Chapter 657: Zhu Fengdan knocks on the door

Unlike Li Qi's unwavering resolve, Lesser Heavenly Master Zhang Zong, felt his mind was about to explode.

He managed to maintain his composure in front of Li Qi, forcing a smile and sipping his tea.

After all, he couldn't lose face; he couldn't afford to be embarrassed.

But after bidding farewell and stepping out of Li Qi's flying boat, his Qi immediately became chaotic.

Then, Lesser Heavenly Master Zhang Zong, spent two quarters of an hour, moving at the extreme speed of the Heavenly Dao, ten thousand times faster, to quickly find an uninhabited dead zone of a world, where he then carved out an Immortal Cave and sat down inside.

He couldn't help it; he had a strong conviction that he could only meditate in a clean and fresh Immortal Cave.

In Li Qi's words, this was obsessive-compulsive disorder, but to Lesser Heavenly Master Zhang Zong, it was a conviction.

After he sat inside the Immortal Cave, the surrounding hundred miles had been transformed by him into white jade, with jade platforms and jade towers all around, exuding a fragrant aroma, a pure white expanse within a hundred miles, emanating countless strange phenomena in the Void Realm, like a White Jade Capital floating in the Void Realm.

If a native world were to see it, they might think there was an Immortal Cave from beyond the heavens.

Of course, in reality, it was indeed an Immortal Cave.

Lesser Heavenly Master Zhang Zong, sat cross-legged, closed his eyes, and began to ponder.

Li Qi firmly believed that his spirit existed and was equal to a Great Power.

But Lesser Heavenly Master Zhang Zong, couldn't do that.

Lesser Heavenly Master Zhang Zong, could not, like Li Qi, firmly believe that his existence was always real.

This directly led to his Dao Heart wavering after he realized the fact that the world was illusory.

Why did it waver?

Because Lesser Heavenly Master Zhang Zong, Zhang Zong, was a very intelligent person; he could immediately deduce the illusory nature of his own existence.

First, it is known that the fact of 'reversal' indeed exists.

So, that means the future is the present, and the past is also the present.

Has the future happened? Does the future truly exist?

It is obvious that the future has certainly not happened, which means the future does not exist.

If the future does not exist, then how do Great Powers obtain information that does not exist?

Since the future exists and I can communicate with the future, doesn't that mean the future is the present?

Suppose, if the future has already happened, then after reversal, the information of the future naturally also arrives in the present.

The information of the future exists simultaneously with the information of the present, so the future is also the present.

When you have a way to interfere with the future, the future is equal to existing simultaneously with the present.

Similarly, when you can go back to the past, it means that the past time can also become the present.

In other words, the past, present, and future merge into one, all being the present.

Therefore, it can be deduced that, in essence, the future still does not exist; the future and the present are one, because you can communicate with the future anytime, anywhere, and also go to the past anytime, anywhere.

Furthermore, another thing can be deduced—

An existence with substantiality can do this; an existence without substantiality cannot.

So...

A most terrifying truth has emerged...

How can you be sure that you are real?

Is it possible that time itself does not exist, and naturally there is no history, present, or future, so facts are no longer 'firm' or 'substantial'?

Does reality truly exist? Are we not created by Great Powers from the last second?

The Universe was just born this second; your memories, your experiences, your life, all your ideals, emotions, and passions before this moment are actually nothingness.

Did things truly happen in the past?

Was there really a past?

The Universe was actually born just a second ago, and everything we have experienced is merely 'self-perceived experience'; in reality, we have not experienced it at all, and memories are completely false.

How can you confirm that you truly were not just born a second ago?

You cannot confirm it, so you lack substantiality.

You are not substantial; you are a very vague and ethereal thing, appearing out of thin air one second and possibly disappearing out of thin air the next.

All the memories and life you had during that one second of existence are merely what you 'self-perceived'.

This is the true meaning of 'substantiality'.

If one no longer possesses substantiality, it means one might have been conjured a second ago and gone the next.

Faced with such great terror, Li Qi's choice was to simply give up; he just decided that he existed, and whatever happened, happened. His existence was not based on things like 'past' and 'future'; his thoughts existed, therefore he existed.

This, in fact... is very close to the ideas of the Demonic Dao; this is the part of Li Qi's Dao that leans towards the Demonic Dao.

Therefore, Lesser Heavenly Master Zhang Zong, would not have such thoughts.

He must find other ways to convince himself, to provide a self-consistent logic to interpret his own existence, otherwise his cultivation would gradually dissipate, making further progress impossible.

Just as Lesser Heavenly Master Zhang Zong, was in seclusion, pondering and trying to stabilize his cultivation, a voice suddenly came from beside him: "Young man, don't be so anxious."

Lesser Heavenly Master Zhang Zong, suddenly opened his eyes. Who was it?!

A demonic thoughts!?

But when he opened his eyes, what he saw was an unexpected existence.

A young man, about twenty or thirty years old, wearing a fashionable robe common in the Human Path, with a carefree smile, looked at Lesser Heavenly Master Zhang Zong.

Lesser Heavenly Master Zhang Zong, knew this person; when he came, his Master had specifically advised him that if he met this person when going to find Li Qi, he should remember to be respectful and not cause conflict with him.

The Great Shaman — Zhu Fengdan.

It was just that, why would Zhu Fengdan appear here?

Lesser Heavenly Master Zhang Zong, was puzzled, and at the same time, a sense of vigilance arose in his heart.

Is this really Zhu Fengdan?

It's very suspicious...

Just as this thought emerged, the other party suddenly reached out and flicked Lesser Heavenly Master Zhang Zong, hard on the head.

Lesser Heavenly Master Zhang Zong, clearly saw the other party's hand swing down.

But... he couldn't dodge it.

He could only watch helplessly as the finger landed, breaking through his protective Qi, and then tapping his head with a crisp, light sound.

It hurt so much.

"Kid, don't think so much. You definitely can't figure out this kind of thing right now. You just need to know that no matter what happened a second ago, and no matter what happens next second, in short, you exist now, isn't that enough?" Zhu Fengdan said, after flicking Lesser Heavenly Master Zhang Zong.

"Senior." Lesser Heavenly Master Zhang Zong, immediately stood up and bowed: "Then, leaving aside other matters... just regarding this one, why did Senior come to find me?"

"I need you to temporarily replace Li Qi and help him complete the task of the Palm Slaughter, because I need to take him somewhere else, but he needs to appear as if he's still in his original spot during this time; he cannot disappear."

"My disguise will probably be exposed very quickly," Lesser Heavenly Master Zhang Zong, hesitated.

"No, a Shaman God and a True Immortal will personally take action to conceal your situation. All you need to do is handle the Palm Slaughter's affairs. You and Li Qi have similar combat power, making you the most suitable candidate," Zhu Fengdan said.

"I'm afraid I can't refuse, and where Li Qi is going is probably not something I can ask about. So... can I request some compensation?" Lesser Heavenly Master Zhang Zong, seized the opportunity to ask.

"My offering to lecture you on the Dao probably won't fool you, after all, your Master is stronger than me. So... for compensation, I'll let you take advantage; let Li Qi do two things for you, and then, Li Qi will help you solve the Dao Heart problem you're currently facing, how about that?" Zhu Fengdan held up two fingers, making a 'peace' sign.

"Let Li Qi?" Lesser Heavenly Master Zhang Zong's expression was subtle, as if he wanted to complain, but he still paid attention to etiquette and did not speak.

"What, if I tell him to do it, would he dare to refuse? Or do you think his help isn't good enough?" Zhu Fengdan chuckled: "Oh, by the way, I heard you're good at making tea. Come on, brew me a pot."

Lesser Heavenly Master Zhang Zong's expression was subtle.

How to put it...

This Master, seems a bit disrespectful of his age, I don't know how to describe it...

Forget it, let it be.

He nodded and said, "Since the Great Shaman desires this, I shall obey. However, I wonder how long I need to impersonate Li Qi? I'm afraid if it's too long, I'll give myself away."

"Not long, at most a hundred years, but during this period, you must normally fulfill the duties of the Palm Slaughter, and also be responsible for maintaining Li Qi's daily relationships. The most crucial thing, the most crucial, is that you must, with your own consciousness, bear Li Qi's Karma. This is why you were chosen," Zhu Fengdan said.

"Bear Karma? Wait, you want Li Qi to be 'alone and unburdened'?" Lesser Heavenly Master Zhang Zong's expression grew solemn.

"It's not 'you all', it's 'we'," Zhu Fengdan looked at Lesser Heavenly Master Zhang Zong, and chuckled.

At this moment, Lesser Heavenly Master Zhang Zong, suddenly remembered.

This Great Shaman just mentioned 'Shaman God and True Immortal'. Wait, does that mean his own True Immortal chose him?

At this, Lesser Heavenly Master Zhang Zong, suddenly coughed.

Damn it, these bastards, they don't show up normally, but when they do, they give him a big one.

"Indeed, these bastards really know how to make trouble for me. If it weren't good for Li Qi, I wouldn't serve them," Zhu Fengdan pouted.

This made Lesser Heavenly Master Zhang Zong, break out in a cold sweat.

Hey, hey, hey, those are True Immortals and Shaman Gods! Won't you get beaten for speaking so wildly? Something serious will really happen.

But Zhu Fengdan clapped his hands at this moment: "Alright, what about the tea you promised to brew? Why are you still standing there, hurry up! You don't expect me to prepare the tea leaves, do you?"

"Uh... Great Shaman, you seem to have a penglai immortal tea tree, right? That... the top-grade tea leaves from it, I don't have that level myself, can you...?" Lesser Heavenly Master Zhang Zong, reached out his hand.

"I've already brewed and drunk it, it's boring," Zhu Fengdan waved his hand and said casually.

Lesser Heavenly Master Zhang Zong's pupils trembled, and his fingers quivered.

Wow, that stuff produces only one leaf every hundred thousand years, and it takes fifty leaves to brew one pot!

"You... how did you brew it?" Lesser Heavenly Master Zhang Zong, gritted his teeth, even forgetting to use a respectful title.

"How else can you brew tea? Pick it and steep it in water, of course," Zhu Fengdan propped up his face, not caring about Lesser Heavenly Master Zhang Zong's rudeness.

If one were to speak of rudeness, there was probably no one ruder than him in this world.

When Lesser Heavenly Master Zhang Zong, heard this answer, he felt his heart stop, and his lips trembled incessantly.

The penglai immortal tea tree, the very top-tier young buds among all its branches and leaves, produces only one new bud every hundred thousand years. It needs to undergo seventy-two processes of frying, then fermentation to brew the ultimate fragrance, fully unfolding the Dao Resonance within it, and finally brewed with a special water method, steeped in spiritual springs of Penglai Fourth Grade or higher, and absolutely must not be touched by fire Qi, in order to retain its flavor.

But the person in front of him, simply, simply...

"Alright, are you brewing it or not? If not, I'm leaving," Zhu Fengdan urged impatiently.

Lesser Heavenly Master Zhang Zong, trembled as he looked at the other party, finally, after a long while, he hung his head dejectedly: "Please wait a moment, Great Shaman."

Unbeknownst to him, his thoughts had already drifted away from pondering the issue of substantiality, and he began to inwardly complain about the unreliable Great Shaman in front of him.

— — — — — — — —

Leaving aside Lesser Heavenly Master Zhang Zong's situation.

When Li Qi had finished clearing another battlefield, he suddenly received an order from the 'Alliance'.

It was a direct order from Ordained Invoker, for a task that only he could do.

Someone would take over Li Qi's current mission, so he didn't need to worry and could directly set off for the nearest Star-Mansion Array.

"New mission?" Li Qi frowned slightly.

And it was an order directly issued by Ordained Invoker.

This made Li Qi feel a bit of a headache, as if his PTSD was acting up; just thinking about the minds of the Great Powers made him feel dizzy and disoriented.

To be honest, Li Qi had always been trying to understand how such a war could possibly be won or lost.

When reality could be constantly erased and restarted, how could such a war possibly have a winner or loser?

Unable to comprehend it, he could only act according to the arrangements, hoping that he could contribute a little bit of strength in the war, to tip the scales slightly towards his side.

If it was within the scope of what he could understand, Li Qi could work calmly, even if he was almost exhausted.

But now it was beyond his comprehension, so he was a little scared. For a moment, sitting on the flying boat, he didn't respond.

Because it was truly terrifying.

To this day, Li Qi is still forcing himself to accept his own nothingness, using Demonic Dao methods to hypnotize himself into believing he possesses substantiality, that his thoughts are unique.

I think, therefore I am; even if memories are false, 'I' truly exist.

If he were to face a few more such shocks, he estimated his Dao Heart would also collapse.

However, at this moment, Li Qi suddenly noticed...

The flying boat stopped.

Not only did the flying boat stop, everything around it also stopped.

Qi, sound, and even the various Formations, mechanisms, and Spiritual Artifacts inside the flying boat, all came to a standstill.

It was as if... time itself had stopped.

Li Qi had witnessed this situation once before.

In Chang'an, during the descent of the Heavenly Demon.

So, Li Qi took a deep breath, suddenly stood up, and wanted to connect to the Alliance!

He definitely couldn't defeat someone who could do such a thing, so he quickly called for help!

However, when he turned around, what he saw was Zhu Fengdan.

Is it Zhu Fengdan?

It wouldn't be a Heavenly Demon in disguise, would it?

Li Qi secretly raised his guard.

But the next moment, he saw Zhu Fengdan.

Yet he didn't lower his guard; instead, he became even more terrified.

The person in front of him... was it really Zhu Fengdan?

But then, the next moment, Zhu Fengdan sat down, placed a pot of tea on the table, and called out to Li Qi: "Come, come, disciple, I just got this top-grade Immortal Tea from Lesser Heavenly Master Zhang Zong! This stuff is Third Grade, Lesser Heavenly Master Zhang Zong, only had one pot. Come try it!"

Li Qi breathed a sigh of relief.

This should be the real one.

It's just... why would Master come to find him?

It wouldn't really be for tea, would it?