Chapter 808: Fight again

What does it mean to conform to the demeanor of a Invoker?

Heroic and distinctive, with skills surpassing their time, diligently caring for the people's hidden suffering, and possessing a dignified bearing.

In ancient times, when the people’s essences were undivided and unwavering, and they could be reverent, solemn, and upright in their hearts, their wisdom could align with righteousness above and below, their sageliness could spread far and wide, their insight could illuminate, and their hearing could penetrate; thus, the bright spirits would descend upon them. For males, they were called ‘Xi’; for females, they were called ‘Wu’.

Those who possessed proper etiquette, dignified bearing, noble appearance, and a quality of loyalty and trustworthiness were called ‘Zhu’.

They were the bridge communicating between Heaven, Earth, Man, God, and Ghosts.

All Qi would pass through his altar, and he, as a just and solemn Invoker, would uphold righteousness and justice, maintaining this balance to exist perpetually.

When Zhu Fengdan was young, she was exactly like this.

And Li Qi was once similarly evaluated by Senior Le Ya.

Li Qi did not respond.

He had already expressed what he wanted to say.

“Alright, let’s not talk about these things; they are all in the past. However, since you have already made your decision, I can only support you. Go for it, young man. Stick to your views. Even if the result is wrong, at least the will behind this decision will not be wrong.” Huo Dou decisively ended the topic and looked into the distance.

She retreated from her serious state and returned to her previous demeanor.

Li Qi, therefore, also remained silent; he was quite accustomed to silence anyway.

However, Huo Dou became annoyed.

She directly jumped up, grabbed Li Qi’s ear, and angrily said, “You speak so eloquently about the Dao, but once it’s over, you’re like a block of wood. Are you stupid? Do you really think I was just chatting with you when I told you so much?”

“Your Master’s situation, situation, situation!”

Li Qi stammered.

He quickly admitted his mistake and apologized, then moved a table. Without any other formalities, he immediately began to tell Huo Dou about Teacher Zhu’s recent situation.

Moreover, he even took out a light screen and began to display Teacher Zhu’s current appearance in 3D.

Privacy or not, he couldn't care about it now.

Teacher Zhu, please make a sacrifice. If I protect your privacy, I won’t have an easy time.

However, Li Qi was still very conservative.

After all, although Huo Dou had clearly shown she was pursuing Zhu Fengdan, Zhu Fengdan might not have the same intention.

As a Disciple, he couldn't betray his Master too much, just as a family member shouldn't push their daughter out.

Although the emperor fluid paste was indeed very enticing, one still needed to maintain a sense of propriety.

He couldn't be like those busybodies who, after receiving gifts, would push their own daughters out, selling out his Master.

His Master was still very important.

Here, Li Qi was betraying some of Zhu Fengdan’s privacy in exchange for the emperor fluid paste.

Meanwhile—

—

Human Dao, Southern Frontier.

Qiu Zhi was reading the messages sent by the Heavenly Supervision Bureau.

This was newly arrived intelligence, triple urgent, and according to the Human Dao’s regulations, it had to be dealt with immediately.

Energy fluctuations capable of influencing the battlefield had appeared in Yunluo Kingdom, but the heavenly secrets were obscured, making divination impossible. Qiu Zhi was requested to deal with it immediately.

Qiu Zhi frowned deeply.

This…

It was likely a hidden move from the Shaman Dao side.

It probably couldn't be delayed any longer.

He immediately wrote a report and transmitted it to the Grand General of the Southern Command through the terminal.

Unlike Li Qi, who would directly talk to his Master when he had something to discuss, Qiu Zhi always transmitted official documents through the terminal System when he had matters, as this conformed to regulations.

And the next moment, the Grand General of the Southern Command replied.

The Grand General of the Southern Command said one sentence: “Act immediately.”

This made Qiu Zhi take a deep breath. He asked again, “Grand General of the Southern Command, the Dao dispute has not yet ended, and the plan has not been fully successful. Acting now might leave the opponent with an opportunity to resist.”

“There’s no time. If I’m not mistaken, Li Qi’s injuries are probably about to heal. If we don’t act now, it will be too late,” the Grand General of the Southern Command replied.

“Alright, I’ll set off immediately,” Qiu Zhi nodded.

Then, he forcibly moved his Physical Body.

Although he knew that every movement would cause irreversible damage to him at this moment, which was why he needed to wait until the ‘plan succeeded’ before setting off.

However… the Grand General of the Southern Command had already given the order.

So, it was time to move.

Even if Qiu Zhi knew that, regardless of success or failure, he would surely die this time.

His injuries were such that as long as he dared to carry out this matter, whether it succeeded or not, he would certainly not survive.

Moreover, the Human Dao did not believe in Reincarnation. Death, to them, was the end. They neither accepted resurrection after death nor were willing to accept rebirth.

After rebirth, that would be another person. Perhaps there would be similar memories, but that was merely due to incomplete mixing in Reincarnation.

But that didn’t matter. Humans are destined to die. Sometimes, even if a person doesn’t want to die, there are always things that force them to make a choice.

Now was the time for him to face death.

Qiu Zhi roared, and the Qi and blood within his Physical Body began to erupt!

The remaining vitality in his Physical Body began to burn, causing his condition to rapidly recover.

This was a final burst of energy, but it indeed allowed him to recover a portion of his combat strength.

“Three hours…” He felt the remaining power within him. In his current state, he could sustain himself for three hours.

That was enough.

Qiu Zhi transformed into a streak of light and rushed towards Baiyue.

At this moment, the other Human Dao Fifth Grade experts also learned the next combat plan and the decisions of Qiu Zhi and the Grand General of the Southern Command from their terminals.

Qiu Zhi’s adjutant felt a lump in his throat.

“Commander…” He clenched his fists.

Outsiders all believed that people of the Human Dao were fearless, as if brainwashed, even…

But the Human Dao themselves knew that they were not emotionless machines. It was just that they, unlike other Mortals, did not view ‘human nature’ as a negative element.

Mortals always found excuses, blaming all sorts of ugly things on ‘human nature,’ saying that human nature is bad, that human nature is about worshiping the strong, the dark side of human nature, the essence of human nature, and so on.

When talking about the weaknesses of human nature, the premise is: what is human nature?

Human nature, in fact, is not an abstract thing inherent in a single person, not a so-called abstract product like ‘selfishness’ or ‘kindness’.

In reality, these abstract products are essentially defined by the material and social reality. Therefore, it is said that in its reality, human nature is social. The essence of all living beings is our entire external life.

Humans are born with only animalistic instincts, which are behaviors like eating, resting, and mating, engraved in their genetic instincts. If these things are considered human nature, then do all animals with instincts have human nature?

Paramecia also have the desire to eat. Do paramecia have human nature?

Therefore, human nature is by no means as superficial as they think.

And the ‘human nature’ that those common people identify with is actually a vague, abstract concept, a mixture of human beastly desires, human social relations, human survival instincts, and so on.

For example, if you put an infant in a black box, a black box with no light, no sound, no stimulation, and nothing else inside except fixed daily food.

Then, can this infant develop ‘human nature’?

If this infant could still develop human nature without any stimulation, then one could say that human nature is Innate and natural, that it is something humans ‘naturally possess’.

But obviously, in such a situation, the infant cannot develop any ‘human nature’; he only possesses the ‘animalistic nature’ that living beings are born with.

Using this method, by removing the sacredness of human nature, we can conclude that what a person becomes depends on the education they receive and the life they live.

Society is composed of people. All of a person’s subjective thoughts, all objective realities, all historical views, thoughts, materials, and production relations are condensed within society.

Therefore, it can be said that the essence of a person is the sum of their social relationships.

It is impossible to separate humans from society, and then separate human nature from social nature. Social nature is the embodiment of human nature. Humans cannot display human nature independently of social nature. Human nature is social nature.

Therefore, the Human Dao clearly understands that human nature is not selfish, nor is it greed, evil thoughts, lust, worrying about gains and losses, short-sightedness, laziness, impulsiveness, or lack of restraint. On the contrary, all these ‘inherent personalities’ are ‘animalistic nature,’ things that humans must discard.

Human nature is the proof of human existence; it is noble, free from base interests, and a distinguishing product that separates humans from beasts.

Under a slave society, people will possess the human nature of a slave society.

Under a feudal era, people will possess the human nature of a feudal society.

Under capitalism, people will possess the human nature of a capitalist society.

As long as the external society is reshaped, and a material world as almost perfect as the Human Dao is created, then a child who grows up in this perfect society from a young age will have a perfect human nature.

Human nature is social nature. Living in such a society with abundant material wealth and a nearly perfect spiritual Realm, you will naturally become such a person.

This is also the necessity of the ‘Replacing Heaven with Humanity’ action.

After Replacing Heaven with Humanity, such a world, such a Universe, can be created.

The Human Dao firmly believed in this.

Therefore, Qiu Zhi’s adjutant wiped away his tears and began to do the remaining tasks.

Since the Commander had already initiated the plan, he had to complete the remaining work.

However, after Qiu Zhi set off, he deliberately slowed down.

Despite it being such a critical moment, he did not sprint with his whole being but instead gave up about a minute of time.

This man, who had always been as steady as an iron fortress, for the first time neglected his duty and deliberately delayed for a minute to initiate communication with his wife at home via the terminal.

“Guanqing,” Qiu Zhi called out her name.

His wife’s name was Liang Guanqing, an elegant and refined name.

As if sensing Qiu Zhi’s situation, the woman asked, “…You should be in Baiyue. Why are you suddenly contacting me? Didn’t you say you would focus on this major event?”

“Guanqing, are you doing alright?” Qiu Zhi did not answer the question but asked this.

“I’m in logistics, and also in the weaving area. How could anything happen to me? It’s you, though… are you alright?” Guanqing’s voice carried clear worry.

She knew her husband’s character. Qiu Zhi was a man as silent as a mountain but meticulous in thought.

He saw many things clearly and understood them thoroughly, but he wouldn't speak them aloud. He just understood them in his heart and then honestly did his own work.

Even after marriage, he often wouldn’t say a word unless prodded.

However… he was much stronger than her. Liang Guanqing herself was only a Seventh Grade. They had met when they were both Eighth Grade and then broke through to Seventh Grade together, so they had known each other from humble beginnings.

But Liang Guanqing’s talent and wisdom were limited; Seventh Grade was her limit. Qiu Zhi, however, went all the way to Fourth Grade, but the two of them remained deeply in love.

After the Human-Shaman War, Qiu Zhi went to the front lines, while Liang Guanqing was in the rear, responsible for production in dozens of worlds, providing magical robes and protective gear for the front-line soldiers.

Now, contacting her proactively, and at such a time, her understanding of her husband made a bad thought arise in her mind.

“You must have guessed… things have changed. The Young Master of Shaman God Mountain is unexpectedly strong. However, everything is still within the plan; it’s just that the plan was forced to start early. I might… not be able to return,” Qiu Zhi said.

He said ‘might,’ but in reality, he certainly wouldn't return.

Liang Guanqing was silent on her end and did not reply.

Qiu Zhi also didn't know what to say, only instructing, “Guanqing, please take care. After I die, there is no need to worry. Our three sons and one daughter are all grown up and successful. I have no regrets in this life.”

“You have no regrets… What about me?” Liang Guanqing retorted, “How can my regrets be mended?”

“A great responsibility is upon me; how can I refuse?” Qiu Zhi said.

Liang Guanqing’s tone carried anger: “Then go, I will remarry.”

Qiu Zhi then laughed: “If you remarry, I would be relieved. Do not dwell in sorrow; there are still many beautiful sights in the world.”

Hearing this, Liang Guanqing merely sighed deeply and then said, “Go. I know what to do with the family matters afterward; you don’t have to worry. Also, remarrying was just talk. Our love, once it began, its end or not is no longer solely up to me.”

“That’s good then,” Qiu Zhi said, smiling with relief, then closed the terminal.

He firmly believed that Guanqing would understand.

Because love is not about gazing at each other all day, but about looking together towards a common future.

People of the Human Dao are not emotionless, not machines; they also have feelings and hearts. But they know that someone must always sacrifice for more people, someone must always be the exception, so why can’t it be me?

Liang Guanqing would understand.

Qiu Zhi accelerated, and the next moment, he broke through the Baiyue front line.

The detection spells set up by the Baiyue Kingdom Lord were triggered, and an unimaginable, overwhelming power, beyond the coping capabilities of any Kingdom Lord, descended.

In an instant, all the Baiyue Kingdom Lords were startled, and even Li Qi and Shen Shuibi’s main bodies sensed Qiu Zhi’s appearance.

At this very moment, the Human Dao also launched a full-scale attack.

Then, the Grand Ritual arranged by Li Qi was forcibly activated.

Yes, ‘forcibly activated’.

The ones who activated the Grand Ritual were the Human Dao, it was Qiu Zhi!

The aura emanating from his body was the aura from Zhu Rong—

The Two Clans of Chong and Li! They had figured out Li Qi’s Grand Ritual, and had even infiltrated it!