Chapter 734: Monster Wanchi Realm

Amidst the bitter cold of winter, high atop the mountains, Yin Qi swirled in bursts.

A massive iron city stood there, towering and majestic, its color a dark, somber black.

Countless ghosts and monsters were arrayed on the city walls before Li Qi, led by the Ox-Headed and Horse-Faced Guardians, with various other demons and monstrous beings, some bleeding profusely, others with disheveled hair.

Some were naked and barefoot, holding large staffs, urging them on from behind; others lay on iron beds and bronze pillars, their bodies charred, only to revive again.

Several hundred small imps set up fiery furnaces and giant cauldrons, boiling hot water, shouting for Li Qi to enter. There were also forests of blades, spears, and swords; merely touching them would cause one's body and head to shatter and fall, then churn in the boiling water.

Countless malevolent spirits leaned nearby, standing in a circle, menacing Li Qi.

The Ox-Headed and Horse-Faced Guardians stood in front, the Ox-Headed Guardian sternly rebuking, “Good and evil are clear, only brought upon oneself! If you can turn your heart towards the Dao, then the ghosts and monsters will naturally dissipate! If not, even if you bring forth the Buddha or a True Immortal, you cannot escape your sins!”

Li Qi shook his head, “Honored Ghost Messengers, I know this action violates the rules, and I will compensate for it in the future. I have already prepared offerings and incense for you to enjoy in the Underworld. Please be patient; you can supervise the ritual at any time, and there will be absolutely no omissions.”

“Presumptuous! How dare you try to bribe us! Do you truly think Ghost Messengers are your lackeys, to be ordered about as you please?!” the Ox-Headed and Horse-Faced Guardians roared in unison, their righteous Qi seemingly capable of dispersing the surrounding Yin Qi.

This made Li Qi stare in surprise.

Something was off.

This was different from what he had read in books and from all his experiences.

As a Invoker, he frequently dealt with ghosts and deities. Whether with Underworld Messengers or Heavenly Gods and Di Qi (Earthly Qi), he had extensive experience.

Li Qi had less interaction with the Underworld in the past, usually communicating with Mountain and Water Deities , but the information he had gathered from various sources indicated that the Ox-Headed and Horse-Faced Guardians were easy to get along with; as long as offerings were presented, they would mostly turn a blind eye.

Why were they so righteous now? They looked like they wouldn't accept bribes, yet hadn't they taken plenty in the past?

That's why Li Qi had prepared everything in advance, arranging all the rituals and offerings. As soon as they arrived, he would respectfully present them, ensuring everyone was happy.

But why did he encounter such incorruptible Ghost Messengers this time?

While Li Qi was surprised, his mind didn't stop working; he quickly began to analyze the situation.

True Knowledge Dao Resonance swept over, carefully observing the Ox-Headed and Horse-Faced Guardians and the small imps behind them.

Although he couldn't read what the Ox-Headed and Horse-Faced Guardians were thinking, he could sense the inner complaints of the small imps as they clamored.

Hmm…

Oh, I understand.

Xin Ming, the monk, had caused quite a stir.

If it were a normal Great Power with the Bodhisattva fruit using Celestial Eye, the disturbance would be minimal, almost undetectable, but Li Qi couldn't invite such a person.

The simplest Celestial Eye holder he could invite was Xin Ming, the monk. However, his cultivation was still shallow, and he couldn't control Celestial Eye very well, which resulted in his gaze sweeping across Hell.

With such a big commotion, and so many Devil Kings and Judges staring over, the Ox-Headed and Horse-Faced Guardians naturally couldn't go easy. Moreover, they were probably genuinely enraged; who likes to be openly watched?

If the observer were a Great Power Bodhisattva, then so be it; one could avoid what one couldn't provoke and pretend not to know. But upon seeing it was merely a Sixth Grade nobody, how could they let it go?

Li Qi then shook his head and simply said, “This matter is indeed important. If you two cannot accept it… then please proceed.”

Li Qi's meaning was simple.

If you want to fight, then let's fight.

Unexpectedly, Li Qi's words caused the previously fierce Ox-Headed and Horse-Faced Guardians to hesitate.

Uh…

Although they were fierce, they also knew the gravity of the situation. They actually recognized this person before them.

The Human-Shaman War had caused a huge uproar. Although they hadn't participated, they had heard about it and read many battle reports, so they naturally knew of the young Genius, Li Qi, who had won the vanguard battle and slaughtered so many people.

Now, this person had unknowingly reached Fourth Grade…

If they truly fought him, they might not gain any advantage.

But if they didn't fight, where would their Face go? So many people were watching now.

However, at this moment, the Ox-Headed and Horse-Faced Guardians suddenly struck!

Black light enveloped their bodies, eerie ghost flames floated several feet high, and countless malevolent spirits followed beside them, filling the Void Realm, terrifying and horrifying!

In an instant, mountains and rivers turned to ash, and water veins decayed!

A massive amount of Yin Qi swept over, rocks exploded, numerous animals died instantly and rapidly decayed, terrifying cracks tore through the mountains and destroyed their roots, and black vines spread from underground, growing taller and larger, quickly encroaching on the living space of other things!

All life died with extreme swiftness, so fast that one could hear the wailing of natural, plague spread, pests proliferated wildly, and the screams of agony seemed endless. Beyond the four directions, trees withered and died, as if scorched by fire.

Dissected and butchered forms appeared in the sky, like the methods for treating livestock, then were plunged into deep water. They hooked Li Qi out by the mouth, seemingly intending to cut him open and slice him, as if for a feast. In the cauldrons controlled by the imps, great fires ignited, like a roasting furnace. Li Qi, caught off guard, was thrown into it, instantly rotting away, only to revive again, suffering intense pain and torment.

Acid rain and blood rain fell from the sky, and open water bodies turned as black as congealed blood clots. White fish bellies floated to the surface one after another; these were fish that had died in the polluted water. The air reeked of a slaughterhouse.

Li Qi manifested his Dharma form, but blood flowed like a spring. He tried to speak, but countless small imps flung chains, hooking Li Qi's soul and pulling it violently. Li Qi had no time to speak; his soul was dragged out about two hundred paces, seemingly on the verge of separating from his Physical Body, and the connecting mist in between almost broke.

The two Ox-Headed and Horse-Faced Guardians seized Li Qi, throwing him onto a pile where fire raged, burning his body. Half his body was rotten, the pain unbearable. He fell from the pile to the ground, unconscious for a long time.

The two Ghost Messenger leaders set up another large cauldron, stirring ghost fire and boiling hot soup, into which they threw Li Qi. As he bobbed in the boiling pot, the Ox-Headed and Horse-Faced Guardians on the side stabbed him with spears and steel forks. Li Qi's eyes bulged from the boiling, his tongue extended more than a foot, his flesh was completely charred and rotten, yet he still wouldn't die.

Li Qi, facing the sudden attack from the Ox-Headed and Horse-Faced Guardians, was in a sorry state, one might even say he was directly defeated!

This horrified Xin Ming, the monk!

But at this moment, Shen Shuibi suddenly looked up.

“Hmm…?” She tilted her head.

Li Qi seemed to be getting beaten very badly, but… she didn't feel worried, and she herself wasn't injured either…

But before she could do anything, Li Qi suddenly rallied, self-destructing his Dharma form, and abruptly reached out, grabbing both Xin Ming, the monk, and Shen Shuibi, seemingly attempting to escape.

But as soon as he tried to run, the massive iron city behind him blew out a dry wind of endless heat, followed by countless soul-hooking ropes. Many soul-hooking envoys cast their Divine Ability, and the Ox-Headed and Horse-Faced Guardians chanted incantations, making it impossible for Li Qi to escape!

The soul-hooking chains dragged Li Qi into the iron city. The iron city gates closed, and Li Qi was directly imprisoned in the Underworld!

The immense power unleashed in the mountains was so great that everything was witnessed by the nearby temple.

The numerous refugees were stunned and heartbroken, not knowing what crime this lay Buddhist who had saved them had committed.

After a while, rumors spread, saying that everyone was originally meant to die, but had been saved by the lay Buddhist, so he bore their Karma and took on their lives, and was thus captured by the Ghost Messengers.

Many people wept, erecting shrines for Li Qi.

The abbot sighed, sculpted a statue of Li Qi, and enshrined it in the temple as a co-worshipper with the Bodhisattva.

Meanwhile, on the other side—

Several days later, the Ox-Headed and Horse-Faced Guardians released the iron city in the Underworld, and from within, Li Qi, accompanied by Xin Ming, the monk, and Shen Shuibi, leaped out.

Just before, Li Qi had had a good discussion with the Ox-Headed and Horse-Faced Guardians inside the iron city.

Li Qi’s prepared offerings were not wasted; the Ox-Headed and Horse-Faced Guardians happily accepted them. Li Qi also clearly stated that he was looking for Sariputra and that his previous actions were merely a temporary oversight.

The three conversed smoothly. Once out of sight, the Ox-Headed and Horse-Faced Guardians became amiable, discussing some details with Li Qi and patting their chests, indicating that Li Qi could leave, and they would even open a shortcut for him.

“Thank you both for your leniency, Li Qi will remember it,” Li Qi bowed, smiling at the Ox-Headed and Horse-Faced Guardians, showing no signs of injury.

The Ox-Headed and Horse-Faced Guardians, however, looked ashamed. The Ox-Headed Guardian spoke first, “Eh, not at all. It was to protect our Face that you, my brother, had to endure a trip to the bitter Hell for nothing…”

“Neither of you laid a hand on me, so where is the talk of suffering? It was all just a show,” Li Qi said kindly.

Yes, the one who transmitted the message through the Karma threads was actually Li Qi.

It was very simple: just to give the Ox-Headed and Horse-Faced Guardians a way to save Face.

They had no animosity; it was enough for them to be seen apprehending him. It was no big deal, just a little loss of Face, and Li Qi, as a Shaman, didn't care about such things.

If the visitors had been the Demonic Prince or Little Overlord, the Ox-Headed and Horse-Faced Guardians would probably have been in deep trouble and suffered greatly.

“My brother, under the watchful eyes of all, you sacrificed your Face to protect us both. Naturally, we cannot let you suffer a loss. Our brothers secretly opened a small crack in Reincarnation; searching for Sariputra through it will be much simpler.”

“Thank you both,” Li Qi said, cupping his hands.

“My brother is busy with affairs, so we won't linger. Farewell. If you have any entrustments in the future, feel free to contact us,” the Ox-Headed and Horse-Faced Guardians said with a smile, departing without further delay.

There was no need to delay further. Li Qi clearly had something important to do, and they had just put on a humiliating show. It was hard to say if Li Qi would be displeased, so it was better to slip away quickly.

Thinking this, the Ox-Headed and Horse-Faced Guardians quickly disappeared, leaving only Li Qi, Shen Shuibi, and Xin Ming, the monk, standing in the Underworld.

This was a remote part of Hell, with no Ghost Messengers patrolling. Of course… it was very likely that the Ox-Headed and Horse-Faced Guardians had given a heads-up, which was why there were none.

Shen Shuibi was still in a daze, having entered 'follow mode' and trailing Li Qi. Since she already knew the beginning and end of the matter, there was nothing to worry about, and thus no need to expend more mental effort.

Xin Ming, the monk, inside the Ox-Headed and Horse-Faced Guardians' iron city, had already seen everything he needed to see, thanks to their concealment and guidance.

“Senior, I have found the world where Sariputra was Reincarnated, but… something is obscuring my vision, and I cannot clearly see who it is,” Xin Ming, the monk, said.

“It's fine, knowing which world it is suffices,” Li Qi nodded. “Then, thank you. Do you want to return now, or would you like to explore the Underworld? You are already Sixth Grade; be careful, but being in the Underworld might also be an Opportunity.”

“I'll stay here. Then, Senior, farewell.” Xin Ming, the monk, bowed respectfully and then departed.

Li Qi watched him leave, then looked at his own position.

So far, everything was still according to plan.

According to Xin Ming, the monk's Celestial Eye, the world where Sariputra was Reincarnated is called Myriad Demon Reservoir World, a Second Grade world.

The reason for this name is that the Realm Lord of this world is named Yao Wanchi.

Just like the Realm Lord's surname, this is a world controlled by the Demon Dao. Yao Wanchi is a Second Grade Great Sage of the Demon Race. Sometimes they humbly refer to themselves as Minor Sages, but it's all much the same; they are all 'Sages'.

The so-called Great Sage of the Demon Race are those who comprehend the Great Dao, respond to changes without exhaustion, and discern the true nature of all things.

This is also the characteristic title for high-grade cultivators of the demon race. However, the demon race is not very strict, and many Third Grade cultivators also call themselves Great Sages, such as the Yellow Wind Great Sage, the Water-Controlling Great Sage, the Mountain-Governing Great Sage, and so on.

However, among the most famous are naturally the Flat Heaven Great Sage, the Chaos Heaven Great Sage, the Overturning Sea Great Sage, and other renowned Great Sage of the Demon Race, or the Seven Sages of Mount Mei, who defected to the Divine Path but still retained their demon race titles.

This title is actually borrowed from the human Dao. A First Grade human is a 'Sage'. The demon race, whether disliking it or liking it too much, adopted the word 'Sage' and added a prefix to signify their vast Divine Ability, or perhaps… to signify their 'discernment of the true nature of all things'.

After all, for the demon race, discerning the true nature of all things is truly very important.

However, Li Qi still didn't know what the Demon Dao truly wanted.

He had a brief understanding, for example, that the demon race wanted to enlighten all things, to bring all beings in the world to this state, but their specific ideology and methods remained unclear.

But… there shouldn't be any problems, right?

After all, this trip was only to retrieve Sariputra. It would actually be easier in the demon race's territory, as others who tried to retrieve him had been obstructed by Celestial Devils.

But for some reason, the Buddhist sect concluded that Li Qi would not be obstructed, and… that was indeed the case.

When Li Qi did this, there truly was no Demonic Dao to stop him.

Alas, alas, no use thinking about those things. Li Qi now possessed preliminary substantiality and no longer feared things like retrogression and Karma manipulation, so he wasn't without confidence to make the journey.

Moreover…

Going to such a place might have another benefit.

Yao Wanchi, the Great Sage, is said to be a… Guixu (Ruins) that was enlightened.

Around the event horizon of Guixu (Ruins), the spacetime difference would be greatly amplified, which would also help the rabbit currently.

Celestial Pole ah…

How to put it, Li Qi himself had experienced this stage, so he would certainly protect the rabbit to get his answer.

Since it was decided, Li Qi immediately proceeded through the crack opened by the Ox-Headed and Horse-Faced Guardians, swiftly heading towards Myriad Demon Reservoir World.

In just a few days, he had already broken through the Ghost Gate and arrived at this place.