Chapter 729: Repaying a vow

By the time Li Qi finished reading these rules, two days had already passed, and the whole family had returned to Mystic Radiance Mountain from Annam.

Of course, Shen Shuibi drove the car on the way.

These rules weren't particularly special, but they were extremely detailed, meticulously outlining what a Fourth Rank should and shouldn't do, and how much power they should use. However, whether intentional or not, they also specifically marked the patrol routes of the Patrolling Envoys... as if deliberately inviting people to exploit loopholes.

Although these things were cumbersome, they weren't complicated and were easy to understand; they generally just outlined the power output limit for Fourth Ranks.

If they exceeded it, the Patrolling Envoys would arrive very quickly.

During these two days of travel, Li Shiwei, just like Li Qi in the past, faced the terrifying place known as 'the World' with astonishment.

Whether it was the Astral Wind Layer, or the various wonders, Heavenly Gods, Di Qi, and customs across the World, even just passing by made her extremely excited.

Although the Little rabbit was born in the World, she had been away for a very long time, and was only a teenager then. Now, she was over a thousand years old, so she naturally felt incredibly surprised.

Li Qi watched Li Shiwei and Shen Shuibi, mother and daughter, one asking questions, the other answering, talking about what they had seen and heard on the road, and couldn't help but smile slightly.

Children are truly happy; the world is full of wonder and the unknown, and every day is new and interesting.

But as one's age and experience grow, everyone, due to their experiences, education, increasing knowledge and skills, and the responsibilities gradually accumulating on them, finds that the 'known' becomes more and more, and the 'unknown' less and less. Thus, they lose the motivation to continue exploring the unknown, and the world loses that brilliance.

Constantly maintaining a childlike curiosity is an indispensable part of pursuing the Dao.

Seeing Li Qi's expression, Shen Shuibi couldn't help but feel a little helpless.

Li Qi must have gained some new insight again, right?

This person really is... always thinking about these things.

Leaving aside the family's journey, two days later, in Mystic Radiance Mountain, where Li Qi's Immortal Cave was located, the Ghost Carriage quietly landed.

Mystic Radiance Mountain, it had been a very, very long time since he had returned.

As soon as they landed, they saw an old Niu Huang coming to greet them.

That was the Mystic Radiance Mountain God, Niu Huang.

"Greetings, Invoker. A thousand years have passed, and you have finally returned," Niu Huang said, on all fours, his head slightly lowered.

"A thousand years have passed, and Mystic Radiance Mountain hasn't changed at all. You could occasionally urge them to change things up," Li Qi said with a smile, looking around.

The vegetation of Mystic Radiance Mountain had been replaced, but apart from that, the terrain, water veins, and so on remained unchanged.

Even the village in Mystic Radiance Mountain, although it had seen generations of people come and go, its footprint and total population hadn't changed. Their spells seemed to have improved a tiny bit, but only a tiny bit.

However, it seemed they had all started practicing martial arts, probably because a Martial Artist had passed through during the millennium.

Compared to the ever-changing outside world, where myriad sights flashed before one's eyes every moment, the World seemed much more peaceful. But like here, where a thousand years passed without any change, this was truly...

"Does Invoker think... this isn't good?" Niu Huang asked, somewhat apprehensive.

Li Qi waved his hand: "There's nothing bad about it, I was just saying. You just do your duty. I'll head back to my Immortal Cave now. There might be a banquet later, you can notify the creatures in the mountain that all are welcome to attend."

"I obey Invoker's decree," Niu Huang immediately agreed.

Li Qi walked into the mountain; everything was fine. Apart from dust in the Immortal Cave, decaying furniture, and many mushrooms and vines growing, there was no other change.

Li Qi stood and watched, while the mother and daughter went in and began to cast spells to refresh the furniture.

In this regard, they were much more convenient. Shen Shuibi cast a Talisman, and five ghosts emerged. She commanded the five ghosts to start cleaning.

The water ghost mopped the floor, the earth ghost swept the dust, the fire ghost removed roots, the metal ghost cut vines, and the wood ghost... the wood ghost watched from the side, not knowing what to do, and was then called by Li Shiwei to move things.

Li Qi also looked on, then cast a Divine Ability, summoning a Spiritual Qi breeze to blow away the turbid Qi, clearing the gloom that had lingered in the entire Immortal Cave for a thousand years.

Li Shiwei, with the wood ghost, went outside to find Spiritual Plants, various strange stones, and brought them back into the Immortal Cave for decoration.

The family of three worked together, and in just a quarter of an hour, the Immortal Cave was completely refreshed.

"Alright, now you can go play wherever you want to play," Li Qi waved his hand. He had long seen that Li Shiwei's heart had already flown away. The World was a treasure trove of novelty and Opportunity for her. She had heard no shortage of people boasting about the World outside, or being respected for coming from the World. At this moment, she was merely holding back with difficulty.

Li Shiwei happily responded, then vanished without a trace on her遁光 (escape light).

Shen Shuibi shook her head, then began to prepare the banquet with Li Qi.

After a thousand years, reopening the Immortal Cave and hosting a banquet for the surrounding creatures was only natural.

The following few days were for the banquet.

The banquet was effortless for Li Qi and his wife. They even set up some challenge prizes, giving these young people some fun challenges and handing out some Ninth Rank and Eighth Rank Spiritual Artifacts.

The visitors weren't particularly high-ranking; the highest was only Seventh Rank. Niu Huang was the strongest among the guests. Originally, Li Qi just wanted to invite people to eat and announce his return, but with his current cultivation, his reputation, spread by Niu Huang, attracted countless young Geniuses eager to show off.

For a time, Li Qi's family banquet unexpectedly became a major event within a hundred thousand li radius.

Li Qi was helpless; he had truly only wanted a simple meal.

However, for these young people, it was different. For them, this was a miraculous encounter, a heaven-sent Opportunity, a chance to perform in front of a Great Power. Who knew how many were eager to rise to prominence? If they could be taken in as disciples by this Invoker, what immense fortune would that be?

Upon learning this, Li Qi was somewhat helpless and could only genuinely add some prizes and organize a small sparring competition.

They fought fiercely for this, and Li Qi reminded them several times that this was just a game, just a game. It was just a platform for everyone to perform, not a competition for rankings.

But they ignored him, treating it as a great Opportunity held by an Immortal, including Anomolus Spirits, Human Race Cultivators, and even a half-Dragon.

Everyone displayed their Divine Abilities, wanting to show their talent and earn the appreciation of a Great Power.

Li Qi was initially very interested. According to Li Qi's estimation, a super Genius, similar to the Demonic Prince, should appear at this time, sweeping the floor and crushing all opponents. Li Qi would be amazed, then give him a good Spiritual Artifact, form a good relationship, or even take him as a disciple. Later, he would marry Li Shiwei to him, and then when Li Qi broke through to Third Rank, he would receive super assistance and ascend smoothly.

But... how to put it?

In reality, hidden gems are, after all, few. If they could truly shine, they would have been chosen long ago.

These 'young Geniuses' who displayed themselves were, to be honest, just so-so. There was nothing that truly caught Li Qi's attention. None of their talents could compare to Li Shiwei's... and Li Shiwei, at only Seventh Rank, already felt her talent was insufficient, finding cultivation somewhat strenuous.

Even coming from the World, they belonged to the more difficult group if they wanted to achieve longevity.

However, it was also fortunate that they were in the World. One must know that Eighth Rank and Ninth Rank Cultivators are already considered strong enough to establish sects and become gods or ancestors in most worlds, and would be recorded by entire civilizations.

However, as Li Qi looked at these young people, he couldn't help but recall many things he had seen, so he personally went on stage and gave a sermon for an hour, so they wouldn't have come in vain.

Li Qi himself also thought, such an Opportunity... he seemed to have never encountered it, but now he was at the point of giving Opportunities to others.

How to say... it felt quite subtle.

The banquet lasted for about three days and then ended.

After that, Li Qi and Shen Shuibi rested for about a month, then embarked on their journey again.

This time there was no delay; the couple was going to visit the White Star Fox King Bodhisattva, which was also the main reason Li Qi chose to return to the World this time.

They directly broke through the Astral Wind Layer, then rushed to the outside world, and within a few seconds in the outside world, they arrived at the Buddhist Kingdom. Then they broke through the Astral Wind again, taking less than ten seconds for the entire journey, and had already arrived at the former place of worship for Dakini Heaven.

Shen Shuibi looked around and found that most of the monks and nuns here were handsome, and... they were all foxes.

"Reincarnations of Heavenly Gods? Dakini Heaven is truly a fox den," Shen Shuibi secretly told Li Qi.

"They are all followers of the Bodhisattva, which is normal," Li Qi said, then skillfully offered incense, donated oil, lit candles, and meditated in front of the Buddha statue.

Shen Shuibi followed suit.

As the green smoke curled, when the couple opened their eyes again, they had already arrived at Dakini Heaven.

It still looked like the Buddhist Heavens, grand and magnificent, with the giant rotating wheel in the sky constantly turning, pushing water, fire, and wind to other places.

Shen Shuibi seemed to be visiting Dakini Heaven for the first time, so she was looking around.

But at this moment, two Heavenly Gods slowly descended beside Li Qi and said: "The Bodhisattva requests your presence, Invoker, please follow us."

"Thank you for leading the way," Li Qi thanked them, then followed.

Shen Shuibi also followed.

Soon, Li Qi once again met the White Star Fox King Bodhisattva.

However, this time she was not in her beautiful form, but in the dignified Bodhisattva form.

Last time's beautiful form, that breathtaking beauty, had made Li Qi's heart pound, but this time, the White Star Fox King Bodhisattva did not display that appearance.

The current Bodhisattva form was kind-faced and benevolent, inclusive and joyful, solemn and righteous, not particularly beautiful. Her face was a bit round, looking plump, giving a sense of approachability.

Avalokiteśvara Bodhisattva has thirty-three forms, including elder form, boy and girl form, general and official form, emperor form, monk form, heavenly form, yaksha form, and so on; these were all known to Li Qi.

It seemed that the White Star Fox King Bodhisattva should also have similar Divine Abilities: a beautiful form, a Bodhisattva form, and perhaps even a fox form.

But no matter what appearance the other party presented, their identity would not change. Li Qi and Shen Shuibi bowed together.

Then, Li Qi said: "Greetings, Bodhisattva. I have come this time to fulfill my vow. I wonder if the Bodhisattva is satisfied?"

"As for satisfaction... I'm not very satisfied. In the vanguard battle, I lost quite a bit, but you got all the benefits," the White Star Fox King Bodhisattva said.

As she spoke, her Bodhisattva form gradually receded, and fur grew on her body, transforming her into a half-human, half-fox appearance.

How to put it... it wasn't beautiful. After all, she had a fox face and was furry, neither fully human nor fully fox, belonging to a very auspicious but somewhat unsettling type.

But even this somewhat frightening posture had... a strange allure.

"The vanguard battle caused humanity to lose the initiative; this is a huge matter. How could the Bodhisattva suffer losses by participating in it?" Li Qi said with a smile.

"How could there be no losses? Do you know what the jade bead I gave you was?" the White Star Fox King Bodhisattva asked.

"This junior does not know," Li Qi answered honestly.

He indeed didn't know, and Shen Shuibi probably didn't either, as the Little rabbit was still carefully observing the White Star Fox King Bodhisattva's appearance, seemingly not planning to speak.

"The jade bead I gave you was your future. Do you want to know how you obtained your future?" the White Star Fox King Bodhisattva said.

Li Qi laughed at her words: "Bodhisattva, don't trick me. Now I am also a Fourth Rank, and I know that the future and the past simply do not exist. I was fooled back then, but thinking about it now, I was naive."

This was a very simple argument.

If the future existed, then through Divine Abilities and spells, by communicating with the future from the present, at the very moment of communication, whether observing or even interacting, at that moment, the time of the present and the future would have already merged into one.

At that moment, the so-called 'future' would also become the 'present'.

Therefore, fundamentally speaking, as long as the future can be observed, then the future is the present.

The true future does not exist.

Similarly, when you rewind time, once you interact with the past, the past also becomes the present.

The river of time always only has 'now'; there is no past, and no future.

Now is everything.

If a future exists, it is merely a parallel world that 'might be the future'.

"Is that so? Do you truly believe that?" the White Star Fox King Bodhisattva said, hearing Li Qi's words.

Li Qi's originally smiling expression sobered.

What did that mean?

Could the future exist?

Impossible!

Li Qi immediately looked up and said: "Bodhisattva, please don't joke. Saying such things can easily lead to trouble."

It really could lead to trouble!

If it caused an unstable Dao Heart, or a misunderstanding of the world, that would be a deadly serious matter.

"Do you think I'm joking?" the White Star Fox King Bodhisattva retorted: "Then on what grounds do you say the future doesn't exist? Is it possible that everything has already been decided?"

Li Qi immediately straightened up: "I came to fulfill my vow, but the Bodhisattva wants to damage my Dao Heart?"