Chapter 742: Classic operation

Outside the dilapidated temple, the surrounding area for dozens of miles had melted, turning into a lake of lava. This was only a tiny fraction of Li Qi's cultivation base that had leaked out.

The vast majority of his cultivation base, however, was poured into the Buddha statue. Such enormous energy only managed to leave a few large gaps on the statue.

That's right, it wasn't an attack, but an infusion.

What material was this Buddha statue made of? Li Qi had tried attacking it, but couldn't leave any marks. To truly damage this statue, one needed to infuse it with more Magical Power.

Therefore, Li Qi did what he just did.

This was the full power of Li Qi in his normal state—the entirety of his Magical Power reserves. The current Li Qi was completely hollowed out and would need at least a few hours to recover.

Even so, the Buddha statue only looked like it had been cracked by a heavy hammer, not like it had been infused with all the Magical Power of a Rank Four Cultivator, which demonstrated how much Magical Power the thing could hold.

Of course, this object couldn't truly stop Li Qi.

If Li Qi were willing to absorb a large amount of external Spiritual Qi, using the external Qi to fill the emptiness of his current cultivation base, he could recover his peak state in just one breath.

The endurance of a Rank Four Cultivator is terrifying. Expending all his Magical Power is actually not a big deal; if he does it a few more times, he will eventually shatter this Great Buddha.

But doing so would not only turn this vicinity into a complete Land of Dwindling Dharma, exhausting all Spiritual Qi, but it would also completely strip away the vitality of nature itself, causing damage to this world that would take hundreds of thousands of years to recover.

Although such a minor scar is insignificant to a Rank Two World overall, it is a different story for the life forms in the surrounding area.

The surroundings would become a dead zone.

Therefore, Li Qi chose to patiently wait for the 'Well of Chaos' inside him to create something out of nothing, as his cultivation base could spontaneously emerge from thin air.

For Li Qi, destroying this Buddha statue still required time.

And Er Gou, this little Rank Eight demon, managed to leave a small white mark on this huge Buddha statue after three hundred years of continuous effort, day after day.

Li Qi found it hard to imagine how determined this seemingly ridiculous little demon was.

So, Li Qi walked over, squatted down, and asked Er Gou, “This is a very impressive feat. Why have you never thought of it that way?”

Exactly, this was the point of Li Qi's confusion.

Li Qi possessed the ability to read the shallow thoughts of these low-Rank Cultivators, but despite talking to Er Gou for so long and saying so much, he never detected anything about this Great Buddha.

Even in Er Gou's mind, amidst countless random thoughts—about future wealth, what to eat tomorrow, who to take revenge on after getting rich, and what to buy for Xiao Gou—there were so many distractions.

Yet, among all these distractions, he never recalled, nor did his surface consciousness reveal, this Buddha statue or the difficulty he faced in leaving a mark on it.

Li Qi believed this must have been incredibly difficult. For a Rank Eight Cultivator, leaving a small white mark on this Buddha statue meant enduring extraordinary pain, perhaps even an achievement comparable to the Foolish Old Man Moving Mountains.

But this feat, Er Gou hadn't even considered; no similar thought had ever appeared in his shallow consciousness.

Er Gou's first reaction upon hearing Li Qi's question was confusion.

He didn't answer; he was just bewildered and doubtful.

Why?

Why would this Great Lord ask this question?

Isn't this matter perfectly normal? Is there something wrong with it?

He didn't say it aloud.

But Li Qi saw it clearly.

“Normal... Interesting,” Li Qi chuckled.

Immediately, Li Qi's figure vanished abruptly.

The Buddha statue behind him vanished along with Li Qi.

For Er Gou and Xiao Gou, the events of today felt like a dream.

“A-are you alright, little sister?” Er Gou immediately turned back to look at Xiao Gou.

“I'm fine, I'm fine. He seems to have left...” Xiao Gou quickly calmed down, appearing even cooler-headed than Er Gou.

“Good, let's leave now too. The commotion was too big; someone is definitely coming!” Er Gou said this, then picked up Xiao Gou, quickly gathered his belongings, and touched the Ethereal Yellow Stone in the hollow space of his bosom.

Thankfully, the Ethereal Yellow Stone was still there, meaning most of his wealth was safe.

Er Gou was busy packing, and Xiao Gou quickly helped her older brother. Although she was a little demon, and a plant at that, she seemed a bit sluggish but still did everything she could to help her brother.

Regardless of how much of a scoundrel Er Gou appeared to be on the outside, at this moment, he was extremely decisive, and his usual quick wit came into play.

Xiao Gou followed Er Gou. After they finished packing, Er Gou held Xiao Gou in his arms and quickly fled!

Not far away, Li Qi was floating in the sky.

Behind Li Qi stood many people.

They were all renowned experts in this area, the lowest being Rank Six, with the majority being Rank Five. Many of them held significant power even outside this domain, and quite a few were at the level of World Masters—all local big shots.

They had all sensed the commotion Li Qi had caused and rushed over.

Furthermore, there were many Rank Four Cultivators who hadn't arrived yet but had already cast their gazes over. It looked like it wouldn't be long before a Rank Four appeared in person.

But it wasn't

After all, this was a Rank Two World. With the stunt Li Qi pulled, many people would rush over.

Li Qi merely stood there, extending one hand to stop the crowd.

“Everyone, please calm yourselves,” Li Qi said to the hundreds of people before him.

These people looked at each other, and then one of the Rank Five Cultivators seemed about to speak.

But at this moment, a Rank Four descended from the sky.

It was a Demon Beast that had taken human form, appearing to be some kind of exotic beast—human face, beast body, strong as an ox, its voice like thunder. It questioned with a low roar: “Your Excellency suddenly made a move and caused such a commotion. What is the meaning of this?”

“It's nothing, just some private business. No need to panic. I apologize for disturbing Everyone. These are minor compensations, and I hope you all can be understanding,” Li Qi said, cupping his hands toward the hundreds of people before him.

As he spoke, he laid out many self-developed cultivation methods, none of which were low-grade, showing considerable sincerity.

However, no one stepped forward to take them.

The robust Rank Four Cultivator from before spoke: “Your Excellency previously took away an object, which I presume is some kind of Wondrous Treasure? You suddenly appeared to take it, yet you only offer meager benefits and refuse to show it to Everyone here?”

“I am truly sorry. The object I took is related to an important matter of mine and cannot be displayed to others. I ask for your understanding, Everyone,” Li Qi said, cupping his hands.

But at this moment, a large hand suddenly shot through Li Qi, rushing toward Er Gou and Xiao Gou behind him!

Clearly, this Rank Four Cultivator had already deduced the connection through Karma.

If Li Qi was unwilling to speak, the answer could be extracted from the minds of those two.

But Li Qi gently waved his hand.

His Inner World unfolded, and a burst of Aura interrupted all spells attempting to pursue Er Gou and Xiao Gou.

Li Qi stood silently, then cupped his hands again, bowed his head, and said, “There is truly nothing unusual about this matter; it merely concerns the Reincarnation of a Rank Five Cultivator. I ask that Everyone not overthink this and needlessly create trouble.”

As Li Qi spoke, some of the people before him still wanted to try—

But when they tried, they only felt as if a world was lying across their path.

They could not interfere or cross it. A being of extremely high Rank was obstructing Everyone's observation and interference. Anyone who tried to trespass... would be met with a counterattack.

Although it was just one person standing there, the feeling he gave off was... more vast than the stars themselves.

The Rank Four Cultivator who had reached out earlier withdrew his hand.

As he retracted his hand, a string of floating blood droplets remained in the air, pulsating like a heart. They rapidly developed, turning into several eggs, which contained the power of life and should hatch into some kind of innate demon.

Following this brief confrontation, a gaze in the sky disappeared.

Following this, a streak of purple mist landed, transforming into a Demonic Shadow. It had no definite form, entirely enveloped in mist, seeming to lack any physical body.

Li Qi took a look. Such dense Demonic Qi... indeed, the one who arrived this time was not an ordinary demon, but a Demon Fiend.

A Demon Fiend is a special cultivation path, similar to Buddhist-Demonic Dual Cultivation. Similarly, there are 'Human Fiends' and 'Demonic Dragons'.

Given the uniqueness of the Demonic Dao, almost all Dao Orthodoxy can experience Qi Deviation. Once you enter the Demonic Dao, you don't actually transform into a Demonic Dao Cultivator; you can still use all the cultivation methods of your original Dao Orthodoxy... it's just that they will bear the characteristics of the Demonic Dao. This is what is meant by 'X Fiend'.

Among them, the most numerous are Buddhist Fiends and Demon Fiends.

Buddhist Fiends go without saying. Buddhist-Demonic Dual Cultivation has even become a recognized sect, especially since the Heavenly Demon personally said, “I want my demonic sons and grandsons to wear kasayas.”

Although Li Qi didn't know why the Buddha would allow such beings to exist, or even let them sit openly within the Buddhist Sect, that's just how things were.

However, Demon Fiends are quite strange. Li Qi didn't know why, but demons seemed particularly prone to entering the Demonic Dao, and it didn't seem to affect their Divine Abilities much.

Perhaps this was another hidden secret, but unfortunately, the current Li Qi was unaware of it.

But that didn't prevent him from reacting.

The moment the Demon Fiend appeared, Li Qi raised his head.

His Aura began to spread, and the many Rank Five Cultivators immediately retreated, withdrawing from the battlefield.

They could no longer withstand the standoff between three Rank Four cultivators; they had to leave quickly, or their lives might be in danger.

This Rank Four Demon Fiend landed on the ground and looked at Li Qi: “Oh, well, it looks like it truly is something we don't know about. If it were just the Reincarnation of a Rank Five, how could we not be able to deduce it?”

“Your Excellency has profound cultivation, but you just exerted your full power and have not yet recovered. If I seal off the world and prohibit external Spiritual Qi replenishment, I imagine Your Excellency will find it difficult. Moreover, there are two of us. I doubt you can stop us, can you? Why not hand over the treasure and share the Opportunity with us? That way, we can avoid resorting to conflict, wouldn't you agree?” the Purple Mist Demon Fiend said.

He appeared courteous, but as he spoke, the surrounding heaven and earth began to seal off.

In an instant, the surrounding Spiritual Qi stopped flowing. All Cultivators, including the various 'Negative Entropy Bodies' below, lost their vitality, like fish stranded from the Jianghu or birds confined to a cage.

His Demonic Qi enveloped the surroundings, seemingly intent on consuming everything! Under this pressure, even Li Qi felt his connection and perception of the outside world being severed.

“You are truly bold, offering no resistance. Now that you have entered my prison, what will Your Excellency do? Why not share a portion with us, avoid conflict, and keep the peace,” the Demon Fiend said politely.

Li Qi looked around.

The Qi of heaven and earth was stagnant, the atmosphere was desolate, and the rotation of the earth seemed to be delayed for months. Emotions could not flow, and all things were trapped in shackles.

It was indeed a good cultivation method. This kind of power... must belong to the Demon of the Five Aggregates.

Unexpectedly, the Demon of the Five Aggregates could even alter the operation of the natural order, affecting the world itself merely by modifying the perception of the world.

However... it didn't seem to be a major problem.

As products of pure subjectivity, the five aggregates are precisely what the Demonic Dao excels at: self-subjectivity.

Moreover, Li Qi himself knew that subjectivity could influence objectivity, because the world itself has both a subjective side and an objective side.

The subjectivity of others is the objectivity in one's own eyes. The subjective will of others appears as objective existence to one's own subjective will.

Thus, by using this principle, he successfully sealed off the objective world surrounding Li Qi.

On the other side, the ox-strong demon also rose. He suddenly pulled out a large bow, and his body simultaneously swelled up! That bow was clearly also a Rank Four Spiritual Artifact. After swelling, his figure was a full ten meters tall. It was less of a bow and arrow, and more of a battering ram launcher.

This battering ram launcher was pointed at Li Qi as the demon said, “We wish to negotiate with Your Excellency, but you are evasive and unwilling to state the truth. This is our territory, after all. You came uninvited and took something that belongs to the master without informing us. Isn't that rude?”

Li Qi maintained his restraint and said, “Gentlemen, I have already told you the truth. This is indeed a clue regarding the Reincarnation of a Rank Five Cultivator, and I am searching for their reincarnated body. This object is highly likely related to them. As for anything more, there is truly something concealing it, and even I am not entirely clear, so I cannot tell you two.”

“Also, although you two speak of etiquette, I doubt you were prepared to let me take my item away. If I brought it out, you would seize it. A gentleman does not stand beneath a crumbling wall. Although it may be rude, I don't want to risk losing it.”

“So, Your Excellency means that negotiations have failed?” the Demon Fiend said.

The other demon, holding the bow and arrow, also began to accumulate power.

They had both sensed the power Li Qi had previously displayed and knew what level of treasure could withstand that force.

As for Li Qi, he was communicating with the Hybrid Lu Wu from earlier.

He was informing the other party that he was about to make a move.

Li Qi felt nothing for treasures; he hadn't actively pursued them since he started cultivating. But this was not the case for the other Rank Four Cultivators.

He was even feeling a little eager; this was a classic plotline.