Chapter 868: Desire world, demon monkey

Within the Desire Realm, Li Qi chose to stop and assume his usual 'normal form', appearing like an ordinary person, such that anyone below the Fourth Rank would absolutely not be able to distinguish him from a Mortal.

This was vastly different from his previous deliberate display of power and showmanship.

"Deliberately ignoring me?" Li Qi, now in his normal posture, floated in the Void Realm, one hand propping up his chin.

It was as if a transfer student had kicked open the classroom door, and everyone ignored him, subjecting him to cold violence and isolation.

Looking around, though the Desire Realm was described as fantastical and magnificent, for a Third Rank, well...

It was actually just like that. In fact, one could say the entire Desire Realm wasn't too different from the outside Reality Universe. Although the Desire Realm had no 'physical Laws', the 'will' of all beings here made it 'act as if it had physical Laws'.

Yes, act as if.

Since everyone believed there should be physical Laws here, then there truly were.

By the same token, in other places, it was identical to the outside world, truly the 'sum of all reality', a complete replication of all ecology in the normal outside world.

The only difference was... existences above the Fourth Rank were all Demonic Dao.

Indeed, this was the stronghold of the Demonic Dao.

However, this also indirectly proved one thing: for these great Dao Orthodoxy, replicating a Reality Universe didn't seem too difficult.

The only thing that couldn't be replicated was an existence with substantiality.

And at the Third Rank, it wasn't just substantiality; they even possessed uniqueness, making it even more impossible to easily replicate.

"Uniqueness, huh...?" Li Qi thought, tentatively creating a 'himself'.

The 'Dao' Li Qi comprehended was unique, a complete system of thought about 'interpreting reality', 'encompassing the world', and 'understanding life', forged from numerous ideas, principles, subjective perceptions, objective observations, and even his own subjective consciousness.

However, this didn't mean others couldn't have the same views. With so many people across the myriad worlds, what if someone's understanding of the world was exactly the same as Li Qi's? Right.

For example, the person Li Qi was now creating.

He was using his 'Dao' to create a Human Race. All of this Human Race's past memories were virtualized by Li Qi, and his 'Dao' was also identical to Li Qi's. His understanding and views of the world were exactly the same as Li Qi's.

The moment this replica was created...

The next moment, Li Qi felt his consciousness appear within that body.

Yes, it directly occupied the other's consciousness. Although the person Li Qi created had his own consciousness, and was even a living person, Li Qi's consciousness penetrated all obstacles and appeared directly within the other's mind.

"Is this uniqueness...? It's truly overbearing," Li Qi exclaimed, somewhat amazed.

At the Third Rank, he already possessed uniqueness, meaning that even if someone replicated a Li Qi, Li Qi's consciousness would immediately awaken in that replica.

Furthermore, even if Li Qi's current body died, as long as a 'Dao' identical to his appeared, he would immediately Rebirth there.

This was a super immortality that transcended mechanisms like resurrection.

True immortality and indestructibility, existing as long as the Dao.

Unreplicable, unannihilatable.

So, if that was the case... when Li Qi ascended to the Third Rank, did the Human Race destroy all research bases related to Li Qi?

Otherwise, all the Li Qi replicas they created should have been fully detected by Li Qi at this moment, but Li Qi actually didn't feel anything amiss.

"Somewhat peculiar," Li Qi said, waving his hand to destroy the replica in front of him.

It was very strange; he truly felt as if he himself had been destroyed.

However, his consciousness was unaffected.

It was like...

He had opened two alt accounts on a computer, and now one of them was deleted.

But it was a little different. Whether it was an alt account or a main account, there was always a 'person' as the true self behind it.

Li Qi himself couldn't be sure.

He felt that even if his current strongest body were destroyed, he actually... wouldn't die.

But, did the current Li Qi have a 'true self' to speak of?

He was confused, but based on his current experience, Li Qi could feel that his essence permeated everything.

It was difficult to describe what kind of state this was, but Li Qi could assert that if a 'metaphysical' thing truly existed, then he must be one of them.

"That which is above form is called Dao; that which is below form is called instrument."

The abstract, transcendent Origin beyond the senses, the true form of all things, etc., encompasses the transcendence of past, present, future, and space.

The current Li Qi's material body or spirit itself was merely his vessel; his essence had transcended the constraints of spirit and matter, progressing into an indescribable state.

But—

Why?

What did he do?

He merely comprehended some knowledge, performed a Dao ritual, then placed the inner body spirits according to the corresponding situation, and finally, advanced his cultivation based on his cultivation method and existing circumstances.

And then, it became like this.

He himself didn't know why.

It was like... at the Ninth Rank, he performed some rituals, and then gained Divine Qi. When the Divine Qi accumulated to a certain level, he reached the Ninth Rank.

It was that simple. As for the principle of advancement, Li Qi only understood it after the Seventh Rank; before that, he never understood why he could reach the Ninth Rank, even though he was already at the Ninth Rank.

It was the same at the Third Rank.

He only knew that he was at the Third Rank, becoming a 'metaphysical' existence, but how he achieved it, or even 'what he truly looked like', he was completely unaware.

It was like Divine Power descending from heaven, suddenly elevated by some Great Power.

This feeling had not appeared since Li Qi reached the Seventh Rank.

Previously, his advancements were always very clear about his state, knowing the source of his power and where the foundation of his cultivation lay, and this was true up to the Fourth Rank.

But now it was different. After displaying his strength, he didn't even understand why he was so strong.

Why? After his advancement, how did he become like this? What changes occurred in him?

"Senior Martial Uncle Changqin said there are many secrets I need to explore, many things he cannot tell me because they involve too much, but if I find them out myself, it's fine..."

"Is that why?" Li Qi murmured, looking at his hands.

As he thought this, Li Qi suddenly looked up!

Someone was coming, and they were heading in his direction.

Li Qi raised an eyebrow slightly, his expression somewhat puzzled.

The newcomer... seemed to be a demon race? A Fourth Rank Yao? But that profound Demonic Qi didn't look like Fourth Rank at all.

How to put it.

According to the feedback from True Knowledge, the opponent's cultivation seemed to be a Fourth Rank Demon Dao.

But the Demonic Qi on the opponent's body was far more than that, even reaching the Third Rank, and it was actively approaching him.

"A Demonic Yao? Such a typical Demonic Yao, but there seems to be no hostility?" Li Qi thought, collecting his thoughts and actively waiting for the other party to approach.

Then, what appeared before him was a monkey.

A monkey?

No way?

Li Qi suddenly felt a sense of familiarity.

This was a Demonic Monkey, with extremely violent Demon Qi on its body. But compared to that mere Fourth Rank Demon Qi, the Demonic Qi was even thicker, with rolling Demonic Qi almost blackening the surroundings. As it rode the clouds, it felt like a sorrowful shadow, with heavy clouds obscuring the moon.

Li Qi's Aura also changed accordingly. Around him, a light rain began to fall, mixed with miasma, like a desolate ancestral temple, with drums beating rhythmically, as if an ancient Shaman was dancing gracefully.

Li Qi watched the monkey actively approach him, his heart filled with murmurs.

A hairy face, pointed mouth, not tall, only about 1.3 to 1.4 meters, the height a monkey should be, not 'beautiful', but rather somewhat sinister.

How to put it, somewhat like the 'Demonic Monkey' Li Qi knew.

But the current Li Qi knew that the myths he knew on Earth were completely misleading, just like the stories circulating outside the world. Some parts seemed to fit, but more parts didn't. To take them seriously would definitely lead him into trouble.

One could only use them as reference, but absolutely not as truth.

Many worlds outside also circulated legends of the world, with more versions, and quite a few reliable ones. What Li Qi knew and what they knew were actually the same.

Returning to the topic, Li Qi, in the Void Realm, seriously observed the other party, pondering what was going on.

It looked like only a Fourth Rank, but its body seemed to hide the essence of a Third Rank, which was confusing. Even when Li Qi used True Knowledge to scan, he seemed unable to see through its true cultivation.

How to put it... it was somewhat like a Third Rank 'Spiritual Artifact' that had cultivated itself to the Fourth Rank. Although it sounded a bit absurd, many things were indeed like this.

For example, Li Shiwei's jade pendant stone was one.

The stone was a Mountain Profound Jade, naturally Sixth Rank. If it were directly used to make a Spiritual Artifact, it would be a Sixth Rank material. But it later cultivated itself to the Seventh Rank, and only then slowly ascended to its Sixth Rank essence.

This was normal. Many Spiritual Artifact, after gaining sentience, chose to cultivate themselves rather than directly accepting their essence. Some even abandoned their original bodies in the end, Reincarnating and cultivating anew, then using their previous life's body as a Spiritual Artifact.

After all, something born with might not conform to one's 'Dao'.

Was this Demonic Monkey in front of him like that?

Seeing the other party actively approach, Li Qi immediately asked, "Your Excellency is...?"

Who knew, the Demonic Monkey scratched its chin and said, "You ask me? You deliberately paraded around and caught my eye, shouldn't you introduce yourself first?"

Its voice was sharp, sounding as if it was pinching its throat.

"Indeed, well said. Hello, I am Li Qi, a Shaman God Mountain disciple. As you can see, I am a Shaman," Li Qi said.

This introduction was already very clear. After all, with a name, a Great Power could even directly deduce the past.

However, the Demonic Monkey in front of him turned its neck in confusion: "A Shaman? What is that?"

"You don't know what a Shaman is?" Li Qi was stunned.

"I don't know. Are you some important Great Power? Is not knowing a crime?" The Demonic Monkey bared its teeth, looking at Li Qi with extreme dissatisfaction, even adopting a somewhat aggressive stance.

"No, no, just a little curious. Monkey brother... I'll call you that. Or, may I inquire about Your Excellency's esteemed name?" Li Qi quickly said with utmost courtesy.

In the entire Desire Realm, only this one person responded to him. The other Third Rank Demonic Dao had all retreated.

So, what exactly was going on?

Perhaps due to Li Qi's attitude, the Demonic Monkey's aggression subsided a little. It said, "Consider yourself sensible. As for a name... I don't really have one. It's fine if you call me Monkey brother. I was born here and have never left, nor have I ever seen outsiders. You're the first one to speak to me."

"The first one to speak? Oh, this is truly..." Li Qi's expression was slightly troubled.

Li Qi didn't doubt the truth of the other party's words, because... in terms of Fourth Rank power, it was indeed easy to instantly learn a language just by speaking, or even to be 'born with knowledge', deriving an entire system of methods from the Void Realm by oneself.

After all, Fourth Rank possessed incomplete substantiality. In other words, they could derive an entire world by themselves. Although this world might not be complete, it was enough to prove... that knowledge could be born out of nothing.

For knowledge as not-profound as language, the two parties could even communicate solely through eye contact or energy fluctuations.

"You don't seem very happy. What? You're not satisfied talking to me?" The Demonic Monkey seemed a bit sensitive and immediately flared up.

"No, no, Monkey brother misunderstood. I'm just a little surprised. Were you born here, Monkey brother?" Li Qi asked again.

"I guess so? I was born in this area, and there was nothing else besides me. I made some little toys to amuse myself, but I can't get out," the Demonic Monkey said.

Saying this, it even demonstrated.

It took a step, instantly covering a distance of several thousand light-years. However, the next moment, invisible chains materialized around its body, and even a phantom appeared behind it. That phantom was like a heavy mountain, crashing down and knocking it to the ground.

Then, the chains tightened, and it was dragged back to a distant place.

That was truly a distant place, seemingly where its Seal was located.

Li Qi immediately pursued it, and before long, he arrived at a golden mountain floating in the Void Realm.

The mountain wasn't large, no more than ten thousand feet tall, looking like a straight, cylindrical pillar, gleaming golden. Around the mountain, many worlds revolved. These worlds all seemed to be created by the Demonic Monkey in front of him, because when Li Qi scanned them, he found that all the intelligent creatures inside were monkeys without exception.

"See, it's like this." The Demonic Monkey broke free from the chains and walked out from the base of the mountain as if nothing had happened.