidation, and quietly waiting for the war to arrive.

To be honest, at first, Li Qi was a little nervous.

Waiting is the most agonizing thing, especially when you know you are waiting for something that could cost you your life.

A terminally ill patient, on the eve of a high-risk surgery, would surely feel time pass exceptionally slowly that night.

However, thankfully, the the little rabbit was by his side, so he truly calmed his mind.

This time, the two did not separate again, but prepared to quietly wait for three or four hundred years to pass, until the day the war began.

Many things happened in between.

For example, his daughter returned many times. About twenty years after Li Qi and the the little rabbit settled down, Li Shiwei returned.

She was already a seventh-rank, having attained longevity, with a firm Dao Heart and clear mind, much better than before. Even the stone hanging on her was already seventh-rank.

She also heard about Zhang You's matter, but it was a pity; the outer realm was so vast, and she didn't know where to find her good friend to explain.

Li Qi was very happy and celebrated properly for her.

Li Shiwei stayed at home for a good period this time, and was well-taught in magic and Divine Ability by Li Qi and Shen Shuibi, significantly increasing her combat power. Shen Shuibi was still uneasy and even prepared a set of divine talismans for her as a trump card.

Li Shiwei originally didn't want it, but unfortunately, a mother's love was irresistible, and she finally accepted it.

Li Qi, on the other hand, was too lazy to do all that. He just smiled, and like Zhu Fengdan back then, personally wrote a book consisting of six hundred thousand spells, condensing it into a Divine Will Legacy, letting her learn it herself.

Back then, Zhu Fengdan told Li Qi to learn it himself, and then he walked from Baiyue back to Shaman God Mountain. Li Qi still felt he was very irresponsible.

Only now did he realize that writing such a step-by-step spell manual specifically for someone was actually quite difficult; at the very least, it required a complete understanding of the other person to do so.

Many times, only when one grows up can one understand the painstaking efforts of teachers.

After that, Li Shiwei began her cycle, going out for decades, then returning home to stay for a few years, always bringing new experiences and progress.

And Li Qi and Shen Shuibi would occasionally stay in the world for a period, and then go to Celestial Dwelling (Xinxiu) for a period, building the super array of the world cluster, improving their cultivation, and learning magic.

Loving couple, sensible child, harmonious family, what a good life.

But Zhu Fengdan never reappeared. Li Qi guessed… he might have gone to deal with important matters.

After all, war was about to begin.

Such days passed for over four hundred years.

One day at noon, Li Qi and Shen Shuibi suddenly stood up sharply.

The next moment, all the heavens and myriad worlds vibrated in unison!

The stars in the sky were torn apart! A magnificent sound of rhythm resounded!