Chapter 667: Mountain gate

Li Qi looked at Ouxianqing's flickering expression, reading his shallow thoughts.

He was a little surprised.

Originally, Li Qi did indeed have the intention of spreading the Dao, but what he intended to spread was not Shaman Dao, but a worldview and values from the world of All Under Heaven.

In the eyes of cultivators in All Under Heaven, everything except the 'Dao' was not so important; even life could be abandoned, just to pursue that ethereal but supreme dream.

However, the Mortal world of Immortal Heaven was clearly not like this; they had another set of values, another 'Dao' that belonged to them.

Li Qi wanted to twist them around.

He wanted to spread the Dao to the common people of Immortal Heaven, to make them abandon the rules of Immortal Heaven and pursue other things.

But Li Qi also knew the difficulty, so he prepared to take it slowly, first letting the other party realize the existence of the 'Dao', and then teaching them.

However, with just a bowl of noodles, the other party thought extremely deeply.

Indeed, to be able to cultivate to such a degree in a world where people prey on each other, one could not be a fool.

The other party remained frozen in place, savoring the noodles bite by bite; this state of Epiphany might last for some time.

After all… this stuff was said to be noodles kneaded by a Fourth Grade Great Power, just like the Peng Hai Cauldron.

The takeout Zhu Fengdan ordered was very expensive, its value was extremely, extremely high.

Watching the other party's absorbed look, Li Qi walked over and said to Ju Ye, “Alright, the bill should be paid, let’s go, you should be full, right?”

“I’m full, I’m full!” Ju Ye immediately stood up, afraid that Li Qi would be angry; some chaotic Qi surged from his body, because he had eaten too many good things in this meal, and his Inner World was somewhat bloated.

“Pack it up, there’s too much to eat, take it back with you.” Li Qi smiled.

“Thank you, my lord!” Ju Ye immediately knelt down and kowtowed repeatedly.

This was almost his habit; in this world, subordinates should be like this to superiors, they did not feel humble, but rather took it for granted.

Just kowtowing was already a favor granted by the superior; ordinary people who wanted to kowtow wouldn't even have a place to do so.

Li Qi didn't stop him, but found a place to sit down and said, “You pack it up. If there’s anything else you want to eat, you can order a few more dishes. It’ll be good for your Senior Sister to have a nice meal. Afterwards, we’ll go to your Sect, okay?”

Ju Ye was stunned, then overjoyed, and kowtowed again like pounding garlic.

He wanted to say something, but felt that he couldn't say anything. He even felt that he had done nothing, but the lord in front of him was kind, so he accepted it.

How to put it…

Perhaps this was the commonality of the Mortals in Immortal Heaven.

When the strong bestowed, they were overjoyed and accepted.

When the strong plundered, they were sad and also chose to accept.

Because accepting all reasonable or unreasonable demands from the strong had become a default fact, almost everyone had accepted it, regardless of whether the strong were justified or not.

Here, the fist was the reason.

Therefore, Li Qi ignored Ju Ye; he didn't care at all whether Ju Ye was grateful to him or not. The reason he chose to help Ju Ye was because he had his own plans.

Closing his eyes, Li Qi began to rest, waiting for Ju Ye to pack the food.

It wasn't entirely resting; he still dedicated a portion of his energy to analyzing cultivation method.

He had already scanned many things and many people through True Knowledge Dao Resonance, and had a relatively systematic understanding of the basic cultivation System of this world. Now, by analyzing it again, he could deduce the possibilities of the Immortal Heaven’s True World from the foundation up, like looking at a roof from the ground.

After all, Li Qi was also a Fifth Grade; from a high vantage point, whether right or wrong, he could always analyze something coherent.

Soon, Ju Ye finished packing. He was very quick, afraid of delaying Li Qi's matters.

Li Qi glanced at Ouxianqing next to him; the other party was still in a state of Epiphany.

As for the other people around?

He scanned them; they were just onlookers, and there was no need to talk to them.

So, he stood up and said to Ju Ye, “Let’s go, we’ll leave the city. You lead the way to your Sect. It’s called… Zhanhu Gate, right?”

“Yes.” Ju Ye immediately replied respectfully.

Having received an affirmative answer, Li Qi went downstairs, followed Ju Ye, and set off on their return journey.

Along the way, Ju Ye said nothing, just quickened his pace, rushing with all his might.

Li Qi followed him; no matter how fast Ju Ye was, he couldn't be faster than Li Qi.

After running for about a day, at a hidden mountain gate approximately three thousand li from Bailu City, Ju Ye stopped.

“My lord, we have arrived. This is the mountain gate of Zhanhu Gate. Outside the gate, there is a Nascent Soul Realm Formation. It would be difficult to force our way in. It would be better for me to act as an inside man and sneak in quietly—” Ju Ye offered advice, wanting to formulate a spy plan.

Li Qi, however, said nothing, just raised his hand.

Silently, the mountain gate's grand Formation directly stopped operating.

No, it wasn't that it stopped operating, but rather… it changed owners, and the control came into Li Qi's hands.

Then, Li Qi gently twisted, and the grand Formation immediately reversed, changing from locking outside to locking inside.

The anti-theft door became a cage; no one inside could get out.

Because Ju Ye saw it, the Formation had clearly become stronger.

Countless runes, and even the surrounding mountains and rivers, absorbed spiritual power, strengthening the Formation. This Formation… was probably more than just Nascent Soul Realm.

An Ascension Realm Formation?

Could such a Formation be set up with just a wave of the hand?

Ju Ye was filled with doubt. He didn't understand, but he was deeply shocked.

However, precisely because he didn't understand, he couldn't truly comprehend how terrifying this method was. For him, this could be considered a good thing.

Li Qi gently stomped his foot.

At this moment, a demon beast, stirring up a yellow strange wind in the sky, hastily descended from the sky. It was a Yao bird with golden feathers, three to four zhang long, and claws that could easily tear apart a cow.

“Greetings—” The Yao bird landed, speaking human words, wanting to greet Li Qi, but as soon as it opened its mouth, it choked.

Greet whom?

Why greet?

It didn't know. It had just been foraging, but just a second ago, it had sensed some kind of strong summons, as if destiny was forcing it to meet someone.

It had to go meet him, otherwise, something bad would happen.

This summons even surpassed its instincts, causing it to fly over involuntarily, but when it landed, it still didn't know what was happening to itself.

However, it clearly knew that the one who summoned it was this…

How should it be addressed?

Great Existence? That seemed too exaggerated, but the impression this mountain spirit had was exactly that.

The other party was far stronger than Ascension Realm, much stronger.

This was a—Celestial?

However, their mental activities were meaningless to Li Qi, and Li Qi had no intention of communicating with them. He just instructed, “Watch outside, don’t let anyone in.”

After speaking, Li Qi threw down a wisp of Divine Qi as payment, and taking Ju Ye, stepped into the mountain gate.

Inside the mountain gate, the moment the Formation reversed, the experts inside had already sensed the problem, so they immediately launched a counterattack.

It was just that the counterattack was somewhat weak.

Very weak.

Ju Ye saw many spells, secret techniques he had never encountered, powerful spells that only True Disciple could learn and access.

A sturdy woman gathered power, spells surged, and an illusory long spear spanning the sky condensed, containing destructive explosive power, seemingly capable of destroying mountains.

Then a young swordsman in yellow robes leaped up, forming hand seals, with two Flying Swords, one white and one black, behind him. The Flying Swords were sharp, and a large amount of Jin Qi (Metal Energy) shot out, just looking at it made his eyeballs sting and bleed tears.

Another person below manipulated a Formation Plate, eight-grade power pouring out, covering an area of dozens of li. This power transformed into invisible tentacles, dividing into different forces, like different Clones, piercing into the Formation, trying to seize back control of the Formation.

One Zhanhu Gate actually had three Eighth Grade cultivators.

Eighth Grade was actually quite strong, capable of destroying mountains and splitting rivers, with an attack range that could easily cover dozens of li.

To be honest, this level of attack, in the eyes of Mortals, was equivalent to a 'natural disaster'.

Ju Ye was not a Mortal, but when he saw that terrifying spear, dozens of li long, almost spanning the sky, capable of piercing through mountains, fear and shock still filled his heart.

Nascent Soul Realm, Nascent Soul Realm.

Everyone said so, everyone liked to joke, and Ju Ye himself often told Nascent Soul jokes.

However, when truly facing the full power of a Nascent Soul Realm expert, he felt unable to breathe, and his Inner World almost completely stagnated.

Ju Ye subconsciously looked at Li Qi beside him.

He could only rely on him.

To be honest, this lord… actually didn't seem like a good person.

His demeanor was very gloomy, giving people the feeling of an old antique who would seclude himself at home, reading ancient texts for decades.

Always in thought, rarely speaking, almost never explaining his actions, completely disregarding the opinions of others, gloomy, rigid, cold, mysterious, completely ignoring the lives and deaths of others—this was Ju Ye’s entire impression of him.

However, such a person could always do some inexplicable things, for example… agreeing to Ju Ye to save his Senior Sister, and saving her with such a grand display.

He just wanted to secretly rescue her and then flee far away, but he never thought that Li Qi would directly declare war.

However, at this moment, Li Qi suddenly said lightly, “Declare war? How can this be called declaring war? I just came in to let you experience a feeling.”

Ju Ye was already somewhat accustomed to his thoughts being exposed by the other party. Perhaps this was the Divine Ability of a Great Power, so he immediately replied respectfully, “My lord, what feeling…?”

“The feeling of mastering power.” Li Qi said.

Then, Ju Ye suddenly felt that his body began to be covered by a layer of special Qi.

This Qi began to connect to his Inner World.

His body did not become stronger.

However, he could control a Gundam through his body, an incredibly powerful Gundam that was as easy to command as his own arm.

He could feel that the spells and abilities linked to his body… far surpassed the Nascent Soul Realm experts above.

This was—

Ascension Realm power!

“Go, take revenge, settle grievances. No one can escape.” Li Qi smiled, found a stone to sit on, and gestured for the other party to proceed.

Ju Ye was stunned for a moment.

This lord… why?

What kind of idea was this again?

After gaining power, Ju Ye's first reaction was not to go on a killing spree, but rather… confusion.

But Li Qi wasn't going to let him be confused. Li Qi just said, “Not going? Then I might go back on my word, and your Senior Sister might not get her chance.”

Upon hearing this, Ju Ye gritted his teeth fiercely, turned around, and kowtowed to Li Qi again: “Thank you, my lord! From now on, if you want my life, I will give it to you!”

After speaking, he no longer delayed, but rushed directly towards the three Nascent Soul Realm experts!

Li Qi watched from afar.

The outcome of the battle did not need to be considered.

This was a pure crushing victory, with no suspense whatsoever.

He just wanted to see what Ju Ye would do.

Li Qi wanted to spread the Dao here, and he felt that Ju Ye's experience was quite suitable, so he might as well try.

And Ju Ye, then, charged forward.

The swordsman who used dual swords was the expert who had destroyed Ju Ye's original Sect.

But now, his dual swords were even sharper, yet they couldn't last a single move in Ju Ye's hands.

Ju Ye couldn't keep up with the other party's speed at all. He hadn't even reacted when he was stabbed 493 times by two Flying Swords, each strike capable of killing a thousand Ju Yes.

But now, not a single one could break through his defense. Even if he hadn't reacted at all, these attacks still didn't harm him in the slightest.

So, Ju Ye reached out and began to counterattack.

His counterattack was very crude, his technique rough, with huge energy waste, and he couldn't even organize useful spells, because he lacked the ability to control the high-purity Qi on his body.

However, those weren't needed.

With just one punch, a massive surge of energy burst forth—

The three Eighth Grade cultivators on the opposite side immediately joined forces, raising their defenses and dissipating the pressure.

This was very effective.

If Ju Ye's attack was like a aimless, freely flowing flood, then the three of them, working together, were like a floodgate, deflecting a thousand pounds with four ounces, skillfully neutralizing a large amount of power, and even absorbing it.

It must be said that the combat techniques in this world were indeed very formidable; these techniques were very, very powerful even among Eighth Grade cultivators.

But… deflecting a thousand pounds with four ounces?

Then, what about ten thousand pounds? A hundred thousand pounds? A million pounds?

Seeing his attack blocked, Ju Ye panicked and increased his output.

The next moment, the surging power expanded a thousandfold!

In just an instant, the three Eighth Grade cultivators were directly submerged.

But Ju Ye cried out in surprise.

Wait, it's not like this!

With this force, no one in the mountain gate below would survive, no one could be saved. He had used too much force!

Damn it, something had gone wrong. He didn't want to kill them all. He just wanted to kill the Eighth Grade cultivators who had destroyed his Sect, and those who usually bullied him and his Senior Sister.

But he had already made his move.

The torrent submerged the three Eighth Grade cultivators and continued to rush into the mountain gate.

Among the tens of thousands of cultivators inside, each reacted differently: some cowered, some went mad, some were terrified, some were relieved.

But the next moment, a figure blocked the torrent.

It was Li Qi.