Chapter 623: Seeing Lao Ma again

After that, Li Qi and Shen Shuibi chatted about some more domestic topics.

They were all intimate conversations between husband and wife, not meant for outsiders.

After a short two or three days of rest, Li Qi finally recovered. After all, he had ample resources, and the blood Qi contamination had not lasted too long, so it was not difficult to repair.

There was also the ethereal nature of Karma, which was not something that could be resolved in a day or two. It would take time, and Li Qi would not be able to use it again anyway. It should recover in a few hundred years.

During this period, the front lines also stabilized.

Humanity slowly contracted, and Shaman Dao slowly advanced, but after this bloody battle, neither side possessed the strength for a decisive battle in the short term.

However, there were advantages to having more people.

Although the overall quality of Shaman Dao varied, they had enough people to rotate shifts.

Humanity, by contracting its overall front line, had fewer areas to defend, and could also barely rotate shifts, allowing for rest periods by working two shifts.

But rather than calling this 'rest,' it was more like 'catching a breath,' to avoid being exhausted to death, as the mental pressure remained extremely immense.

In contrast, the soldiers of Shaman Dao were much more comfortable; their rotation periods were extremely long, and after one garrison, it might be two or three years before their next turn.

After all, the front line was so vast that it couldn't accommodate more people.

In short, both sides were temporarily at a stalemate.

Li Qi also knew that Humanity's contraction must be in anticipation of an opportunity; they definitely had a trump card, and it might even be… Liu Junyi himself.

Once Liu Junyi Breaks Through to Fifth Rank, according to Zhu Fengdan, he could single-handedly gather half the combat power of Li Qi's battle zone into a ball and eliminate it.

There might be some exaggeration, but what if there wasn't?

Therefore, it was necessary to speed up as much as possible, but currently, speed was not feasible, so they should continue to wear down the opponent.

When Humanity was exhausted and reached its limit, that would be the time for a general offensive.

Having formulated the strategy, Li Qi began practical operations.

And Shen Shuibi also left again.

Her injuries had not yet healed, and she needed good recuperation.

First, her body. With a complete Yang Spirit, it was not difficult to reshape her body based on that foundation, but it would take some time to nurture it back to its original strength and fully integrate it with her Spirit Soul.

Her Inner World was also riddled with holes, but fortunately, it remained intact and had not shattered, so it only needed slow nurturing.

Anyway, she didn't drop in Rank this time, which was much better than when she was fleeing.

If there was emperor fluid paste from the demon race, a small bottle would probably be enough for complete recovery, but unfortunately, Li Qi didn't have that.

So, she could only recuperate slowly.

Shen Shuibi went to recover, while Li Qi continued to command the war.

Such peace… it didn't seem so peaceful after all. The war continued, and over a billion people still died every day.

Yes, every day.

But compared to the previous great battle, when Fifth Ranks fell in droves, it was indeed considered peaceful.

Two or three months passed in this manner—

At this time, Li Qi, who was presiding over the Formation and directing troop movements, suddenly received a strange message.

A Realm Master directly reported to him that a Dragon Steed practicing demon race techniques sought an audience. He called himself 'Ma Ji,' claimed to be Li Qi's brother, and even presented proof.

This made Li Qi stunned for a moment.

To be honest, he hadn't heard that name in over four hundred years, and even the memories associated with that name had become somewhat blurry.

At the beginning of his Cultivation, there was indeed a Dragon Steed who often accompanied him, calling him brother.

However, their Daos were different, and for the sake of the Dragon Steed, he sent him to the Outer Domain, forcing him to attain Immortality.

But after sending him to the Outer Domain, Li Qi never saw Ma Ji again.

Now, over four hundred years had passed.

For Li Qi, this was probably like… a thirty-something-year-old man entering middle age, suddenly having a friend from kindergarten show up at his door.

This truly was…

Nostalgic.

Four hundred years, thinking about it, was probably the Lifespan limit for a Dragon Steed, wasn't it?

Without attaining Immortality, even a Dragon Steed could only live for a few hundred years. Of course, this was already very long.

Compared to the insect demon race who lived from dawn till dusk, Dragon Steeds were already considered exceptionally blessed and naturally gifted.

But it wasn't necessarily the Lifespan limit; perhaps Ma Ji had attained Immortality?

Thinking this, Li Qi decisively ordered the Dragon Steed to be sent to his command world.

A few days later, Ma Ji arrived.

An extremely aged Dragon Steed, led by a striding Seventh Rank, was rewarded to this place through the Star-Mansion Array.

The Seventh Rank, seeing Li Qi, immediately bowed respectfully and said, “Commander, Ma Ji has been brought.”

His eyes were filled with admiration and reverence.

This ordinary-looking man before him was the commander of this war zone.

A direct descendant of Shaman God Mountain, with a wave of his hand, billions of worlds would be at his command, and countless Fifth Ranks would die for him.

To be honest, even though he had attained Immortality and lived for over two thousand years, witnessing countless imaginations and great deeds, this man before him was still the 'pinnacle of power' that he could comprehend.

His imagination could not support him in imagining a greater existence, even though he knew Shaman God Mountain always spoke of existences like Shaman God and Grand Invoker.

However, he couldn't even imagine or comprehend what state the Shaman God and Grand Invoker were in.

It was like a Cthulhu Outer God; you could describe a Cthulhu Outer God, but could you truly imagine what Cthulhu looked like?

You might say a bunch of words like 'infinite,' 'mental pollution,' 'ancient god's body,' but could you truly understand? You merely spoke them, but you were completely unable to imagine what that sight would truly be like.

Therefore, for a Seventh Rank, Li Qi's current position was the most exalted position in the mortal world that he could imagine and comprehend.

Hence, he couldn't help but be respectful. Just standing before Li Qi, the Seventh Rank immediately became deferential.

However, at this moment, he saw Ma Ji, whom he had brought.

Ma Ji had already Cultivated into a human form, appearing as an old man, but at this moment, he seemed slightly lost, with no respectful expression on his face, only a complex look.

This immediately angered the Seventh Rank who had brought him.

Just an Eighth Rank demon race, daring to be disrespectful to the Invoker before him?!

But before his anger could fully erupt, he saw the Invoker suddenly rise.

This was very rare. In his impression, the Invoker was always immersed in the Formation, surrounded by its aura, never leaving, always directing the wars of countless worlds under the Formation's guidance.

But at this moment, he actually came out of the center of the Formation?

This made him忍不住 to size up Ma Ji.

At this moment, he heard Li Qi say, “Step back. I want to talk to him alone.”

The Seventh Rank heard this, put away his emotions, bowed again, and left through the Star-Mansion Array nearby.

After Li Qi watched the other party leave, he looked at old Ma.

As a demon race, he had also learned illusions and could transform himself into human form, but… he was extremely old.

What a terribly aged face that was.

Age spots covered his entire face, his hair was not the snow-white of an immortal but the decaying gray of old age, his back was not hunched, for he was a Cultivator, but his Qi and blood had withered, and his heartbeat was almost imperceptible.

Most critically, the Death Qi on his body.

That dense Death Qi even formed an 'old man's stench'; just getting close, one could feel him being constantly seized by death, dragged into Hell.

After more than four hundred years, old Ma had not advanced to Seventh Rank, and he had already reached the end of his life.

His Lifespan was exhausted, and his Qi and blood had withered. Unless someone reversed time, or forcibly infused him with vitality through things like Lifespan Medicinal Pills to extend his life, he could not be saved.

Life and death are the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth, and not just the naturally existing Dao.

Naturally existing Daos are easily modified and influenced, for example, Outer Domain travelers basically modify the Heavenly Dao limit of speed every day, otherwise, they can't even move.

Using one's Inner World to influence the outer world is basically a method everyone possesses, only differing in skill level. Shaman Dao belongs to the exceptionally high-level kind, so high that others can't even dream of reaching it, but it doesn't mean others can't do it at all.

And Reincarnation of life and death, besides being naturally present, was also forged by several major Dao Orthodoxy working together.

Buddhism constructed the Six Paths of Reincarnation, Dao Orthodoxy created the Ten Halls of Yama, Shaman Dao upheld the Reincarnation of Houtu, Ghost Dao was responsible for the operation of Hell, and the Divine Dao's Heavenly Court stabilized life and death.

Other Dao Orthodoxy, except for Humanity which explicitly didn't care about Reincarnation and stated it wouldn't participate in Reincarnation's construction, believing death was just death, more or less dabbled in matters of life and death Reincarnation.

Therefore, life and death are almost irreversible. Extending one's Lifespan is possible, but as long as one hasn't reached Seventh Rank, there's always a Lifespan limit.

And even after reaching Seventh Rank, one can still die from battle or other causes, it's just that there's no Lifespan restriction.

So, old Ma at this moment…

His Lifespan was nearing its end. Unless he himself Broke Through to Seventh Rank, there was no way to save him; even extending his Lifespan would only delay his death.

Looking at him, he probably had only three to five months of Lifespan left.

Three to five months…

For a long-lived person like Li Qi, it was just a blink of an eye.

Li Qi opened his mouth, wanting to say something.

But when he actually spoke, he didn't know what to say.

Four hundred years ago, he sent old Ma to the Outer Domain, instructing him to Cultivate diligently, as he would never be able to advance to Seventh Rank by staying with Li Qi.

But today, four hundred years later, old Ma still hadn't crossed that threshold.

After all, he was just an ordinary Dragon Steed, not very good-natured, not very talented, though his luck was good to have met Li Qi.

But Li Qi could only provide him with resources and Cultivation Techniques; he couldn't help him with anything else.

On the Dao, one must walk alone. Others can at most pull you along, but if you can't take the step yourself, no one can save you.

It's like students in school.

Those from poorer families have to cook their own meals every day, study on the bus, can't afford tutors, and can only double their efforts.

Parents with means can prepare a bright study room for you, buy a pile of top-tier reference books, hire excellent teachers, use the best stationery, and you don't have to worry about household chores; you just focus on studying.

But no matter the situation, the prerequisite is 'you have to learn.'

If you can't learn, no matter how capable your Parents are, they can't do anything about it.

Of course, for major Dao Orthodoxy, they can also directly brainwash you.

But what's the point of that?

After brainwashing, whether you are still you is debatable.

If you cannot pursue the Dao, yet are given eternal life, it would be better to kill you.

Cultivators in the world have witnessed too many, far too many, who, in pursuit of eternal life, did not hesitate to sever their Dao and forcibly advance.

In the end, most of them chose to commit suicide.

The length of life is not the decisive factor.

Soil will not shine brighter than gold because of its abundance, nor will life be superior because of its greater length.

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

If one cannot understand and pursue the Dao, what is the meaning of living as a thousand-year-old turtle?

Therefore, Li Qi was only saddened and regretful, but he did not intend to extend old Ma's Lifespan.

After more than four hundred years, he was still like this; extending his Lifespan would be futile.

Seeing Li Qi's hesitant expression, old Ma gave a bitter smile, removed his illusion, and reverted to his original form.

He was still that majestic Dragon Steed, surrounded by green lightning.

Only… he was thinner, shorter, hunched, and his once handsome mane had thinned and was streaked with gray.

He walked with his hooves to Li Qi's side and said with a bitter smile, “Boss… I've disgraced you.”

Li Qi didn't know what to say, only reaching out to stroke old Ma's mane: “Nonsense, everyone has their own path. Will you stay with me here for the next few months? Or do you want to go somewhere?”

“I'll stay with you here,” old Ma said, lowering his body and lying down.

“Hmm, get some good rest,” Li Qi said, rising and returning to the Formation, reconnecting to the world cluster, and beginning to deal with those 'once-in-a-lifetime problems.'

To be honest, he was already quite familiar with it.

Two months quickly passed in this manner.

After two months, Shen Shuibi had mostly recovered, except for some difficult-to-treat internal injuries and the fact that her newly grown body hadn't fully integrated yet.

This was thanks to a large amount of Heaven And Earth Treasure. She set up her own Alchemy furnace and consumed a lot, even developing some Medicinal Pill toxicity.

However, everything was within controllable limits; at least what could be dealt with had been dealt with.

Then, she immediately came to Li Qi.

But she saw old Ma resting there.

Seeing Shen Shuibi, old Ma also immediately got up and went to greet her.

More than four hundred years ago, in Guangyang, old Ma and the little rabbit had a relationship of sharing a basket of radishes, so of course, he remembered that quiet and timid the little rabbit from back then.

Only…

Now that her Cultivation had recovered, Shen Shuibi was also stunned when she saw old Ma.

However, she immediately realized old Ma's situation.

But she didn't say anything.

In fact, Shen Shuibi's understanding of life and death was much deeper than Li Qi's.

She didn't treat old Ma specially; instead, she chatted and laughed with him as usual, and also gave old Ma some Medicinal Pills to help him stay energized and not always sleepy.

Not long after that, old Ma's Lifespan ended, and Li Qi buried him on a mountain in this dying world.

Looking at old Ma's grave, Li Qi was silent.

The Dao is one's own Dao; only one can take the steps, and no one else can help you.